Enter. NEWS: Johnny

레이블이 Johnny인 게시물을 표시합니다. 모든 게시물 표시

2013년 7월 7일 일요일

Matthew Jacobs: What Happened To The Old Johnny Depp?

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There once was an actor who hardly knew his way around Hollywood. Kindhearted moviegoers found him, isolated and unrefined, and took him in. They raised him up to be a good boy, a productive, contributing member of society. He gained some momentum and became an illustrious figure among the neighborhood, until an inexplicable checklist of poor choices sent him reeling against the eclectic legacy he'd created for himself. And then, just as quickly, the townsfolk turned their backs and -- like so many before him -- his endowment became a thing of yesteryear.

The actor in question is, of course, Johnny Depp, whose evolution suddenly bears striking resemblance to that of his iconic character Edward Scissorhands. Edward wasn't the same person by the end of the movie, having regressed after the pressures of the world around him became unbearable. I'm not sure that's what's happened to Depp, though -- that at least might be understandable. No, instead, this box-office legend and thrice Oscar-nominated actor has embarked on a swift career decline that seems to be entirely of his own accord. And boy, do I miss the old Johnny Depp.

The old Johnny Depp was everything the new Johnny Depp is not: interesting, daring, unique. Today's Depp seems concerned only with tentpole fare and vapid box-office behemoths, and while the 50-year-old actor has long provided a reliable revenue stream for studios, his penchant for smart scripts accompanying those big dollars has evaporated. Now, do understand: There's nothing wrong with being a Big Movie Star. But for an actor whose career was catapulted by unpredictable, eccentric roles ("Scissorhands," "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," "Ed Wood," "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," "Blow"), his "Sweeney Todd" days have been traded in for -- yawn -- the forthcoming fifth entry in the bloated "Pirates of the Caribbean" series and "The Tourist."

We're reminded of this grave deterioration of creativity by this week's needless "Lone Ranger" release, with the movie's hyper action and uninspiring script punctuating Depp's downfall. Where's Donnie Brasco? Ichabod Crane? J.M. Barrie? Gone, only to be replaced by Tonto, yet another cartoonish character of the same vein as Jack Sparrow and the Mad Hatter. Sure, Depp is fun to watch in these movies, but he's not doing anything particularly interesting, aside from donning thick layers of makeup and flailing his hands about while coating his voice in over-the-top inflections. These seemingly otherworldly characters have lost all of the humanity that Depp was able to imbue in the movies he turned out when his choices felt less arbitrary and much less commercial.

It's a classic Hollywood case study: The daring critical darling becomes shunned by purists for favoring capitalism (in the form of his usual $20 million paychecks, no less) instead of creativity, yet -- cha-ching! -- the dollars keep on rolling in. It's an admittedly elitist stance to take: that an actor's prerogative to refocus his career in any way he so chooses should come second to the long-standing image he built in his nascent years as a budding celebrity. But I can't stand by idly anymore, continuing to dismiss this squandering of a gold-star legacy. "Pirates" Part 5 excepted, Depp has some potential for redemption on the horizon in next year's sci-fi thriller "Transcendence" and Rob Marshall's all-star adaptation of "Into the Woods." But it'll take more than these two entries to remind us of the earnestness that used to lie in Depp's oddball hands. So, at the risk of sounding entirely too hipster-esque about it all: Mr. Depp, please conjure up the weirdness, the uniqueness and, well, the "you" that we once knew. We miss it. Come back to us, Edward Scissorhands, please come back.

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2013년 6월 10일 월요일

WATCH: Johnny Football Stars In Music Video

By Dave Miller, National Football Post

Texas A&M grad and rising country singer Granger Smith sure knows how to make a star-studded music video.

The Aggies alum, who has played at the White House, visited American soldiers in Iraq and Kuwait, and wrote a song about his alma mater titled "We Bleed Maroon," had reigning Heisman Trophy-winning A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel appear in his new video for the tune "Silverado Bench Seat." Manziel stars in the video with longtime girlfriend Sarah Savage as well as former Aggies receiver Ryan Swope, who was recently drafted by the Arizona Cardinals.

Smith's new album, "Dirt Road Driveway," debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard Country Album chart.

The charmed life of Johnny Football continues...

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2013년 6월 8일 토요일

John Farr: Johnny Depp Turns 50

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Tomorrow, the thoroughly original, impossibly talented Johnny Depp hits the milestone age of 50.

Does this mean he's actually middle-aged? No, it can't be.

After all, part of this unique actor's enduring charm is his child-like quality, his willingness to dress up and be silly.

But behind that, there's always been a serious foundation built on focus, grit and ambition. His firm intention from the start was not to rely on his good looks, but use his intelligence, imagination and -- for want of a better word -- fearlessness to become a highly respected actor known for taking chances on wild, idiosyncratic roles.

Those risks have sometimes paid off, sometimes not. But one has to admire the actor who takes them, as long as they are fairly well calculated. His have been.

Life did not start out smoothly for him. Born in Kentucky, the youngest of four kids, his childhood was unsettled and peripatetic. Partly as a result, Johnny was a sensitive, somewhat solitary, often troubled child. An indifferent student, he dropped out of high school a year after his parents divorced. He was 15.

He'd obviously heard The Byrds sing "So You Wanna Be a Rock'n'Roll Star?" because that became his immediate goal. And he and his band actually made some headway, but as so often happens, split up before signing a record deal.

In early '80s Hollywood, through his then-wife (make-up artist Lori-Anne Allison), Johnny met Nic Cage, who told him he should act. His striking good looks must have helped, but again, there was more to it. He was a natural.

First Depp got noticed in two featured roles in hit movies: 1984's A Nightmare On Elm Street and 1986's Platoon. Next came TV stardom and teen heartthrob status on 1987's 21 Jump Street.

And then the Gods really smiled on him. Johnny met Tim Burton. Over time, their shared off-the-wall sensibility would help shape the actor's distinctive screen persona. Johnny would start out as Burton's muse, and branch out from there. But then he would often return to where he started.

Before Johnny experienced serious blockbuster status with the endless Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise, he was often referred to as an actor who made weird films that made no money. Depp countered that the studios did not understand the material he chose, or know how to market it. He also affirmed that he picked roles and films that intrigued him, regardless of box-office potential.

This is the Johnny Depp I like and respect, which begs the question: what keeps him coming back to play Jack Sparrow? (Tell me it's not just the green stuff.)

And though I also admire his willingness and ability to go gleefully over-the-top, my own Depp short list is comprised of Johnny's quieter, subtler outings.

(For instance, though many will disagree, I felt he was off in Terry Gilliam's frenetic, outsize Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas- more like a jazzed-up cartoon character out of Who Framed Roger Rabbit than his rough, raw, profane real-life friend, "gonzo" journalist Hunter Thompson.)

Fifty years old is yesterday's forty. Johnny Depp has a lot more to do, and he is only getting better with time. Perhaps after this next "Pirates" outing, he might choose to hang up his trusty sword, and return to smaller, smarter films like the ones listed below.

Here's hoping. In the meantime, happy birthday, Johnny- and thanks for the memories.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)- In Tim Burton's melancholy parable about conformity and the pain of being different, Johnny plays the creation of an inventor who dies too soon. Instead of hands, this gentle creature gets fitted with sharp blades. Under these conditions, can misfit Edward ever find love and happiness?

What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993)- Johnny is title character Gilbert, a fatherless young man who presides over a highly dysfunctional family. Then finally he gets a shot at love and happiness. Will he take it? Look for a winning early turn by child actor Leonardo di Caprio in this sweet, touching, original film from Lasse Hallstrom.

Ed Wood (1994)- Reteamed with Tim Burton, Depp feels made for the role of the grade Z filmmaker who brought us, among other campy dreck, the immortally bad Plan 9 From Outer Space. Martin Landau won an Oscar for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi.

Donnie Brasco (1997)- Johnny plays an undercover cop assigned to penetrate the local mob who does so by befriending a low-level hood. Based on a true story, this paired Depp with Al Pacino. Feeding off each other, both actors are superlative.

Finding Neverland (2004)- Johnny portrays "Peter Pan" author J.M Barrie with subtlety and finesse in this charming period picture, and got an Oscar nod for it. Co-star Kate Winslet is luminous as well. (In future, he should take more roles like this one- assuming any ever come up again!)

Looking for good movies to watch? Top movie recommendations? For over 2,500 of the best movies on DVD, visit Best Movies by Farr