For a long time now, Johnny Depp has been delivering mesmerizing movie performances. This has seen him bring his talents to a list of iconic roles – from his breakthrough turn as Edward Scissorhands to Ichabod Crane, Gellert Grindelwald, Captain Jack Sparrow and more.
One thing that really hooks people into the actor’s films is the rebellious and exciting feel many of them have. Nothing sums this up better than Depp’s most famous movie scenes that involve risk and chance.
Let’s take a closer look at just which scenes like this stand out most, and see his character risking it all on the silver screen.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
1998’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas easily stands out as one of Johnny Depp’s most memorable movies. Based on the book by Hunter S Thompson, it’s full of visual flourishes, creative storytelling and garish colors. Depp seems to really enjoy playing Raoul Duke and brings his usual charisma to the role.
One memorable scene involving risk sees Duke staggering through a circus-themed casino with his friend Dr Gonzo, high on drugs. They risk financial ruin while playing under the influence and also risk the wrath of other casino patrons who they manage to upset. It also sees them risking their own sanity, as they try to work out if what they’re seeing is real or just an illusion created by their addled minds!
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The Rum Diary (2011)
After the success of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, 2011’s The Rum Diary was another Hunter S Thompson book adaptation to add to Depp’s resume. In this movie with a similarly outrageous feel, the actor plays the role of writer Paul Kemp and takes audiences on a sleazy ride into 1950’s Puerto Rico. Interestingly, it’s thought to be based on Thompson’s own experiences of working in Puerto Rico in the 50s.
One memorable scene involves Kemp visiting a local San Juan casino and taking risks playing dice games with some very shady characters.
As the drinks flow and the verbal sparring escalates, Depp’s character chances it all to win big. This scene fizzes with manic energy and acts as a metaphor for the chances Kemp is taking with ethics and his career while working in Puerto Rico.
Depp’s varied career includes numerous memorable performances that showcase his range and daring, and many standout performances demonstrate his ability to dive deep into complex, often risky characters, such as those featured in his best movies.
Donnie Brasco (1997)
Donnie Brasco, from the late 90s, is a film that helped cement Johnny Depp’s status as one of the best actors of his generation. The basic plot sees Depp playing an FBI undercover agent by the name of Donnie Brasco, who is aiming to infiltrate the local mafia setup to gather evidence of their crimes.
In truth, the whole film is fraught with tension and hinges on the chance that Brasco will be found out as an undercover agent. This makes the film riveting to watch and keeps viewers wondering if Depp’s character will manage to successfully maintain his cover.
In one scene toward the end, the stakes max out when Brasco is ordered by mafia enforcer Lefty Ruggiero to kill someone. As he tries to talk his way out of it without revealing who he really is, the FBI arrives to arrest them both and save the day.
Public Enemies (2009)
Michael Mann is one of those legendary Hollywood directors and this is evident in how expertly he put together 2009’s Public Enemies. This film sees Johnny Depp playing infamous bank robber John Dillinger, as he pulls off a series of bank heists in 1930’s America.
The whole film crackles with the chance Dillinger might be caught by the FBI, and this really helps it keep viewers watching until the end. One especially memorable moment sees Dillinger walking into a police station to survey his own wanted posters, even though this means he’s risking his own freedom to satisfy his ego.
The risks involved in his life of crime ultimately catch up with Dillinger, as he’s killed by chasing FBI agents in a shootout at the end of the movie. It’s believed that this is one of the roles Depp himself felt most connected to, as he was born in roughly the same area as Dillinger was.
Nick of Time (1995)
When it comes to Johnny Depp films, 1995’s Nick of Time is one we love. It features the actor in fine form as meek accountant Gene Watson. After Watson and his daughter are apprehended by two fake policemen at LA’s Union Station, he’s informed that he has until 13:30pm to murder a local politician running to become governor. If he doesn’t, they will kill his daughter!
As the film plays out in real time, we see Depp’s character struggling to save his daughter and solve the moral dilemma he has been plunged into.
There’s one scene that takes place in a ballroom, and it really sticks in the mind. Depp’s character risks it all to get out of the mess he’s in. As one of the people behind the scheme watches from a projector room, Watson shoots at the screen to take him out. This proves a dangerous move, as Depp’s character get embroiled in a shootout with security staff!
Johnny Depp: risk and chance on the screen
As the above shows, there really have been some standout scenes that Johnny Depp has starred in, that feature risk heavily. From casinos and casino games to the risks of undercover work and more, some of his most fabulous roles have an element of chance baked into them.
These scenes keep viewers guessing and explains what makes them so amazing to watch. It will be interesting to see which scenes involving the actor we can add to this list moving forward, and which of his characters will be at the mercy of fate once again.
