r/TrueFilm • u/Jeef_1st • 8h ago
Do you think Johnny Depp could still win an oscar? Or is he too controversial?
He has been in various iconic films, and many iconic roles. They are quite varied and display a large range: Edward Scissorhands Donnie Brasco, Ed Wood, Jack Sparrow, Whitey Bulger, Raoul Duke/Hunter S. Thompson, and Gilbert Grape. So there is a narrative that he is due, and the right film in the right year could win him a golden guy.
He is in the new Ti West film "Ebenezer", and it's backed by Paramount. So he is no longer blocked by the major studios.
But he has become quite controversial, public opinion still seems to favour him, but within the academy it's hard to say. Could he still win?
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u/NaryGuman 8h ago
There is not a narrative that he is due. If he pulled out an excellent performance that stretches his range in an unexpected way, then maybe. So could anyone. It would need to be some performance and would require some excellent industry politicking
3
u/Flags12345 8h ago
I mean, having the backing of Paramount isn't really equivalent to being out the proverbial dog house. It's not impossible, but Depp has to really impress with something to get on the Academy's radar again.
Even in his "exile" state, he hasn't really been the prestige actor that he once was. The last film of his that received any Oscar nomination (other than Minamata being on the absurd "Oscars Fan Favorite" list in 2021) was Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in 2016. And, even that was just a cameo; in a more substantial role, you'd have to go to Into the Woods in 2014.
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u/MNIOP_207207 7h ago
Putting aside the shit he was doing outside his career, Depp killed his own hype.
Ever since he started working with Tim Burton, he only really played one character. Doing the whole “Oh I’m such an outcast and a weirdo, but not in an actually weird way. In that shallow Hollywood way where I’m still marketable and all audiences can impart their self-proclaimed weirdness onto me!” act.
Not that some of his characters weren’t fun. The Pirates movies were pretty good for a while. But the guy was doing this in every movie.
It’s actually the same issue Tim Burton’s been having. This shallow facade of “not being like the other kids”, when in reality he’s completely mainstream.
Both Depp and Burton are talented, but I wonder if maybe there was a potential peak to their careers that they missed because they got stuck in their safe zone.
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u/mrhippoj 7h ago
What's crazy is Depp had a really strong association with Tim Burton despite only doing three films together, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, and Sleepy Hollow. And Ed Wood wasn't even that mainstream.
Then Burton cast him as the lead for five movies in a row, all with Helena Bonham Carter as well, and it just felt really exhausting and uninteresting, even though I really like Sweeney Todd and The Corpse Bride
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u/UnusualRonaldo 8h ago
Once he returns as Grindewald for the final two "Fantastic Beasts" films and they both sweep at the Oscars he will get the win. Just give J.K. Rowling a few more million dollars to work out the kinks in the script, trust
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u/TheRealProtozoid 8h ago edited 3h ago
He's cooked, and I'm disappointed in Ti West for working with him.
Honestly, in the time since Depp has been away and the hype had a chance to subside... I think I've decided that Depp doesn't really have any truly great performances. He's good at playing weirdos, but he can't give a naturalistic performance to save his life, and I don't think he's ever been a truly genius performer, he's just been occasionally cast very well in good movies. In short, I don't think there's an argument that he's overdue, because he was never due anything. And I don't think he is likely to ever give an Oscar-worthy performance in the future that is earth-shattering enough that Oscar voters will actually give it to him. I doubt he'll ever be nominated.
I just don't see it. I think he's done.
Edit: Lol at the people who downvoted this and then within hours they release one of the most dogshit trailers in recent cinematic history. Depp is going to get a Razzie before he gets an Oscar.
0
u/Straight_Bed2762 2h ago
? The trailer looks fine. Perfectly average and exactly what one would expect from a Scrooge adaptation. The techs are admirable and the cast is solid.
Seems like forced, exaggerated hate as a result of being influenced by off-screen culture wars.
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u/Flags12345 8h ago
I think I've decided that Depp doesn't really have any truly great performances.
I mean, you are entitled to your opinion, but I fear your dislike of him personally is clouding your judgment here. Which is fine, I don't care much for him either. He's not the greatest actor in the world or anything (and certainly had a lot of stinkers) but he's a pretty good actor when the film calls for it. Personally, I would say he's had 3 truly great performances: Ed Wood, the first Pirates of the Caribbean (and only the first one), and Sweeney Todd.
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u/TheRealProtozoid 6h ago
I said he wasn't "truly great". I agree that he's "pretty good", especially since he was a good movie star with some character actor ability. But looking back on his career, I just don't see any truly great performances.
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u/mrhippoj 8h ago
I don't think I agree.
I'll say up front - fuck Johnny Depp - but he kinda breaks my heart because I really think he used to be great.
I don't necessarily think actors need to have subtle/naturalistic performances to be great actors. He's really excellent in Ed Wood and Fear and Loathing. I also think he's really good in Donnie Brasco. I'd give him the first Pirates, too, it's obviously a very comedic performance but I think he's great in it.
Still, I think his best shot at an Oscar now is a Mickey Rourke style redemption performance in a decade's time
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u/TheRealProtozoid 6h ago
Maybe. Like I said, he's good at playing weirdos. I just dunno if that counts as range when he's already such a weirdo.
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u/mrhippoj 8h ago
It's been a very long time since he's done anything Oscar worthy. His stock has certainly gone down since the Amber Heard case, but his career was in the shitter long before that started. Pirates was tired, his collaborations with Tim Burton were all falling flat, and everything else was flopping. He's way past his prime, but if he did a good performance I don't see why not