No other like Johnny Depp
Comm 105
October 1, 2007/edited Feb.20, 2008
by lizzy4depp
Johnny Depp?s existence in this world is as essential as the oxygen we breathe. Johnny is a genius in his own right and his preference for collaborating with directors of the same caliber have shown that he is a mastermind of his craft. Johnny is known as the finest actor of his generation. In a more important light the most well admired by public and by his peers. He is capable of anything and obviously has no limit to his abilities. He has proven this time and time again in a variety of roles, from a demon processed writer, to a homosexual prisoner. Johnny has portrayed characters from the dark ages with an English accent, to a sharp Irish tongued gypsy living on the French countryside. He has stood toe to toe with the industries most powerful performers like Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. The critics are always astonished and awed by his performances, mostly because no one can ever guess what role Johnny will pull off next. He continues to pull ?rabbits out of his hat,? not only acting in far-reaching roles, but also testing his own limits in his chosen profession.
What categorizes someone as a genius? Is it in the actor?s perception of their characters? It has been said that when people on the set have looked into Johnny?s eyes, they could physically see him change into another personality. This is one reason that Johnny?s acting can be compared to the silent film stars, Charlie Chaplin and the great Lon Chaney, who is known as the man of a thousand faces. Johnny is able to change into a character of any age, circumstance or persona. This is one reason that his fame and notoriety have spread worldwide to all different cultures and countries. His attention to detail is evident in his portrayals of the character?s hidden nuances, bringing to light a deeper layer of feeling most actors leave wanting on the surface. He doesn?t cheat the viewer by giving in to cheap emotions during a performance.
With just one glance, Johnny is able to portray an understanding of the writer and director?s vision for the core of a character. Johnny is a linguist, able to interpret a story like a translator. Directors like Roman Pollinski and Tim Burton seek Johnny out because of this very reason. Hunter Thompson, Emir Kusturica and Stephen Jeffreys,who are the most prestige writers of their time, sent their work to Johnny, and often to him only. The collaborations with individuals who share an understanding of life and art equal to his own is something that outsiders cannot comprehend. It has been said that Johnny will suck the life out of a person and leak it back out onto the role he is playing. Characters that would be considered misfits and outcasts call to Johnny, with his comprehension of their subtleties, in which he sees a piece of himself. He is able to view a character as a totally different individual outside the mindscape of normal perception.
Johnny Depp?s attitude towards life and fame is another point that separates him from all other entertainers. He has chosen to live far from the media and his homeland. He scoffs at the monetary value of a role and ignores popular opinion. Johnny has stated that he ?looks at life from the outside.? Differentiating him from other actors of his era, he goes against roles of status, the media and ?mainstream? movie roles. Even with his ?off the wall? choices, he continuously draws in the public, who long to touch a piece of his world. Adamant about staying true to whom he is, Johnny turns down millions of dollars a year, rejecting offers that would surely appeal to most actors. This may be because of his ability to gaze above the horizon and touch the soul of characters that are yet to be seen by the everyday eye.
A high school drop out from a family in poverty, Johnny Depp has proven that he prossesses the qualities that place him in the realm of genius. His work fascinates even his greatest critics, who admit that other actor?s portrayals pale in comparison to Johnny?s bravado. Overlooked by the political awards that are gleaned on the ?talk of the year? he continues to rise above the rest in everyway. Largely sought out by the great thinkers of today, he uses his inner knowledge of a character to portray a vision that only a few can share. Johnny has been drawn to roles like Jack the Ripper, to the quirky Willy Wonka and Ichabod Crane. How can anyone who loves the entertainment industry go through life without basking in Johnny?s glow? His angelic good looks are merely a sprinkling to the whole package that contains a holiness rare to behold. People who have never sat and watched Johnny in a film are missing out on a true experience that will enrich and touch their lives forever.
