January 19, 2006

"The number one actor in the world as far as I'm concerned is Johnny Depp."

So says Christopher Lee, in the midst of criticizing the film industry today for casting based on looks and not talent.
"The problem today, and I think it's a very dangerous one for the people concerned, is that there are quite large numbers of very young men and women - boys and girls to me - from 18 to 30, and they are playing very large parts in huge films and they simply, through no fault of their own, don't have the background and the experience and the knowledge to pull if off.

"And it's dangerous for them because if they are in one failure after another, sooner or later people are going to say, 'well, he may have a pretty face but he's not bringing the public in'.

"So many of these good-looking - sometimes even pretty - boys and girls are getting these good roles and it's not fair on them. At some point it's going to catch up."
Of course, no one is better looking than Johnny Depp.

14 comments:

Ann Althouse said...

I like the "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" look. No, really, can I have the "Benny and Joon"?

amba said...

While desultorily liveblogging the Globes I noted this about Johnny Depp:

Johnny Depp's Cavalier beard, starving-artist cheekbones and black-framed glasses are becoming so distinctive a trademark that they could be marketed as a set, like Groucho's glasses, moustache and nose.

amba said...

kkfhu

Gesundheit.

Eli Blake said...

Depp may be good looking, but he is a great actor. Let's face it, the quirkiness that marked characters like Jack Sparrow and his Willie Wonka-- could you honestly see Tom Hanks, Kevin Costner or even Tom Cruise (who is good at playing quirky characters because he is naturally quirky) pulling it off so well? I think not.

Personally though, my favorite actor is Steve Martin. Being successful at comedy is notoriously tough and an underrated skill. And he is a great comedic actor (and not particularly good looking, either).

Gordon Freece said...

...no one is better looking than Johnny Depp.

I am.


...you're missing something special by not checking out Depp's performance in Pirates of the Caribbean.

It was brilliant. Nobody but Mick Jagger does a better Keith Richards impression. The only flaw is that he's intelligible. But that was for the best, maybe.

It's worth enduring Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley. I'd've cast those two in each others' parts if it'd been up to me. Think anybody'd notice?

chuck b. said...

Johnny Depp really is an amazingly good actor. Not that I'm an expert, but I know what I like, and I always enjoy him. Captain Jack Sparrow was a brillaint invention--who deserved an acting award more that year than Depp? Ditto his performance in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas--hilarious and harrowing at the same time. My favorite movie of his so far is Ed Wood.

But as far as looks go, Johnny Depp does not curl my toes. For that, I turn to Joachin Phoenix.

Eli Blake said...

He's also honest.

A few years ago, Johnny Depp said that he would move to another country if George Bush was elected President. Bush was elected, and Depp moved to France. He still flies to Hollywood for work, but he and his family live comfortably in the south of France.

knox said...

I agree that he's the best actor, by far. The great thing about his "Pirates" performance is that is was so unexpected. Who would have thought they'd see such a patently brilliant and unique portrayal of a *pirate* --and in a disney movie no less!

Chuck I'm with ya re: Joaquin

Simon Kenton said...

"Of course, no one is better looking than Johnny Depp."

One of the small remarks that indicate a profound societal shift. You mother's generation, who had Gable, Hudson, Grant, Wayne, would have found Depp (and Pitt) epicene. No doubt the moderns have great beauty, but it would not have been thought masculine beauty 40 years ago.

koasfk - Yes, they do, and so do gnus, wombats and emus, but a respectable blog not focusing on wildlife biology would never use such a term for verification.

Ann Althouse said...

Simon: A more feminine than average male face has always been considered attractive. Look at Rudolph Valentino.

Lady Wesley said...

So do you like the "Pirates of the Caribbean" look or the "Edward Scissorhands" look better?

Maybe the Willy Wonka look? hehe

Ahhh. The "Chocolate" look.

Hecla Ma said...

My son and I were talking about this a few weeks ago, after watching Cinderella Man and then Finding Neverland. My son asked who I thought was the better actor, Russell Crowe or Johnny Depp. I said that while it was a close call, I'd have to give the edge to Depp, who simply seems to be able to inhabit any role, no matter how quirky or boistrous or quiet.

And he certainly is a beautiful man to look at.

My son mostly concurred, but suggested that Crowe is perhaps simply not given a chance to be quirky. Perhaps. I don't mind looking at him, either.

Hecla Ma said...

I must say, though, in response to Simon, yes Depp is beautiful. But I DO like those older film stars. Cary Grant was a gorgeous man. Ditto Clark Gable. I don't mind lookin' at a he-man. There just aren't many out there anymore.

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