Johnny Depp: Master Of Quirk

Friday, August 30 through Monday, September 6

Florida rock-musician turned-actor (and now Parisian expatriate) Johnny Depp has attracted an eclectic, not- just-for-females audience since his introduction in 1984's A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. But it's his work for director Tim Burton, beginning with his portrayal of the title role in EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, that has helped establish his unique persona as a serious, idiosyncratic actor undaunted by the challenge of bringing odd characters to life on screen-including the title role in ED WOOD, Ichabod Crane in SLEEPY HOLLOW and Willy Wonka in Burton's upcoming CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Assuming roles that often obscure his boyish good looks, Depp has established a reputation as one of his generation's premiere actors by taking chances in a wide array of projects helmed by visionary directors.

AFI Silver presents nine of Depp's most interesting performances-including romantic leading-man showcases CHOCOLAT and DON JUAN DeMARCO; quirky crowd pleasers EDWARD SCISSORHANDS and SLEEPY HOLLOW; cult favorites FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS, CRY BABY, DEAD MAN, and WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE; and family blockbuster PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (an Oscar-nominated performance).

FEATURED FILM

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL

It makes sense to channel Keith Richards when you consider that pirates really were the rock stars of their day. In this popular take on swashbucklers, Johnny Depp not only provided the comic relief, but also earned another Academy Award nomination for his off-kilter turn as Jack Sparrow. Geoffrey Rush, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom and Jonathan Pryce have a boatload of fun in this blockbuster, the first movie based on a theme park ride. See it again... big and loud in AFI Silver's state-ofthe- art facilities.

Directed by Gore Verbinski; written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio; produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. US, 2003, color, 143 min. RATED PG-13

CHOCOLAT

Juliette Binoche sets up a chocolate shop in a rural French village and finds herself chastized by the clergy and mayor Alfred Molina for her decadent ways. But many of the townsfolk find her treats too good to pass up. As the handsome bohemian Roux, Johnny Depp embodies the free-wheeling hippie spirit of the 1960s. Will Binoche find him too good to pass up?

Directed by Lasse Hallström; written by Robert Nelson Jacobs; produced by Kit Golden, Leslie Holleran and David Brown. US/France, 2003, color, 121 min. RATED PG-13

CRY-BABY

The Drapes and the Squares face-off in 1950s Baltimore in John Waters' tribute to the juvenile delinquent movies of that era. Depp stars as Cry-Baby Walker, a gang-leader who falls for rich girl Amy Locane. An eclectic cast of supporting players includes Traci Lords, Polly Bergen, Patricia Hearst, David Nelson, Iggy Pop, Ricki Lake, Amy Locane, and Troy Donahue, as well as Waters regulars Mink Stole and Mary Vivian Pearce. By the way, it's also a musical.

Directed/written by John Waters; produced by Rachel Talalay. US, 1990, color, 85 min. RATED PG-13

DON JUAN DE MARCO

Featuring the Late Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando (in his last starring role) is the psychiatrist who treats Johnny Depp, a heartbroken young patient who's tried to kill himself in the name of love. After a bit of probing, Brando discovers Depp believes he's the legendary lover Don Juan. After listening to tales of some of Depp's exploits, Brando begins to believe him, eventually trying to rekindle his own marriage with Faye Dunaway.

Directed/written by Jeremy Leven; produced by Francis Ford Coppola, Fred Fuchs and Patrick Palmer. US, 1995, color, 97 min. RATED PG-13

DEAD MAN

The detached, ironic sense of cool of Jim Jarmusch, the haunting distorted-guitar soundtrack by Neil Young and Robby MŸller's brilliant black and white photography all coalesce to capture a dirty, gritty and wild West. Depp stars as William Blake and Gary Farmer as his native American guide Nobody.

Directed/written by Jim Jarmusch; produced by Demetra J. MacBride. US, 1996, b&w, 121 min. RATED R

SLEEPY HOLLOW

Tim Burton's gothic, stylish take on the classic Washington Irving tale of the Headless Horseman (Christopher Walken!) marks the third time this visionary director sparked a stunning performance from Depp. Ricci, who once played kid sister to Depp's then real-life girlfriend Winona Ryder in MERMAIDS, now plays Depp's love interest.

Directed by Tim Burton; written by Robert Kevin Walker; produced by Scott Rudin and Adam Schroeder. US, 1999, color, 105 min. RATED R

FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS

Terry Gilliam's trippy take on gonzo (creative "reporting") journalist Hunter S. Thompson's book about a psychedelic trip to the West in search of the "American Dream." Oddball journalist Johnny Depp teams up with crazed Somoan lawyer-pal Benicio del Toro (who packed on 40 pounds for the role) on a trip to Las Vegas aboard the convertible "Red Shark"-loaded with a bag full of narcotics. Along the way, they meet up with Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci, Gary Busey, Mark Harmon, Cameron Diaz, Flea and Lyle Lovett.

Directed by Terry Gilliam; adapted by Terry Gilliam, Tony Grisoni, Tod Davies and Alex Cox from the book by Hunter S. Thompson; produced by Patrick Cassavetti, Laila Nabulsi and Stephen Nemeth. US, 1998, color, 118 min. RATED R

EDWARD SCISSORHANDS

Johnny Depp, the creature with scissors for hands, is adopted by Avon Lady Dianne Wiest after his loving inventor Vincent Price (in his final screen role) dies leaving his creation unfinished. This satirical parable on alienation in a cookie-cutter subdivision solidified Tim Burton's reputation as a true visionary.

Directed by Tim Burton; written by Caroline Thompson; produced by Tim Burton and Denise DiNovi. US, 1990, color, 105 min. RATED PG-13

WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE

Even pre-TITANIC Leonardo DiCaprio's Academy Award-nominated portrayal of Depp's mentally handicapped brother and the casting of non-professional Darlene Cates as his mother (from an obesity segment on SALLY JESSE RAPHAEL) don't overshadow Depp's solid and subtle work as the title character at the center of a troubled family-trying to hold it all together.

Directed by Lasse Hallström; written by Peter Hodges; produced by David Matalon, Bertil Ohlsson and Meir Teper. US, 1993, color, 118 min. RATED PG-13