Johnny Depp - The Mimic of Hollywood

It is getting close to game time, and I am pumped.  Johnny Depp is playing Whitey Bulger in Black Mass, and my excitement for this has perpetually increased from the moment I heard of this project's conception.  The source material is incredible, allowing for many possible angles, tones, and emotions for the story to take.  When the teaser trailer dropped, I viewed it multiple times, drawn in by the captivating and driving force behind what could make this movie truly stand out, and that is Mr. Depp.

There is some lingering sadness in me over the fact that many people think of quirky and insane characters when they hear the name Johnny Depp.  I will admit that he was the best part of Pirates of the Caribbean (conjuring a performance that stole every single scene he was present for), but the past ten plus years have allowed audiences to forget exactly who we are dealing with when we sit in front of a screen projecting his image.

This is a man who came on the scene as the sweater-vest wearing jock Glen (even though he was undersized physically for the roll) in A Nightmare on Elm Street, a performance that assisted in bringing a sense of real teenage emotion and presence in the midst of a torrid nightmare.  He portrayed innocence, timidity, and morality in Platoon.  And then he was a heartthrob on 21 Jump Street.

From that point onwards, his rolls were all over the board.  From a freak with snipping little scissor fingers to playing the king of B-movies, Ed Wood, he threw everything possible into each role.  There is always an absolute conquering of mannerisms in his performances, completely embodying all physical characteristics for his role.  Facial ticks?  Yep, they exist differently in each performance.  Posture?  Yep, that changes too.  

For those who have no seen Depp playing real life drug dealer George Jung in Blow, I highly recommend it.  And, if you are able to, watch the audio commentary that has Jung talk about the movie via a phone call from prison.  Hearing him speak you can understand just masterfully Depp captured the exact sound of his voice.

Jung was astounded by what Depp did in Blow, and referred to him as a mimic.  This is exactly why I am looking forward to Black Mass so much.  It is a chance to see the talents of one of the best (if not the best) mimic actors in Hollywood history playing one of the most notoriously known gangsters in history.  He won't be wearing funny hats or acting for laughs, which is what most think of when they hear his name.  He will be returning to the craft that he owns a monopoly on, and he will be doing it with cold, psychopathic, cruelty.