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Sweeney Todd – Another Intriguing Johnny Depp Film

December 14, 2007 on 1:59 am | In sweeney todd, what's eating gilbert grape? | No Comments

When you think of Johnny Depp and all the films he’s been in, you immediately think of characters. Characters rich with life and filled with the twists and turns of the complexity of human beings. Depp’s new movie, Sweeney Todd is another one of those delicacies. But before, we talk about the new movie, let’s revisit two of his older films just to reacquaint ourselves with the acting style of Johnny Depp.

For me, two of his most memorable films, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? and the Astronaut’s Wife, offer a dichotomy of the actor. Showing a willingness to go where most actors won’t or are afraid to.

What’s eating Gilbert Grape? Presents Johnny’s interaction with his mentally challenged brother, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Gilbert is loving, yet you can feel that Gilbert is tired of all the responsibility heaped upon him. He makes room in his life for a needy sibling and obese mother that many would reject. Even when Juliette Lewis comes into his life as a love interest, Depp finds himself torn between the love of a woman and the responsibilities he must tackle with his family.

The film reminds you of having to care for a loved one that is unable to care for themselves and how selfless you must be to provide that type of care. What’s eating Gilbert Grape is a very tragic film that at the center of the film it is about escaping not only the small town the film is set, but about escaping the family life that chains him there.

The Astronaut’s Wife is a film I just saw for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and it was creepy. I thought Johnny (Cmdr. Spencer Armacost) looked handsome with his hair dyed blonde; it gave his character a certain depth playing opposite Charlize Theron (Jillian Armacost). My favorite scene is near the end when Sherman Reese, played by Joe Morton attempts to meet Jillian to share damaging information about her husband (Johnny). That meeting never takes place, and Sherman never gets to share that information. I liked the X-Files styled ending.

In both of these films Johnny must dig deep within to create believable characters. With Gilbert Grape, he must find a certain humility and patience to life even though he may not feel it. He must literally erase all sense of his needs just to give this character a well rounded existence.

With the Astronaut’s Wife, Johnny is cold, cunning and basically evil. His smooth southern charm hides his sinister motives until the very end.

Now, here comes Sweeney Todd, the legendary butcher barber. Johnny seems to sink his acting teeth deeply into period pieces such as these. Remember, Sleepy Hollow? What about his Pirates Of The Caribbean role? Johnny Depp acts in films that we will watch long after his career is over. Sweeney Todd is another one of those films.

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