Why is Johnny Depp so hot?
The answer to this, for me at least, is that he knows when to shut up. The man is an amazing actor. I caught a movie this weekend while sitting around waiting for my laundry to get done that I'd never seen before, and there's Johnny Depp. And it was a fantastic little movie called Benny and Joon. After seeing that, I had to look at imdb's list of all Depp's movies. Now, I personally have had a love affair with the movie What's Eating Gilbert Grape since my best friend from back home introduced me to it many years ago. Depp stars in it. And I loved the movie Edward Scissor Hands. Depp's the star there, too. I went to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory soley because Depp was in it, and I was not dissappointed. He saved what, for me, has always been a rather tedious plot line. Finding Neverland and Pirates of the Caribbean have become two of my all time favorite movies.
I bring this up because Pirates of the Caribbean 2 comes out this weekend, and I am extremely thrilled. And do you know what I have not seen from Depp yet? A Tom Cruise style publicity stunt complete with insults to other actors and individuals on medication. Do you know why? Because Depp appears to have something so few actors have: An ounce of discretion.
I caught one interview with Depp on one late night TV show last year. I was so impressed by how reserved and witty he could be at the same time. And for me, that makes it way easier for me to let him to do his job, which is to be a different character in every movie he acts in. When I see him on the screen, I don't think about his misdeeds, largely because, at least lately (I didn't even know who he was until I saw Pirates), he doesn't appear to have any. (Other than saying he prefers living in France, which, let's face it, so would I if I could speak the language.) I think this is something that too few in Hollywood have figured out.
Granted, I'm a strange breed. I don't really like to watch the DVD commentary for movies and TV shows because it ruins the illusion of reality for me. I really don't gush about stars. People will ask me who is in a particular movie, and I have no idea. I only know a handful of movie stars' names. I prefer not to know too much about the actors because then I can believe them when I see them as these characters. (I like Hugh Jackman because he's hot, so I made a special effort to learn his name, but I don't know anything about him.) When I see Tom Cruise in a movie anymore, all I see is the crazy ass stuff he's done over the last two years.
But I genuinely like Johnny Depp. In this article he says some things that I really take to heart about not caring about box office sales (not because I have box office sales but because I need to not care so much about money). He's fantastic in every movie I've seen him in, and he always plays a different character. From what I've seen, I think that the quintessential Depp character is a unique invididual. Also, when Depp talks, streams of idiocy don't gush from his mouth. He talks about real things, not just how much "bling" he can buy. He rarely talks about his family, which I can respect. He appears to take his work and his carreer very seriously, which I admire.
So, I think the answer to the burning question of why is Johnny Depp so hot, for me at least, is that he is hot because, in addition to be really really ridiculously good looking, he has that certain something else. Wait, what's it called? It's on the tip of my tongue.... um.... uh....oh.... CHARACTER. (Sorry, I'd seen so little of it lately that I couldn't quite remember what it was called.)
Posted by LoWriter at July 3, 2006 08:23 AMWhile I can't exactly comment on his hotness, I can comment on his annoyance factor... or lack there of. Not once have I been annoyed with his acting ability. That's a good quality in my book.
Posted by: jeff at July 3, 2006 09:23 AMdr g nods to depp's performance as The Good Doctor in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. he put so much research and heart into the roll that he became a very good personal friend of Hunter Thompson. now THAT's method acting.
Posted by: dr gonzo at July 3, 2006 09:43 AMBenny and Joon, what a cute, quirky little movie. One of my favorites when I was a teenager, we watched it several times in school, once in psychology. Depp has never been one of my favorite actors, though he is quite good, one of my high school friends was in love with him and had the 21 Jump Street posters up everywhere. Ah, 21 Jump Street, the good old days of Fox.
I vote for any actor or singer that can keep there good old mouth shut about anything that requires thinking or personal choice. I mean, it's fine to say what you think (a la Brooke Shields), especially when it raises awareness - but I am not sure how they feel they can lecture me on religion and politics. I mean, how many of them have graduated from college? If Jodie Foster said something I might listen (Yale graduate)... but otherwise - not so much...
Posted by: 10lees at July 3, 2006 10:24 AM