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Tim Burton and Johnny Depp: joined at the hip?

Johnny Depp and Tim Burton
  • Posted at 11:52am
  • 30 January 2009
  • by AndrewCollins-RT
  • 11 comments

Tim Burton loves Johnny Depp.

"Johnny is like a character actor in a leading man's body," he once gushed. "He could do it all."

Johnny Depp loves Tim Burton, too.

"My life is my life because of Tim," he once declared. As you can see, they are really mad about each other.

They have a working director-actor relationship that Depp likens to "emotional shorthand".

It's said that when they work together on a film, which happens quite often, and Burton is giving his pet actor direction, the crew can't actually understand what they're saying to each other.

I'm sure the phrase, "Get a room" has been uttered under the breath on more than one occasion.

Don't get me wrong, I like Johnny Depp, and I like Tim Burton – who wouldn't?

One's a singularly charismatic and courageous actor, the other a visionary and entertaining film-maker.

But am I the only person who's getting a bit bored of their inseparable-lovers act?

Their first film together was Edward Scissorhands, the suburban-gothic fantasy based on a character Burton had drawn as a child.

Depp brought that sketch to life, and the two became cinematically joined at the hip.

They've since made five films together: Ed Wood; Sleepy Hollow; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; the animated Corpse Bride (Depp provided the lead character's voice); and, most recently, Sweeney Todd.

Burton's "reimagining" of Planet of the Apes felt odd without Depp in the main role – it went to the slightly dull Mark Wahlberg, so perhaps Burton needed a less showy actor for fear of upstaging the simians.

The film was a disappointment, so maybe Burton needs Depp to find his mojo.

This doesn't work the other way, as Depp has been wildly successful in the Pirates of the Caribbean films under director Gore Verbinski and has worked a few times with Terry Gilliam. He's quite promiscuous, in fact.

When Alice in Wonderland, Burton's next weird and wonderful project, was announced for 2010, it was with some relief that I realised Depp couldn't take the title role.

But guess what? He's playing the Mad Hatter. And after that, Burton plans to make Dark Shadows, a vampire story…starring Johnny Depp.

Don't tell Johnny, but for an imaginative director, Tim Burton rather lacks imagination.

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Comments

  • Posted on 21 August 2009
  • at 10:54am
  • by paul

niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

  • Posted on 25 June 2009
  • at 9:16am
  • by Marcus

This article is like saying that people should stop putting maple syrup on pancakes because people do it too often. Just because they work together often does not mean the work that they accomplish together gets any worse. the pancakes still taste good. The movies are still entertaining. They make amazing movies together so why should they stop?

  • Posted on 10 April 2009
  • at 3:49pm
  • by F

Well they obviously like working with one another. What's the harm in that? Also, some of their best work is produced when it's done together, so why wouldn't they choose to do their best work? I love their partnership and look forward to many more collaborations.

  • Posted on 24 March 2009
  • at 6:10pm
  • by Tracy

Johnny Depp is the greatest actor of his generation, and he also directed and starred in "The Brave". He is also an acomplished guitarist and film score writer. Tim Burton is one of the greatest visionary directors of his generation. Why knock them, they are brilliant! Johnny Depp also does a lot of work for Charity. I have met both Johnny Depp and Tim Burton, not only are they fantastic at what they do, but they are both wonderful human beings.

  • Posted on 17 March 2009
  • at 5:46pm
  • by pollyanna65

Yes, Many directors have a "pool" of actors they work with time and time again. Take a look at the credits on the films of James Cameron, for example.

  • Posted on 21 February 2009
  • at 7:32pm
  • by Storidoc

Burton-Depp working together continues a long-running example of directors working with familar actors and getting the ebst out of them. If it's good enough for Hitchcock, Woody Allen and Burton then who are we to argue?

Of course the actors can be more promiscous than the director. The latter is often a true film-maker and spends years working on the film, and the actor can pitch up much late on. This way the directors can produce the movies they invisage using actors they can get the best out of, and the actors can pick a variety of roles (from the gothic to family-adventure, for example). In the end, the audience is the winner.

  • Posted on 02 February 2009
  • at 1:11pm
  • by MazY

Any blog entry that can attract the scathing response as that posted by Nick is worth the writing.

I particularly liked the line 'Everyone who has seen their work likes them, or at the very least respects their brilliance.' I believe what this really means is 'Everyone must think the same as me and appreciate the things that I appreciate in the same way as me.'

For your next entry, I dare you to write about how Morecambe and Wise weren't funny. Go on, I double dare you!

  • Posted on 31 January 2009
  • at 3:05pm
  • by Salamander

Here's an idea! When, between them, they make a bad film then they stop?

  • Posted on 31 January 2009
  • at 11:17am
  • by Bowlby

You're not the only one. It has now become very distracting to see Depp in yet another Burton movie because we've seen him in so many others.

You can sort of understand Burton for being this way as he likes concepts, not characters. Burton far prefers to create worlds and tell stories within them rather than focus on that niggling aspect of characters and 'acting'. If Burton could, he wish he could use fake actors instead of dealing with real ones - oops - looks like he already has!

Burton is comfortable with Depp; like a pair of old shoes, he feels there's no need to go buy another if the existing pair already fit. And while Burton has successfully stretched Depp's acting talents through a spectrum of different roles, we have now reached breaking point. Johnny Depp is at severe risk of becoming a caricature of the typical Burton protagonist - "Oh look, it's Johnny Depp doing another off-the-wall, slightly weird, slightly strange character".

  • Posted on 30 January 2009
  • at 10:55pm
  • by Nick

This is the first time that I have ever responded to an article, in any magazine or newspaper. The reason I have felt compelled to on this particular occasion, is that upon reading this column, I have been left feeling surprised, disappointed and not a little annoyed.

It begins with the childish, bordering on pathetic, jokes about them being in love with one another. Are we supposed to believe that two men can't give compliments to one another without being mocked for it? "Get a room"? I doubt that it's been said by anyone over the age of 17 for years, and definitely never in reference to Depp and Burton. Its called friendship. Perhaps a concept lost on some people...

I could almost overlook this spiteful behaviour, but referring to Depp as Burton's "pet actor" was a step too far. An unpleasantly degrading choice of words in my opinion.

Now Andrew tries to soften the assault by saying he "likes" both the actor and director. As a film critic, ofcourse he likes them. Everyone who has seen their work likes them, or at the very least respects their brilliance. Because they are both brilliant. I believe Barry Norman, also of the RadioTimes recently wrote a piece on Depp calling him the best or greatest actor "of his generation". An accolade I whole heartedly agree with. I wonder if Barry shares Andrew's views that they work together too much. I doubt it.

My reasoning behind this is that, as Andrew said, they have collaborated 6 times. Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Corpse Bride and Sweeney Todd. You know, I could almost understand Andrew's point of view, if when Burton and Depp got together they made bad films. Or even hit and miss. But no. What you have there are two masterpieces, three great films and a decent movie as well. Not a bad film in the bunch. This isn't just my opinion, these is in accordance with both critics and the public alike.

So, as a film critic, and film fan I'm assuming, why the hell would Andrew be complaining about them working together and planning another collaboration in the future? 'Dont fix what isn't broken', ring any bells? Together they make movie magic. Simple as. May it long continue.

Which brings me onto my next point. Although Andrew acknowledges Depp is brilliant even when not working with Burton, he says "maybe Burton needs Depp to find his mojo".

....can somebody lend this film critic Mars Attacks? Or Beetlejuice? Or Batman, Batman Returns? Even the Nightmare before Christmas. He could really do with seeing these pictures.

I hope if you're reading this Andrew, you understand what I'm saying. I'm also hoping this is a momentary lapse of sense and judgement on your behalf. May you return to incisive, interesting and intelligent work next week.

  • Posted on 30 January 2009
  • at 7:18pm
  • by Vicki

Tim Burton is to Johnny Depp what Roger Corman was to Vincent Price!

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