Top Ten Johnny Depp Movies Review

Over the past 25 years, Johnny Depp has built a body of work full of idiosyncratic performances in films ranging from his debut in 1984's Nightmare on Elm Street to art house fare like Chocolat (2000) to mainstream success in The Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

It was pretty tough to pick the top ten, but I tried to base the list on both the strength of his performance and the overall quality of the film in question. I also focused on his starring roles, which excludes his work in such films as Platoon and Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003): Not the best film of Johnny's career (it was based on a theme park ride, of all things), but enormously popular, and his performance as Captain Jack Sparrow is brilliant and great fun. Based on the mannerisms of the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, Depp's rogueish pirate is the main reason to see the two contrived sequels that followed in the wake of this box office bonanza. Available on DVD in one, two, and three disc editions (triple dipping!) from Walt Disney Video.

2. Ed Wood (1994): Depp is charming and funny as writer/director/tranvestite Edward D. Wood Jr., the director of such grade Z '50s "classics" as Glen or Glenda, Bride of the Monster, and his magnum opus, Plan 9 from Outer Space. A labor of love for director Tim Burton, the movie celebrates the creative urge, and an artist overcoming all obstacles to achieve his vision, even if that vision involved grave-robbing zombies from outer space, and obsession with angora sweaters. Touchstone/Disney Home Video.

3. Edward Scissorhands (1990): Tim Burton's fable about a boy with scissors for hands is a masterpiece, and Depp does wonders in the title role, despite having not much in the way of dialogue. His facial expressions and physical mannerisms are pure genius. A beautiful film. Made me cry, damn it. 20th Century Fox Home Video.

4. Dead Man (1995): Director Jim Jarmusch's black and white existential western stars Depp as William Blake, a man on a journey to nowhere. While not a commercial success, this brilliant film has great depth and will stick with you long after the closing credits, and reveals more with each viewing. With Robert Mitchum, Gabriel Byrne, and Iggy Pop, music by Neil Young. Miramax Home Entertainment.

5. Blow (2001): Again, a somewhat flawed film, but Depp gives a tour-de-force performance as George Jung, who comes to California in the late '60s, starts dealing weed to hippies, and before long becomes a major coke dealer when he partners with Pablo Escobar and the Medellin cartel. Depp's character believably ages 30 years over the course of the film, and his performance is note-perfect. New Line Home Video.

6. Sleepy Hollow (1999): In yet another collaboration with director Tim Burton (they have since worked together on several more films, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sweeney Todd, and The Corpse Bride), Depp is Ichabod Crane in this retelling of the Washington Irving tale. His portrayal of the timid but highly intelligent police inspector is spot-on, and his encounters with the Headless Horseman (Christopher Walken) are scary and memorable. Paramount Home Video.

7. Donnie Brasco (1997): Depp's likability is a huge asset in this true story of Joseph Pistone, an undercover FBI agent infiltrating the mafia in the late '70s, because Al Pacino's character, low-level mobster Lefty Ruggiero, is a far more sympathetic figure. Sony Home Video.

8. Cry Baby (1990): John Water's tale of a teenage tough guy was Depp's first starring role after his breakthrough on the 21 Jump StreetTV series is funny, sweet, and subversive. Surrounded by an oddball ensemble of Waters regulars (Mink Stole, Ricki Lake) and inspired stunt casting (Iggy Pop, Troy Donahue, Joey Heatheron, Patty Hearst), Depp showed great charisma and proved that he was more than just another pretty face. Universal Home Entertainment.

9. What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993): Depp sensitively portrays the title role in Lasse Hallstrom's adaptation of Peter Hedges's coming-of-age story about a guy with a mentally handicapped little brother (Leonardo DiCaprio) and a morbidly obese mother. A touching slice of life about growing up in a small town, and embracing the possibilities of life. Paramount Home Video.

10. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998): Terry Gilliam directed this faithful rendering of Hunter S. Thompson's masterpiece of Gonzo Journalism. Depp plays Thompson a/k/a Raoul Duke, and nails the voice and mannerisms of the man dead on. While the film is not for everyone, given that the characters are completely whacked out on various chemicals for most of the movie, it is most rewarding for the discerning viewer. Available on DVD from Universal Home Entertainment and in a deluxe edition as part of The Criterion Collection.

Honorable Mention:

Private Resort (1985)

Platoon (1986)

Arizona Dream (1993)

Benny & Joon (1993)

Don Juan DeMarco (1995)

The Brave (1997)

The Astronaut's Wife (1999)

Chocolat (2000)

From Hell (2001)

Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)

Finding Neverland (2004)

The Libertine (2004)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

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