Dark Shadows (2012)

In the year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America. But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious curse that has plagued their family. Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet—or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy…until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets. Matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) has called upon live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), to help with her family troubles. Also residing in the manor is Elizabeth’s ne’er-do-well brother, Roger Collins, (Jonny Lee Miller); her rebellious teenage daughter Carolyn Stoddard (Chloe Moretz); and Roger’s precocious 10-year-old son, David Collins (Gulliver McGrath). The mystery extends beyond the family, to caretaker Willie Loomis, played by Jackie Earle Haley, and David’s new nanny, Victoria Winters, played by Bella Heathcote.

Opens in theaters Friday, May 11, 2012.

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The Rum Diary

Based on the debut novel by Hunter S. Thompson, “The Rum Diary” tells the increasingly unhinged story of itinerant journalist Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp). Tiring of the noise and madness of New York and the crushing conventions of late Eisenhower-era America, Kemp travels to the pristine island of Puerto Rico to write for a local newspaper, The San Juan Star, run by downtrodden editor Lotterman (Richard Jenkins).

Adopting the rum-soaked life of the island, Paul soon becomes obsessed with Chenault (Amber Heard), the wildly attractive Connecticut-born fiancée of Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart). Sanderson, a businessman involved in shady property development deals, is one of a growing number of American entrepreneurs who are determined to convert Puerto Rico into a capitalist paradise in service of the wealthy. When Kemp is recruited by Sanderson to write favorably about his latest unsavory scheme, the journalist is presented with a choice: to use his words for the corrupt businessmen’s financial benefit, or use them to take the bastards down.

Opens Friday, October 28th.

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Rango

From the director of “The Pirates of the Caribbean” comes RANGO, featuring Johnny Depp in an original animated comedy-adventure that takes moviegoers for a hilarious and heartfelt walk in the Wild West. The story follows the comical, transformative journey of Rango (Depp), a sheltered chameleon living as an ordinary family pet, while facing a major identity crisis. After all, how high can you aim when your whole purpose in life is to blend in? When Rango accidentally winds up in the gritty, gun-slinging town of Dirt – a lawless outpost populated by the desert’s most wily and whimsical creatures – the less-than-courageous lizard suddenly finds he stands out. Welcomed as the last hope the town has been waiting for, new Sheriff Rango is forced to play his new role to the hilt . . . until, in a blaze of action-packed situations and encounters with outrageous characters, Rango starts to become the hero he once only pretended to be. With a cast that includes Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Harry Dean Stanton, Ray Winstone and Timothy Olyphant as the Spirit of the West, Rango is an exciting new twist on the classic Western legend of the outsider who saves a town – and himself in the process.

Open March 4th.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stanger Tides

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise—this time in Disney Digital 3D™. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in an action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise. When Jack crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), he’s not sure if it’s love—or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

The international cast includes franchise vets Geoffrey Rush as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa, and Kevin R. McNally as Captain Jack’s longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs, plus Sam Claflin as a stalwart missionary and Astrid Berges-Frisbey as a mysterious mermaid.

Opens May 20, 2011.

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Review – The Tourist

Opening today is the follow-up film from German director Florian Henckel von Donnersmark (the acclaimed The Lives of Others), The Tourist; a tongue-in-cheek romantic comedy reminiscent of the old Cary Grant films with co-stars Audrey Hepburn (Charade) and Grace Kelly (To Catch a Thief). Angelina Jolie plays the drop-dead gorgeous femme fatale in fabulous retro gowns and dresses who strings along a puppy dog American tourist (Johnny Depp) who is absolutely smitten with her. Who wouldn’t be smitten? Even I’d follow her, if only to get a chance at wearing one of those fabulous outfits.

From a café in Paris to romantic Venice, Elise (Jolie) plays a deadly cat and mouse game with a Russian gangster (Steven Berkoff) and his henchman and British and Italian Interpol who all want to trap her elusive boyfriend, Alexander Pearce. Alexander has stolen billions from the Russians and they naturally want their money back. Frank (Depp), a math teacher from Wisconsin, becomes bait for the trap when Elise picks him up on a train. Elise follows Alexander’s secret directives but ends up having to save Frank from misadventures.

The setting of Venice, its waterways and impressive architecture, is the perfect backdrop for this beautiful couple and their adventures. Funny, with a shot of dead seriousness here and there, the pace keeps you glued to the screen. Yet, I’m not sure if the storyline is more interesting than Angelina Jolie and her clothes. In various scenes, she manages to resurrect Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Sophia Loren. Johnny Depp, on the other hand, maintains Johnny Depp. He isn’t as suave and witty as Cary Grant was. For example he says, “Gracias” to the Italian hotel staff and replies “Bon Jovi” instead of “buongiorno”. But we forgive him all the same.

From the opening scene, there is no shortage of attractive men in The Tourist. Included in the international cast are Paul Bettany (Priest, 2011), Timothy Dalton (007, the casual version), Rufus Sewell (you know him), and hunky Italian Raoul Bova (Under the Tuscan Sun), who tries to put the moves on Angelina. There’s nothing like being under surveillance and being pursued by a host of good-looking gentlemen to make a girl feel desired. Frank has some serious competition. Or does he? Paul Bettany’s character Acheson says Elise apparently falls in love with anyone she has contact with for longer than a train ride and Frank currently has that enviable spot.

The end presents a twist that seems a bit absurd but the movie isn’t meant to be taken too seriously. There are moments between Johnny and Angelina that are timeless in the romantic sense: the dance, the kiss, the final destiny. I wondered, however, how the two could fall in love within such a short span of time; from a train ride to a platonic night shared in a hotel. Yet the end explains it all and you want to revisit the entire film with that new perception. All in all, the film is entertaining and visually enjoyable.

The Tourist

Johnny Depp stars as an American tourist whose playful dalliance with a stranger leads to a web of intrigue, romance and danger in The Tourist.

During an impromptu trip to Europe to mend a broken heart, Frank (Depp) unexpectedly finds himself in a flirtatious encounter with Elise (Angelina Jolie), an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path.

Against the breathtaking backdrop of Paris and Venice, their whirlwind romance quickly evolves as they find themselves unwittingly thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Opens December 10th, 2010.

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Review – Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Could you think of a more perfect paring than director Tim Burton and Lewis Carroll’s classic heroine Alice? Disney has brought them together in easily the most-anticipated film of the spring, Alice in Wonderland which opens on Friday March 5th with an impressive cast and in glorious 3-D. Well hurry up, you’re already late for a very important date.

Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska) finds herself in an unenviable situation. Bright and imaginative she’s bristling under the pressure of family obligations and expectation for her future. At a key moment during her surprise engagement party, Alice spies a curious and somewhat familiar sight of a white rabbit in a waistcoat. She delays her fate to pursue the rabbit. Her quest leads her to a sizable rabbit hole and you know what happens when a girl named Alice explores a rabbit hole – she falls in. We’ve seen this before, haven’t we?

But Alice recognizes nothing familiar in these fantastic surroundings and its unusual inhabitants. She’s convinced she is in a dream, despite numerous attempts to awaken herself. And her dream quickly becomes a nightmare when The Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) tells her she is destined to become the White Queen’s (Anne Hathaway) champion and to do battle with the dreaded Jabberwocky, ultimately bringing about the downfall of the horrible Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter). It’s all too much for Alice. She must finally embrace her true self, face her fears and put the power of her imagination to the test.

There is a lot to like about this movie. Firstly, the visuals are sumptuous. If anyone could create the world of Underland it is Burton and his production design team. If the 3-D version is available in your area I highly recommend seeing it in this format. Secondly, the performances of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter are great. Depp’s characterization of The Hatter is layered with sadness as well as madness. I have to add though that sometimes when he mumbles, especially in a Scottish brogue it’s next to impossible to understand him. And Helena gets to camp it up, just a little, as the irascible Red Queen. Additionally, the voice talents used for the animals is an array of Burton alums and great British talent, from Christopher Lee to Timothy Spall and Alan Rickman to Michael Sheen and Stephen Fry. I always enjoy trying to figure out who’s who.

Conversely, there are things that don’t work in this movie. The script relies too much on people having seen the 1951 Disney animated film or having read the books. Like Alice we stumble into Wonderland with no introductions to the characters, who then experience no real development other than what we already know about them. The story itself jumps from setpiece to setpiece with Alice riding some giant animal to get there. The end result is a bloodless and soulless film that looks very pretty but leaves you hollow. To me it was reminiscent of The Golden Compass (2007) in that respect. This leads me to suspect that there is a director’s cut out there in the world somewhere.

As I said, anticipation is pretty high for this film and it should have a decent opening weekend. But I fear the lack of heart to the story will make high box office in the weeks that follow an impossible task. That’s a disappointment when you consider it was the seemingly perfect combination of director and character. Sadly Alice has lost much of her “muchness”.

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

From Walt Disney Pictures and visionary director Tim Burton comes an epic 3D fantasy adventure ALICE IN WONDERLAND, a magical and imaginative twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time. JOHNNY DEPP stars as the Mad Hatter and MIA WASIKOWSKA as 19-year old Alice, who returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat and of course the Mad Hatter. Alice embarks on a fantastical journey to find her true destiny and end the Red Queen’s reign of terror. The all-star cast also includes ANNE HATHAWAY, HELENA BONHAM CARTER and CRIPSIN GLOVER. The screenplay is by Linda Woolverton. Capturing the wonder of Lewis Carroll’s beloved Alices’ Adventures in Wonderland [1865] and Through the Looking Glass [1871] with stunning avant garde visuals and the most charismatic characters in literary history ALICE IN WONDERLAND comes to the screen in Disney Digital 3D on March 5, 2010.

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Public Enemies

With the announcement of the Oscars increasing the Best Picture nominees to 10, more deserving films will get exposure regardless of the outcome. Public Enemies will be one of those on the list for the March 7, 2010 Oscars, in my opinion. Not only was it well cast, with Johnny Depp as Dillinger, Christian Bale as Purvis, and Marion Cotillard as Billie, the action and drama were well paced together in the 1930s backdrop of fancy cars, machine guns, and elegantly designed banks. Read more

Public Enemies

From the official site – In the action-thriller Public Enemies, acclaimed film director Michael Mann directs Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard in the story of legendary Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger (Depp)  – the charasmatic bank robber whose lightening raids made him the number one targer of J. Edgar Hoover’s fledgling FBI and its top agent Melvin Purvis (Bale), and a folk hero to much of the public. Read more