Top 10 Movies: Best Johnny Depp Characters

Not only is Johnny Depp a great actor, he has also created some extremely memorable characters over the years.  He is about to reprise his role as one of his best-loved characters of all time inPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,opening this Friday, May 20.

Although Captain Jack Sparrow is by all accounts an bad dude, Depp plays him with such charm and wit, you can't help but love him.

Depp has a knack for playing strange and lovable characters, from the Mad Hatter inAlice in Wonderlandto Edward Scissorhands.  He always gives his all to his performances, which is why he is one of the most beloved actors in the business.

Check out our list of Best Johnny Depp Characters and let us know -- what's your favorite?

10 BEST JOHNNY DEPP CHARACTERS:

10. Roux inChocolat(2000)

No stranger to playing a pirate, Depp played one inChocolatlong before he immortalized Captain Jack Sparrow inPirates of the Caribbean. He plays Roux, a pirate shunned from a small Parisian town full of straight-laced Catholics.  He bonds with the another outcast Vianne, who comes to the village and dares to open a bakery during lent.  Depp is charming and rugged in this role and it is one of his the first charming leading man roles in his early career.

9. George Jung inBlow(2001)

In a hard-hitting role, Depp plays George Jung, the man who introduced the cocaine market in the U.S.  His performance is gritty and real; he really captures the essence of the character and brings him to life. 

8. Victor Van Dort inCorpse Bride(2005)

Although he doesn't physically appear inCorpse Bride, sometimes it's harder to create a great character and a multi-dimensional story-line through just a voice.  Johnny Depp manages to do that in the film playing Victor, a shy groom who decides to practice his wedding vows in the presence of a dead women.  The woman rises from the grave and assumes she is going to marry him.  Depp plays the character with a shy and lovable grace.  He really can do a lot with his voice.

7. Rango inRango(2011)

Another instances where Depp proves he has a great voice and can really deliver a great experience without his own expressions and body helping him. Rangois one of the highest grossing animated films of the year and it's mostly because of his performance as the lovable, but misguided Rango.  His range of tone and pitch bring a great dynamic energy to Rango and he proves, once again, he has the vocal chops to do both animated and live-action films.

6. Ichabod Crane inSleepy Hallow(1999)

Depp plays Ichabod Crane, the investigator who is sent to Sleepy Hallow to look into the decapitation of three people assumed to be at the hands of the Headless Horseman.  He gets into the historical role with gusto and delivers another incredible performance in this spooky thriller.

5. Sweeney Todd inSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street(2007)

This horror-musical shows off many aspects of Depp's performing skills.  Not only does he have to ac, but he has to sing as well.  Depp plays Benjamin Barker a.k.a Sweeny Todd who opens a barber shop downtown, but not everything is as it seems in this barber shop.  Depp is equally creepy and brillian in this role.

4. Willy Wonka inCharlie and the Chocolate Factory(2005)

Depp plays the lovable and completely bizarre Willy Wonka in this crazy remake from director Tim Burton.  He is eccentric and crazy in this version and his wacked out appearance is just the beginning of his crazy personality.  Depp does a great job of bringing on the insane moments and devotes himself to getting every weird tick just right.

3. Edward Scissorhands inEdward Scissorhand(1990)

Perhaps one of Depp's most beloved performances, the young actor plays Edward Scissorhands, a human with a mutation that includes scissor where his hands should be, Edward is gentle and polite, but he scares people with his hands.  He comes to live with a family who learns to accept him for who he is.  Depp plays Edward with such grace and naivete, you can't help but love him.  He shows the vulnerable side of Edward and really captures the essence of what's inside the character, despite his scary outward appearance.

2. Mad Hatter inAlice in Wonderland(2010)

Similar to his Willy Wonka performance, Depp pulls out all the stops to play the Mad Hatter inAlice in Wonderland --and he is MAD.  Depp creates a memorable character that highlights all the craziness, yet the completely lovable side of this man who befriends Alice.  He is the first to recognize that she is the"real Alice"and remains a loyal and trustworthy friend to the end, despite his odd behavior.  Depp captures the essence of the Mad Hatter and gives his all to this memorable performance.

1. Captain Jack Sparrow inPirates of the Caribbean1, 2,& 3(2003, 2004, 2007)

This could be Depp's performance of a lifetime and one he personally loves so much, he's reprised the role four times.  Depp plays Captain Jack Sparrow as a drunken fool that tries really hard to be bad, but deep down he is caring and nice.  The little oddities that make Sparrow tick are captured so well by Depp that you forget where the man ends and the character begins.  He stays true to his performance throughout the first three films and even though the other main characters (Knightley and Bloom) aren't in this next installment, people won't even notice because Depp shines so brightly above everyone else in his role as the lovable Captain.

Source

Confirmed: Armie Hammer Will Play The Lone Ranger

After weeks of speculation and a couple other high profile actor's in the mix, Armie Hammer will play the title role inThe Lone Ranger, opposite Johnny Depp's Tonto. 

Gore Verbinski will direct the upcoming adaptation of the 1930's radio show that eventually turned into a TV special in the late 40's and 50's. 

Hammer will play the title character who is never seen without his mask and is the survivor of an ambush on six Texas Rangers by an armed gang -- all but one is left dead. 

Depp has already been attached to the film for almost three years and says he has always wanted to play Tonto since seeing the original TV specials, but wants to give Tonto more of a voice.

Hammer has been quite in demand lately and he has received a number of high profile roles.  He will star opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the upcomingJ. Edgarand will also play the lead role in Relativity'sThe Brother Grimm: Snow White, opposite Julia Roberts and Lily Collins.

What do you think?  Has Depp found the right Lone Ranger?

Source

Featured Trailer: The Change-Up

Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman together - the catch?  Ryan Reynolds is playing Jason Bateman and Jason Bateman is playing Ryan Reynolds.  Confusing?  Well check out this new trailer forThe Change-Upand it might make a little more sense.

With the help of a little magic -- and peeing in a magic fountain -- Mitch and Dave wish they had each other lives, but didn't realize it would actually happen. 

The two struggle to adapt to each other lives and hilarity ensues.  Check out the trailer.

The Change-Up Green Band Trailer

The Change-Upis set to hit theaters on August 5, 2011.

Source

DVD Giveaway: Elephant White

Reel Movie News has teamed with Millennium Entertainment to provide FOUR lucky winners with the chance to win a copy of the yet-to-be releasedElephant Whitestarring Kevin Bacon and Dijimon Hounsou.

The Blu-Ray& DVD come out on Tuesday, May 17 and we are giving away copies of the film.

The film stars Kevin Bacon as weapons dealer Jimmy the Brit. Jimmy is enlisted by Curtie Church (Djimon Hounsou, Blood Diamond) to get revenge on a vicious Thai sex-trafficking gang. But what starts as a paying job turns into an outright war between two rival gangs, and Church finds himself caught between the corrupt world that surrounds him and the truth behind the man who hired him.

____

Contest Rules:

• Contest ends Friday May 20, 2011
• Only one entry per person. You must be at least 18 to enter.
• You must live in the United States or Canada.
• Four (4) winners will be selected randomly.
• Please allow 4-8 weeks to receive the prize.

How to enter:

1. Go to ourFacebook page
2. Find the post on our wall announcing the giveaway (GIVEAWAY: Win a copy of Elephant White)
3. Comment on that post and tell us which Kevin Bacon film is your favorite
4. We will select four winners at random and announce them on our Facebook page - make sure to check back on May 20th to see if you won.

Good luck!

Source

Top 10 Movies: Strong Female Cast

We're not saying these are necessarily movies to empower women, but they are films with a large female ensemble cast. 

In celebration of the release ofBridesmaids, which is being hailed"The Hangoverfor women,"we thought we'd go through our top 10 favorites films with a female ensemble cast.  Whether those women are young or old, most of these films show the bonds of sisterhood and the positive relationships between women. 

Some of these films you might not even remember, but take a look at our list and then chime in with your favorite films with an ensemble female cast.

TOP 10 MOVIE WITH A FEMALE ENSEMBLE

10.Sucker Punch(2011)

This film isn't necessarily about the bonds of sisterhood, but it is about a group of women staying loyal to each other amidst some pretty awful adversity.  Even though this isn't rooted in reality, the way these women work together to keep each other safe and have the others back is enough to make it on out list.

9.White Oleander(2002)

Based on the novel by Janet Finch, this movie explores the relationships between mothers and daughters, whether biological or not. At times hard to watch, it isn't a happy, uplifting film about the bonds shared between women.  It is dark film about what connects us and sometimes it's just not enough.  Astrid finds herself in the care of multiple women, each with her own demons and the performances from Robin Wright Penn, Renee Zellwegger, and Michelle Pfeiffer are extraordinary.

8.Waiting to Exhale(1995)

This film follows a group of women who stay friends through good and bad times.  It follows four women -- Savannah, Robin, Bernie, and Gloria -- through different times in their live, including love and loss.   The tag line for the film reads:"Friends are the people who let you be yourself... and never let you forget it."  This film is a great illustration of that as the women support each other and love each other through whatever comes their way.

7.Friends With Money(2006)

Much likeWaiting to Exhale, Friends With Moneyfollows four friends as they navigate life, each thinking their problems are worse than the others.  The women lean on each other for support even when they are dealing with their own issues and can be unpleasant to be around.  This film illustrates that not all female friendships are great all the time, but sticking together helps everyone get through the tough times.

6.Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants(2007)

How do teenage girls who are separated for the summer after spending most of their lives together survive?  By sharing a pair of jeans, of course.  The is the basic premise ofSisterhood of the Traveling Pants, which chronicles the lives of Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen who are living apart and must find their way on their own for the first time.  The pants are a symbol of the bond they still share, but we see it tested as the pants are sometimes forgotten.

5.Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood(2002)

After a mother and daughter have a falling-out, the daughter is forced to understand what makes her mother tick through an album that chronicles her life full of racism, incest, and family drama.  Her mother was part of a group of women who formed a secret order called the"Ya-Ya Sisterhood"to which they pledged undying loyalty.  Through flashbacks, it is clear the young women are supportive of one another and go through a lot together.

4.Steel Magnolias(1989)

In this small southern town, the bonds of sisterhood are strong.  Even when a woman is very ill, her mother and friends help take care of her the only way they know how.  Shelby is about to get married and all the women in her circle are worried about her because she is a diabetic and may not be able to have children.  The women are there for each other through thick and thin, even if they don't always agree with one another.

3.Now and Then(1995)

Now and Thenfollows the story of four best friends in 1970 who are experiences changes in their lives that they can't always handle.  They experience the journey together often leaning on each other for support as they go through various rites of passage.  The film also shows the women 15 years later as they all return to their hometown -- some of them are still there, other haven't been back for years and they haven't seen one another in a long time, but the bonds of friendship are strong and they easily continue where they left off.

2.The Women(2008)

One of the only movies with an exclusive female cast,The Womenattempts to push boundaries by showing that a film doesn't need men to be successful.  The women talk about the men in their lives, but we never actually see any of them and it's an interesting concept, that turned out surprisingly well.   The 2008 version if a remake of the classic 1939 version, but it brings the storylines and issues the women are facing into more modern times.  The women talk about their successes, failures, heartaches and uniquely special triumphs of being a woman.  It is an interesting study of the female spirit and turns out brillantly.

1.Sex and the City(2008)

We can never forget the women who changed everything for females all around the world. Sex and the Citybrought a new concept to the table for women -- it's okay to talk publicly with others about sex and relationships.  Women were transformed by Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha and they are still extremely popular and beloved characters.  Although the series takes credit for the unprecedented change and acceptance of women's sexuality, the film is a great celebration of love women have for one another and the ways they navigate the world through their own relationships and friendships with each other.  And that is why it tops our list of best female ensemble casts.

Source

Bridesmaids Movie Review:

Bridesmaidsis a fun comedy that proves women can be funny and crude, while keeping their dignity (sort of...).  These women pull out all the stops to make us laugh and it works.

The film features a wide range of character who each bring their own charm to this hilarious film that will have you laughing out loud from beginning to end.

The Plot:

Annie's (Kristen Wiig) life is a mess.  The bakery she opened recently went under, her boyfriend broke up with her, and she is flat broke.  To make matters worse, her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) seems to have it all together and is getting married - moving on without Annie. 

When Lillian asks Annie to be her maid of honor, she happily complies.  That is, until she realizes just how much time and money go in to the role -- planning the shower, bachelorette party, engagement party, wedding dresses, etc.  She's also competing for the spot with Lillian's new rich, beautiful friend, Helen (Rose Byrne), who will stop at nothing to win the coveted spot.  There's even a hilarious scene with Wiig and Byrne during the engagement toast, shamelessly trying to upstage one another.  The contrast between slowly depleting Annie and extremely put together Helen is perfect.

The Good:

Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph, best friends in real life, bring all their off screen chemistry onto the big screen and the two work beautifully together, bouncing off one another and endlessly bantering together to create truly hilarious sequences.

Wiig proves she can definitely handle herself on the big screen and carries this fast-paced movie right to the end.  She is charming as down-on-her-luck Annie who has hit rock bottom and approaches the character with a great wit and charm.  Annie's life is crumbling around her and Wiig plays the part to a tee -- even plastering a fake smile on her face to hide her depressing circumstances.

It has a storyline!  Much of the time, crude comedies looking for laughs (mostly featuring male leads) have absolutely no storyline, just a series of random events strategically place to enhance the hilarity of the film.  Not much in the way of character development or any kind of substance. Bridesmaidsis a crude comedy with heart.  It's not just all fun and games for these ladies, we experience some of their real-life troubles - of course presented with great comedic timing, but there's substance nonetheless.

On the surface, it may seem to be just another chick flick, which there are some instances, including Annie meeting and falling for a cop -- and the problems that come from a new budding romance.  But when it comes down to it, it's a weekend with the girls and the inherent connections - sometimes catty - that happen when a group of women get together to plan an event.  Bits of the film is chillingly realistic and hits every aspect of what it's like to be with a group of women when not all of them get along.

Another memorable scenes is the fun number at the end.  I won't give it away, but it involves a special appearance by a 90s group -- the nostalgia will simply make you smile.

The Bad:

The one subplot that didn't particularly sit well was the storyline between Annie and Jon Hamm's character, NAME.  Although Annie didn't have her life together, she was, for the most part, smarter than what was presented in this storyline.  NAME is a womanizing a**hole who simply uses Wiig and is outright rude to her.  Women do fall into this trap more often than not, but it was disappointing that she continued to go back.  It would have been nice to see her nip that problem in the bud earlier.

Overall, this was a project of love for Wiig from the very beginning of writing it a couple years ago to finally getting it made -- that is evident throughout and it is masterfully presented.

Source

Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts To Star in Boxing Drama The Bleeder

Naomi Watts, husband Liev Schreiber, and Christina Hendricks are all set to star in the upcoming dramaThe Bleeder, according toVariety.

The film, directed by Jeff Feuerzeig, is based on the true story of former heavyweight boxer and womanizer Chuck Wepner, who boxed 15 rounds with Muhammad Ali. 

Wepner's life inspired Sylvester Stallone to writeRocky,which resulted in a number of sequels.

Feuerzeig will direct from a script he co-wrote with Jerry Stahl.

 

 

 

Source