Depp Chronicles

So who would I want to be if I were a middle-aged male?

And why the heck should you care?

The first answer is easy: Johnny Depp

The second answer is slightly more complex: As I start the approach to the beginning of something that might in a few years be considered to perhaps be middle-aged, (oh shut up…. just bear with me) I often wonder how and whether I am using my natural talents to make this world a better place. This question is something that should be a central aspect to our thinking as we grow, for every single one of us has a contribution to make – large, small and everything in between – to our global community.

…. Ummmm, and yes, I did call Johnny Depp middle-aged (he’s 47 actually) …. And why am I thinking about being a man? Because I live in the real world, and in the real world, men still continue – for the most part – to drive the future strategy for our species …. *ducks and runs for cover*

So why Johnny Depp?  (Beside the fact that he is not a politician?)

• He marches to the beat of his own drum.
• His fashion sense is as keen as mine.
• Captain Jack Sparrow.
• He uses his natural talent to bring joy to the world, provoke thought and engage those around him.
• He doesn’t buy into the typical Hollywood-i-wanna-be-a-tabloid-superstar persona.
• Captain Jack Sparrow.
• Because his choices have left this deserving thespian without an Oscar, yet he continues to take on roles that meet his own personal standards for success.
• Because he will go visit a hospital or send video messages to sick children and not seek publicity for his actions.
• Captain Jack Sparrow.
• Because in an odd twist of fate – it was reportedly Nicolas Cage (a massive and dedicated Amnesty International supporter, and my second choice for who I would want to be) that encouraged Depp to take up acting.
• He has a lovely habit of telling it like it is, even if what he says isn’t quite PC.

With all his history of amazing on-screen performances I’ve been having a hard time choosing my favorite Johnny Depp role of all time (so far).

Captain Jack Sparrow?

A performance with such pizzazz that it will live forever.

 

Edward Scissorhands?

One of the sweetest characters ever to hit the big screen…

in a movie I have seen too many times

to count, and will continue to watch the rest of my life.

 

Donnie Brasco?

A disturbing portrayal of a man forced to make horrendous decisions between right and wrong.

 

But of all his amazing roles the one that sticks with me the most?

Ichabod Crane in Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow.

*cue the outrage* #goahead #itsok

So – of course – having not learned my lesson sufficiently from the Twoscar weekend adventure OR the Twitpoll madness – I put my little internal dilemma out on Twitter as a #questionoftheday …. To see what the Twitterverse thinks is/was the best Johnny Depp role/character ever?

Dozens answered the call – thank you all!

The overwhelming winner: Captain Jack Sparrow.

Other roles/characters that got a lot of love:

Gilbert Grape, Sweeney Todd, J.M. Barrie, Edward Scissorhands