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Johnny Depp: Top 10 Performances

By Cassiah Joski-Jethi · September 5, 2013

Johnny Depp is famous for being an actor’s actor, accepting a wide range of challenging roles, committing to being a versatile performer. Since his start as a ‘teen heart-throb’ on the hit TV show 21 Jump Street, Depp undertook what few dare to do: wipe the hunky leading man label away from his name, and seek dark, deep, interesting and often bizarre characters. Whereas some of Depp’s contemporaries may have felt content becoming a ‘Hollywood star’, that was never on Depp’s agenda, despite the fact that he become one on his own terms, in his own way. So here are 10 of Depp’s most fantastic performances to date!

10. Cry Baby (1990)

Johnny Depp was the perfect manifestation of a bad boy, in that leather jacket on his motorcycle, who brought an attitude to fit his looks like a glove. Cry Baby showed that Depp was committed to not conforming to any ‘good guy’ roles, showing that he wanted to become an established actor.  As said, Cry-Baby was “born to be bad”. Depp’s clearly extensive research into the character came through, as on screen he was effectively presenting Cry-Baby’s zest and hunger for living life on the edge. One of his performances that showed he was one actor to watch, Cry Baby marks the true start of his versatile career.  

9. Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

Although only having a minor role in Nightmare On Elm Street, a young Johnny Depp began his main film career from this movie. Although Depp played a fairly stereotypical, one-dimensional character (the writers/directors fault, not his), he still maintained his exuding charm and innocence, making him extremely likable and favoured by the audience. Most importantly, the film helped to establish his acting style. For example, Depp getting sucked into a bed highlighted his willingness to physically commit to his roles, which became a staple for some of Depp’s future roles that defined his career. Therefore, Nightmare on Elm Street sits at number 8 of top Depp performances.

8. Benny and Joon (1993)

Johnny Depp captured the essence of Chaplin in this film, and really showcased his physical performance skills. Brilliantly balancing this with his naïve and queer qualities about him, the cute and lighthearted Benny and Joon proved Depp’s versatility and skill as an actor. If anyone can remember the famous hat scene (which Depp choreographed and performed by himself) when Sam attempts to pick up his hat, but the hat constantly, mysteriously runs away from him, you will know what physical skills I am describing. Watch that scene very carefully to appreciate the skill in Depp’s acting!

7. Chocolat (2000)

A widely underrated performance, Johnny Depp’s performance is as smooth as chocolate (excuse the pun) – he is handsome and charming, yet is able to keep that extra something special, that je ne se quois, about himself. His free-spirited, loving character was so effortlessly portrayed, his character casually asking “what about boycotting morality then?” when that glint in his eye is evident that he knows that they will gleefully ignore the conservative wishes of the backwards village. Honest, charming, and the Johnny Depp we ladies all imagine he is in real life, his performance in Chocolat is simple and beautiful. 

6. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Johnny Depp’s performance in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is such a contrast to Chocolat, it proves his amazing versatility as an actor. Depp plays a quick lipped, spontaneous, kooky character named Raoul Duke. He almost seems constantly paranoid, sharply looking around everywhere with wide, open eyes, juxtaposing his spontaneity and seemingly carefree attitude to life. Who can forget the classic line “we can’t stop here, this is bat country!” with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. The cigarette, which hangs out of his mouth for the whole film! Crazy and committed, this film turns out one of Depp’s best performances.

5. Finding Neverland (2004)

Portraying author and legend J.M. Barrie was no easy task, but Johnny Depp brought the character and film to life. There was always a danger with this film for it to become cheesy and insincere, with the stereotypical “just believe” being the driver of the movie. However, Depp is able to ground this film with a mature understanding of the character, best demonstrated by his soft and emotional response to the break down of Barrie’s relationship with his wife. This helped to make it all the more real when Depp allowed Barrie to really let go in the scenes of imagination and make-believe. Therefore, Depp in Finding Neverland is one of his most precious performances.

4. Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)

Jack Sparrow catapulted Johnny Depp into mainstream Hollywood Blockbuster fame, a place he had never really been before. His performance inPirates of the Carribean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl is perfection. On all accounts, this film should have been a failure, with the clear evidence of general un-interest in ‘pirate’ movies.  But what Depp brought to the film was this charming, vulgar and satirical character, both memorable and lovable (surprisingly!). With his quick-witted comments “you’re not a eunuch are you?” to his drunken stumbling about, even when escaping from a hanging, Depp delivers a knockout performance in this modern classic.   

3. Ed Wood (1994)

Tim Burton’s classic black and white dark comedy was a vessel for Depp to deliver a quirky performance. Transforming into a secret transvestite whilst being able to convey an ever-air of optimism proves Depp’s daring qualities as an actor – not afraid to take any role and tackle it head on. Depp plays up another one of his strengths in this film: his facial expressions. Within the first five minutes of the film, we are treated to a visual feast as Wood mouths the words along to his actor’s performance: “or maybe it’s something else!?” His wide eyes and stretched mouth encapsulate the extremity and positivity of the character. One of Depp’s best performances by far.  

2. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

“They say there’s a reason for everything. Maybe someday I’ll figure out what it is.”

Johnny Depp’s performance in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is honest, tear-jerking and painful. Depp seems to bounce between playing extroverted, extreme characters and subtle, mature, introverted characters. This performance is surely the latter, and is a powerhouse performance, along with the rest of the cast. Again, this movie emphasized Depp’s skills as an actor, able to play a subtler, quieter role than say Ed Wood or in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. One of my favourite movies of all time, his performance is simply the best.

1. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

This was the film that established the legacy of the Depp-Burton relationship, and also proved Depp’s diverse acting chops. A simple and beautiful film, it depicts a stereotypical suburban hell infiltrated by a naïve, pale and physically inhibited young man, who falls at the hands of those who raised him up, Depp transforms into Edward Scissorhands without reservations.  Quiet and soft spoken, the subtle tones of Edward’s voice provoke deep sympathy and admiration for the character whose innocent qualities are manifested in Depp’s vocal performance. However, Depp’s winning element to this performance is his physical awkwardness, able to convincingly function his spikey scissor hands, without making the character cheesy, unconvincing or just plain weird. Therefore, Depp’s top performance must be Edward from Edward Scissorhands, an unconventional masterpiece of acting for a wickedly unconventional masterpiece of a movie.