Tag Archive: johnny depp


21 Jump Street

Filed under: DVD/Bluray by thefriedgold — Leave a comment
October 21, 2012

21 Jump Street (2012)

Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller

Starring Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill and Ice Cube

 

 

A couple of underachieving cops are sent undercover at a high school to find out about and stop a new drug craze that has already killed one student.

This is one of those films that use to be a TV show, that starred Johnny Depp, and has been converted into a film for the present day audience like The A-Team and Starsky and Hutch. The film shows how culture has changed over the generations and not only is there even more diversity in high school, thanks Glee, but also how the geeks are now cool within social groups and the jocks are finding it harder to be liked.

Channing Tatum is one of those actors that I have never really enjoyed watching and think he looks a little bit funny. However having him with Jonah Hill actually makes him bearable to watch and even like. The film has some pretty funny moments and keeps you entertained throughout especially with the car chases and explosions. The film itself isn’t supposed to be taken too seriously as at times they play on the fact that it used to be a TV show and that’s what makes the film good fun to watch. The scenes where it explains what the drugs do to you are brilliant and add this extra dimension to a straight forward film.

 

Recommend

Jonah Hill is one of those actors that add humour and fun to any film, see Moneyball. His partnership with Tatum comes off really natural and the action scenes and humour are there throughout the film.  The fact that the film takes the piss out of itself makes this very enjoyable and I would recommend this film to anyone who wants to sit down and watch a good comedy.

TheFriedGold rating – 7/10 – Time to revisit high school

 

 

Film Fact

In one scene the bad guys are actually watching the TV series 21 Jump Street on TV.

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Dark Shadows

Filed under: Cinema by thefriedgold — Leave a comment
May 18, 2012

Dark Shadows (2012)

Directed by Tim Burton

Starring Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Eva Green

 

 

 

Cursed by a witch to be a vampire, Barnabus Collins wakes after being trapped for 200 years to find a world he is not use to and a family who have given up on the family business that he helped create. They need some help and he is there to provide it for them.

Depp, as he does in most Burton films, plays the main character, a vampire called Barnabus Collins who is still aching for his one true love 200 years after losing her to a spell from a witch. Not only has this happened but he needs to bring back the wealth and success of his family to the town of Collinsport away from the evil witch that put the curse on him in the first place. This leads to a few laughs and some lacklustre set pieces that fail to blow you away even with the big name cast that’s present on screen.

Whether you are aware of Tim Burton or not you would easily recognise one of his films. You get lots of blacks, whites and greys that are offset with bright colours to bring some life to an otherwise dull looking scene. The quirkiness of his characters is less obvious here and even Depp’s vampire seems to be quite underperformed considering his usual acting styles. Helena Bonham Carter is the only real quirky character that comes through but only in blips.

Recommendation

The film as a whole was ok and it gives you your typical dark Tim Burton film. However the film lacked that oomph that made me think “that was fantastic”. A good fun monster movie by Burton that unfortunately lacked the monsters. The best thing about Burtons version of a vampire was the classic burning in sunlight and no reflection, how a vampire should be perceived. I would say yes you should see this film but don’t expect to come away thinking wow.

Film Fact

The original Dracula himself Christopher Lee makes a cameo appearance in the film

 

 

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The Rum Diary

Filed under: DVD/Bluray by thefriedgold — 1 Comment
April 16, 2012

The Rum Diary (2011)

Directed by Bruce Robinson

Starring Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart and Amber Heard

 An American journalist, played by Depp, takes a job working for a newspaper in Puerto Rico and try to work around the island culture and his own enjoyment of alcohol while trying to be himself.

I don’t have much to say on this film as it wasn’t really my cup of tea. It was a film I wanted to watch but after seeing it there wasn’t much of a story to it and from what there was went very slow with not much happening. The odd bits of comedy helped me along but ultimately failed in making me enjoy the film.

If you want to see this it is up to you. I will leave it to the comments for people who enjoyed this.

Special mention to Amber Heard who looked great in the film.

 

Film Fact

Benicio Del Toro, Brad Pitt, Josh Hartnett and Nick Nolte were originally slated to appear. Benicio Del Toro was also lined up to direct the film.

 

 

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The Tourist (2010)

Filed under: Sky/Television by thefriedgold — 1 Comment
February 1, 2012

The Tourist (2010)

Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Starring Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp and Paul Bettany

 

 

A women called Elise, played by Angelina Jolie, meets a tourist, played by Johnny Depp, to help her fool the men that are following her trying to reclaim a large amount of money that has been stolen.

The film tries to be clever and throw little twists in however the plot and twist can be seen from a mile off. The acting is pretty poor from Jolie and Depp and somehow Depp looks unwell and his face appears puffy in some scenes during the film (maybe he realised what he was making). Not many films lose my attention but this was definitely on the border of doing so with bad dialogue and not much action for a supposed action film.

What the director and studio seem to have done is get some big stars and a beautiful location and think that the film will be a hit. Well it isn’t. My recommendation would be to pick another film to watch.

 

Film Fact

 

Angelina Jolie admitted in an interview with Vogue Magazine that the only reason she agreed to do this movie was because she knew it would be a “quick shoot” in Venice, Italy. (and earn herself money for a bad film I guess)

 

 

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