Blow -- 2001

In Deep With Depp
Johnny Depp in: Blow

Okay, so I know that this is long overdue, but I've finished watching Johnny Depp in Blow. If that isn't a sad movie, then I don't know what is. I mean, can I just start by saying that if your parents are constantly splitting up, your dad goes bankrupt, and your girlfriend dies of leukemia within the first thirty minutes of the movie, things are not looking up for you.

Overall, this is an amazing movie. It's based on a true story about the life of George Jung (played by Johnny Depp), a major drug dealer. He started with marijuana and moved to cocaine during his first stint in prison with the help of Diego, who later betrays George in an attempt to save himself. While in the marijuana business, George is in California and selling through one of his girlfriend's connections. When George gets booked for the first time and tells his girlfriend that he's been sentenced to two years, he's told that she has leukemia. After she meets his parents. After they're engaged. This, I suppose, is when the "fun, fun, fun" and "party life" of the movie start to wear off. As a matter of fact, George gets shafted for the majority of the movie.

Things start to look up, however, long after George marries Mirtha (played by Penelope Cruz). While she is pregnant with their child (Kristina, played by Emma Roberts), and George tries to get out of the coke business with a clean break, it seems like everything is going to be okay. Not the case. George, for five years, dedicates everything to his daughter and things are great until his birthday party, where he is busted by waiters. Again, he runs away.

The remainder of the movie is about George and his relationship with his daughter. In an effort to take her to California, George does one last coke run, and is betrayed by his "best friend." He is sentenced to 6o years. The final scene I won't recount for two reasons: 1. It's really damn sad and I cried watching it, and 2. I have to leave you more reason to watch the movie.

On a scale of one to ten, I give this movie a 9. It seemed to fall together nearly perfectly. The only thing that I was even mildly confused about was the Spanish. In a few parts of the movie, there is Spanish speaking without subtitles, and that's why the movie doesn't have a ten. Honestly, I think this is one of my favorite Johnny Depp movies of all time. He doesn't play a "stereotypically Johnny Depp" character. He's just a person, albeit a millionaire of a drug dealer. But still, his acting and narrating had me leaning forward on the couch for the whole movie. Since I'm no film critic, I can't really give a breakdown of how scene transitions and the technical aspect worked. If it helps, I wasn't jarred by the scene changes.

My favorite part of the movie is actually two parts, and are probably the two saddest bits of the movie. They involve George and his daughter Kristina. The first is when George is in jail and Mirtha brings his daughter to see him in prison. She picks up the phone and George says hello. She responds with, "I thought you couldn't live without your heart," slams the phone down, and storms away. I love this scene, however short, because when George sees his daughter, his entire face breaks into an uncontrollable smile and he's so happy to see her. The expression that Johnny's face is capable of astounds me even still. His face went from flat dealing with his wife to elated at seeing his daughter to crushed when he learned that his daughter didn't seem to love him anymore. My other favorite scene is the very last scene. I won't tell you what happened, suffice to say that there is a hallucination, and the very last title card of the movie reads: George Jung is sentenced to Otisville Federal Correctional Institution until 2015. Kristina Sunshine Jung has not yet visited her father. I cried. But, oh my God this was an amazing movie.

It's appropriately rated R for extreme drug content and use, language, mild violence, and sexuality. So hide your eyes, kiddies, and parents be warned. This is not a movie that your ten-year-old child should be watching. I'm seventeen, and I can watch what I want (according to the theater), so I know what I'm saying when I say this. It's an amazing movie, but it's not kid friendly.

And now: My favorite quotes (funny and not) from the movie.

• George: Life passes most people by while they're making grand plans for it. Throughout my lifetime, I've left pieces of my heart here and there. And now, there's almost not enough to stay alive. But I force a smile, knowing that my ambition far exceeded my talent. There are no more white horses or pretty ladies at my door.
• Fred (father): Sometimes you're flush and sometimes you're bust, and when you're up, it's never as good as it seems, and when you're down, you never think you'll be up again, but life goes on.
• Mirtha: You let Diego fuck you in the ass. Maybe because you like it, maybe because you're a fucking faggot. That's what I think you are. I think you are really fuckin' him cause you're not fucking me. Why's that? Why? Why don't you fuck me anymore?
• George: Hello Dad. You know I remember a lifetime ago, when I was about 3 1/2 feet tall, weighing all of 60 pounds, but every inch your son. I remember those Saturday mornings going to work with my dad, we'd climb into that big green truck. I thought that truck... was the biggest truck in the universe pop. I remember how important the job we did was, how if it wasn't for us, people would freeze to death. I thought you were the strongest man in the world. And remember those home videos when mom would dress up like Loretta Young, barbeques and football games, ice cream, playing with the Tuna. And when I left for California only to come home with the FBI chasing me, and that FBI agent Trout had to kneel down to put my boots on and you said, "That's where you belong you son of a bitch, puttin on Georgie's boots." That was a good one pop, you remember that. And remember that time when you told me that money wasn't real. Well old man, I'm 42 years old, and I finally realize what you were trying to tell me, so many years ago. I finally understand. Your the best, pop, just wish I could have done more for you, wish we had more time. Anyway, may the wind always be at your back, and the sun always upon your face, and may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars. I love you Dad. Love George.
• George: The official toxicity limit for humans is between one and one and half grams of cocaine depending on body weight. I was averaging five grams a day, maybe more. I snorted ten grams in ten minutes once. I guess I had a high tolerance.
• George: Alright. Well, in all honesty, I don't feel that what I've done is a crime. And I think it's illogical and irresponsible for you to sentence me to prison. Because, when you think about it, what did I really do? I crossed an imaginary line with a bunch of plants. I mean, you say I'm an outlaw, you say I'm a thief, but where's the Christmas dinner for the people on relief? Huh? You say you're looking for someone who's never weak but always strong, to gather flowers constantly whether you are right or wrong, someone to open each and every door, but it ain't me, babe, huh? No, no, no, it ain't me, babe. It ain't me you're looking for, babe. You follow? (I laughed when he did this little monologue. He was so "I'm such a badass".)

Finally, just a few pictures of the movie, just in case knowing Johnny Depp was in it wasn't enough to make you get up and watch it, just a couple of shots of him being a total BAMF.

You know, just him thinking he's on top of the world.

Sunglasses = instant sex god? I should say so.

George and Diego, living in millions. At one point in the movie, Johnny rolls around in it.

Here, we start to see things going south for George. Still, even in the face of guns and death, he manages to look beautiful.

From the tail end of the movie, when the shit hits the fan. Betrayal and the realization that he's never seeing his daughter again, after he made her that promise. My heart broke when I realized exactly what was going on.

Well, that's it for this one! I think that I'll watch either Donnie Brasco or one of the Pirates movies next... Definitely Pirates. I need a little happy, less somber Johnny Depp for a little bit. So by the end of next week, you should have yourself a review of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003). I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy watching and writing.

Until next time. Be kind. Be courteous. And remember: if someone has a gun in your mouth, the chances you do as he says are significantly higher than if you're sharing drinks in Mexico.

-- Clarke

In Deep With Depp -- an Introduction

Hey! I'm Clarke. You can find my personal blog here: Catastrophe Embodied -- if you want to learn more about me and my life. This blog, however, is dedicated to and all about two words that make up (in my not-so-humble opinion) the greatest actor in all of the world: Johnny Depp. I'm going to be watching and reviewing every movie this man has ever acted in. Ever.

But I warn you, I will be very biased. I think that Johnny can do no wrong, so there will be no bashing on his acting skills. I will not, however, be afraid to criticize story, plot, characters, and the like.

Are you sure you want to read on? You have been warned...

Okay then. First, a quick overview of Johnny's life. That is, to say, a short biography (aka what I stole from Wikipedia).

John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor and musician known for his portrayals of offbeat, eccentric characters such as Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, Raoul Duke in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and Sam in Benny & Joon. Depp rose to prominence in a lead role on the television series 21 Jump Street and quickly became regarded as a teen idol. Uncomfortable with that characterization, he turned his focus to film roles that he felt were right. He initially came to film prominence as the titular character of Edward Scissorhands, and later found box office success in roles such as Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow, Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series and his role as the quirky Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He has collaborated with director and close friend Tim Burton in seven films, the most recent of which include Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) and the upcoming Alice in Wonderland. Depp has garnered acclaim for his portrayals of real life figures such as Edward D. Wood, Jr., in Ed Wood, Joseph D. Pistone in Donnie Brasco and George Jung in Blow (2001). More recently, he portrayed legendary bank robber John Dillinger in Michael Mann's 2009 film Public Enemies. Films featuring Depp have grossed over $2.3 billion at the United States box office and over $4.8 billion worldwide. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor three times, Screen Actors Guild Awards four times and Golden Globe Awards eight times, Depp won the Best Actor Awards from the Golden Globes for his role in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and from the Screen Actors Guild for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Depp was born in Owensboro, Kentucky, the son of Betty Sue Palmer (née Wells), a waitress, and John Christopher Depp, Sr., a civil engineer. He has one brother, Daniel who is a novelist, and two sisters, Christie (now his personal manager) and Debbie. Depp has German, Cherokee (mostly from a great-grandmother), and Irish ancestry. According to biographies, the Depp family originated with a French Huguenot, Pierre Deppe or Dieppe, who settled in Virginia around 1700. Depp stated he did not know the origin of his surname and joked about the name translating to "idiot" in German. The family moved frequently during Depp's childhood, and he and his siblings lived in more than 20 different locations, settling in Miramar, Florida, in 1970. In 1978, Depp's parents divorced. He engaged in self-harm as a child, due to the stress of dealing with family problems and his own insecurity. He has seven or eight scars from practicing self-harm. In a 1993 interview, he explained his self-injury by saying, "My body is a journal in a way. It's like what sailors used to do, where every tattoo meant something, a specific time in your life when you make a mark on yourself, whether you do it yourself with a knife or with a professional tattoo artist."

Depp's mother bought her son a guitar when he was 12, and Depp began playing in various garage bands. His first band was in honor of his girlfriend, Meredith. A year after his parents' divorce, Depp dropped out of high school to become a rock musician. As he once explained on Inside the Actors Studio, he attempted to go back to school two weeks later, but the principal told him to follow his dream of being a musician. He played with The Kids, a band that enjoyed modest local success. The Kids set out together for Los Angeles in pursuit of a record deal, changing their name to Six Gun Method. The group split before signing a record deal. Depp subsequently collaborated with the band Rock City Angels and co-wrote their song "Mary", which appeared on Rock City Angels' debut for Geffen Records titled Young Man's Blues. On December 24, 1983, Depp married Lori Anne Allison, a makeup artist and sister of his band's bass player and singer. During Depp's marriage, his wife worked as a makeup artist while he worked a variety of odd jobs, including a telemarketer for ink pens. Later, his wife introduced him to actor Nicolas Cage, who advised Depp to pursue an acting career. In 1985, Depp and Allison divorced. After his marriage ended, Depp dated and was engaged to Sherilyn Fenn (whom he met on the set of the 1985 short film Dummies).

In 1994, Depp was arrested and questioned by police for allegedly causing serious damage to a New York City hotel suite. Since 1998, following a relationship with British supermodel Kate Moss, Depp has had a relationship with Vanessa Paradis, a French actress and singer whom he met while filming The Ninth Gate. He was arrested again in 1999 for brawling with paparazzi outside a restaurant while dining in London with Paradis. The couple have two children. Daughter Lily-Rose Melody Depp was born May 27, 1999, and son John "Jack" Christopher Depp III was born April 9, 2002. In 2007, his daughter recovered from a serious illness, an E. coli infection that began to cause her kidneys to shut down and resulted in an extended hospital stay. To thank Great Ormond Street Hospital, Depp visited the hospital in November 2007 dressed in his Captain Jack Sparrow outfit and spent 4 hours reading stories to the children. He later donated £1 million (about $2 million) to the hospital in early 2008. Although Depp has not remarried, he has stated that having children has given him "real foundation, a real strong place to stand in life, in work, in everything." "You can't plan the kind of deep love that results in children. Fatherhood was not a conscious decision. It was part of the wonderful ride I was on. It was destiny; kismet. All the math finally worked." The family divides its time between their home in Meudon, located in the suburbs of Paris, Los Angeles, and their villa in Le Plan-de-la-Tour, a small town an hour and a half from Saint-Tropez, in the south of France. Depp also acquired a vineyard estate in the Plan-de-la-Tour area in 2007. Depp has 13 tattoos, many of them signifying important persons or events in his life. They include a Native American in profile and a ribbon reading "Wino Forever" (originally "Winona Forever", altered after his breakup with Winona Ryder) on his right biceps, "Lily-Rose" (his daughter's name) over his heart, "Betty Sue" (his mother's name) on his left biceps, and a sparrow flying over water with the word "Jack" (his son's name; the sparrow is flying towards him rather than away from him as it is in Pirates of the Caribbean) on his right forearm. In 2003, Depp comments about the United States appeared in Germany's Stern magazine, commenting that "America is dumb, is something like a dumb puppy that has big teeth — that can bite and hurt you, aggressive." Although he later asserted that the magazine misquoted him and the quotation was taken out of context, Stern stood by its story, as did CNN.com in its coverage of the interview. CNN added his remark that he would like his children "to see America as a toy, a broken toy. Investigate it a little, check it out, get this feeling and then get out." The July 17, 2006 edition of Newsweek reprinted the "dumb puppy" quotation, verbatim, within the context of a Letter to the Magazine. Depp has also disagreed with subsequent media reports that he says paint him as a "European wannabe", saying that he just likes the anonymity of living in France and his simpler life there.

Some of the awards that Depp has won include honors from the London Film Critics Circle (1996), Russian Guild of Film Critics (1998), Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004) and a Golden Globe for Best Actor. At the 2008 MTV Movie Awards, he won the award for "Best Villain" for his portrayal of Sweeney Todd and "Best Comedic Performance" for Jack Sparrow. Depp has been nominated for three Academy Awards, in 2004 for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, in 2005 for Finding Neverland, and in 2008 for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Depp won his first Golden Globe for his portrayal of Sweeney Todd in 2008.

Right... That was short, right? Yeah, no... No it was not. ANYWAY. Over the years, Mr. Depp has acted in quite a number of things, making television appearances and over two dozen movies. Here's a list of his television show appearances (please note that until further notice, I will only be reviewing Johnny Depp in his television show 21 Jump Street):

• year -- show -- character name -- episode
  
• 1985 -- Lady Blue -- Lionel Viland -- Beasts of Prey
• 1986 -- Slow Burn -- Donnie Fleischer -- TV film
• 1987 - 1991 -- 21 Jump Street -- Officer Thomas "Tom" Hanson, Jr. -- TV series
• 1987 -- Hotel -- Rob Cameron -- Unfinished Business
• 1999 -- The Vicar of Dibley -- himself -- Celebrity Party
• 2000 -- The Fast Show -- himself -- The Last Ever Fast Show
• 2004 -- King of the Hill -- Yogi Victor -- Hank's Back
• 2009 -- Spongebob Squarepants -- Jack Kahuna Laguna -- Spongebob vs. The Big One

Now we get to the fun part: the movies. It will be in the same format as the television shows, minus the "episode feature." That looks like this, by the way: year -- movie -- character name.

• 1984 -- A Nightmare on Elm Street -- Glen Lantz
  
• 1985 -- Private Resort -- Jack Marshall
  
• 1986 -- Platoon -- Private Gator Lerner
• 1990 -- Cry-Baby -- Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker
  
• 1990 -- Edward Scissorhands -- Edward Scissorhands
  
• 1991 -- Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare -- Teen on TV (cameo as Oprah Noodlemantra)
• 1993 -- What's Eating Gilbert Grape -- Gilbert Grape
  
• 1993 -- Benny & Joon -- Sam
  
• 1993 -- Arizona Dream -- Axel Blackmar
• 1994 -- Ed Wood -- Edward D. Wood, Jr.
  
• 1995 -- Nick of Time -- Gene Watson
  
• 1995 -- Dead Man -- William Blake
  
• 1995 -- Don Juan DeMarco -- Don Juan / John R. DeMarco
• 1996 -- Cannes Man -- himself
  
• 1997 -- Donnie Brasco -- Donnie Brasco / Joseph D. Pistone
• 1997 -- The Brave -- Raphael
  
• 1998 -- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas -- Raoul Duke
  
• 1998 -- LA Without a Map -- Himself / William Blake
  
• 1999 -- Sleepy Hollow -- Ichabod Crane
  
• 1999 -- The Astronaut's Wife -- Spencer Armacost
  
• 1999 -- The Source -- Jack Kerouac
  
• 1999 -- The Ninth Gate -- Dean Corso
  
• 2000 -- Chocolat -- Roux
  
• 2000 -- Before Night Falls -- Lt. Victor, Bon Bon
• 2001 -- From Hell -- Frederick Abberline
• 2001 -- The Man who Cried -- Cesar
  
• 2001 -- Blow -- George Jung
  
• 2002 -- Lost in La Mancha -- himself
  
• 2003 -- Once Upon a Time in Mexico -- Sheldon Sands
  
• 2003 -- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl -- Captain Jack Sparrow
  
• 2004 -- Happily Ever After -- L'inconnu
• 2004 -- Finding Neverland -- Sir James Matthew Barrie
• 2004 -- Secret Window -- Mort Rainey
• 2005 -- The Libertine -- John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
• 2005 -- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory -- Willy Wonka
  
• 2005 -- Tim Burton's Corpse Bride -- Victor Van Dort
  
• 2006 -- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest -- Captain Jack Sparrow
  
• 2007 -- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End -- Captain Jack Sparrow
  
• 2007 -- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street -- Sweeney Todd / Benjamin Barker
  
• 2008 -- Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson -- Narrator
  
• 2009 -- Public Enemies -- John Dillinger
  
• 2009 -- The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus -- Tony (1st transformation)
  
• 2009 -- When You're Strange -- Narrator
  
• 2010 -- The Rum Diaries -- Paul Kemp
  
• 2010 -- Alice in Wonderland -- The Mad Hatter
  
• 2011 -- Rango -- Rango
  

That would be a grand total of 46 movies and 8 television appearances. I obviously have my work cut out for me. I promise to try to make this blog informative, but also fun. Because what good is talking about Johnny Depp when you can't have any fun with it? Exactly, none. I hope to, by Wednesday, have watched Blow (2001), and if I meet that deadline, the review will be up by Friday. I need time to watch, revel, appreciate, and write down enough coherent sentences that aren't about Johnny Depp to write a decent review. Oh yes. This should be very fun.

Until next time. Be kind. Be courteous. And remember: if a pirate tells you he's got your heart in a jar of dirt, you should probably do as he says.

-- Clarke