Caffeinated Clint
If you’re a fan of his, or just interested in the acting profession as a whole, there’s worse ways to spend a night than to watch this disc.
Johnny Depp, James Lipton
I like Johnny Depp. I think he’s a talented son-of-a-bitch. I especially like that he picks movies with merit, not necessarily money (the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series being the obvious exception). He’s also a really interesting guy to hear speak.
I don’t mind James Lipton either. I don’t know whether he’s got an ounce of talent, but his students – of the prestigious Acting Studio in NYC – seem to hang on his every word like he’s, well, Johnny Depp. Thing is… he’s not a really interesting guy to hear speak, which is why each-and-every week on his series he brings in somehow a little more intriguing to converse with.
This ‘Johnny Depp’ episode aired a few years back – before Depp discovered Jack Sparrow – and if you didn’t catch it then, do yourself a favour and check it out on DVD, it’s an interesting interview.
Depp, puffing away on cigarette and customarily dressed like a homeless man, opens up – well, as much as Depp does – to presenter Lipton on most (noticeably, he dodged a Winona Ryder question – – – you’ll see) aspects of his career; upbringing and family life. Depp doesn’t stick his nose at earlier efforts like “A Nightmare on Elm Street” or “21 Jump Street” – where another actor might – he notes that they were great training grounds, and seemed especially fond of Wes Craven, just that in the long run he was slowly becoming something of a “product” for people to shop, and he didn’t want that. Hence the reason he hooked up with Tim Burton and never looked back.
Depp seems like quite a nice fellow, and is reasonably forthcoming in this frank chat (deflects a few questions with humour though). If you’re a fan of his, or just interested in the acting profession as a whole, there’s worse ways to spend a night than to watch this disc.
Rating : 
Reviewer : Clint Morris
