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In my wanderings, I've come across a site, which is running a rather neat "Best of the Best Awards" thing at the moment. The idea is to write about your favourite actor or actress. It's not an award for the person being covered, but a Blog Awards thing, if you get my drift.
Now, I was tempted to go into great detail about the wonders of Winona Ryder or Carrie Fisher (my usual obsessions). Then I thought Jean Reno would be a better idea. But in the end, I opted for this guy.
Johnny Depp.
Like a lot of people, I first ran across him in Edward Scissorhands (yes, I was watching it for Winona). He immediately struck me as a remarkable, though pretty-boy, actor. I didn't think that much of it at the time, but as the years rolled by, I kept noticing how he popped up in some very, very good films. Gilbert Grape, Fear and Loathing, Chocolat, and so on.
He always seemed to play complete fruit-loops. Bizarre, often dark individuals with eccentric mannerisms and habits, who possessed the entire screen as soon as the camera was on them. And he did it with such style and elegance... yes, a very good actor.
In the interim, I found out that he's one of my partner's favourites, too, because she's a huge Kate Moss fan, to whom Depp was engaged at one time. The thing that struck me about him then was an appearance on a TV show. The interviewer asked him about Kate Moss's alleged anorexic eating habits and he very firmly told them to leave her alone (and restrained his anger). He struck me as a really nice guy, despite all the rumours and nonsense he must have to put up with.
After his appearance in the Pirates Of The Caribbean films, he leapt even higher on my list of favourites: anyone with such a great sense of humour, the ability to make fun of himself and the talent to act brilliantly while doing all of that, just had to be a brilliant guy.
Confirmation came in two ways. Firstly, his connection with Vanessa Paradis, who I also happen to think is unfairly treated and very talented. He's been with her for ages and they're obviously incredibly happy. They keep their private life out of the public eye as best they can (extra marks there) and, well, it means he's living with a French woman, same as I am!
Secondly, there was a poll a while back of the nicest and nastiest celebs met by the Average Joe. Down at the bottom of the list were celebs who blow off the fans - the very people who make them famous - such as Cameron Diaz (I remember her name because she came last, not because I dislike her particularly).
At the top of the list was Johnny Depp. The best story was of a family who recognised him at an airport. They asked for an autograph. Not only was Depp carrying his own luggage, but he took the time to stop, drop his bags, sign autographs, take a couple of photos and speak with the family, before picking up his luggage and staggering off to the exit.
Quite simply the nicest, most talented celebrity I've come across in a long time: I'd love to run into him one day. Seems like the kind of guy you could really have a laugh with, on a one-to-one level, without all the celebrity pomp.
So there you have it. please nominate me in the Best of the Best Awards. The link's down near the end ("BoB Awards"). Even if you don't like Johnny Depp!
As those of you who have visited over at the new blog (which is doing nicely without the attention of resident psychotics, thank you) will know, I just self-published my first kids' eBook.
It's a short story with pictures to colour - the illustrations are by a lady named Lidia Ivanova, who produced some seriously "awwww"-inducing work!
Very exciting time, I can assure you, especially since it's so far been well-received by both parents and children. The image above is the cover (click for a bigger version). Drop in and have a look-see!
One of those films that is somehow lost in the mists of time, this 1996 work of genius by Coline Serreau seriously deserves re-release. La Belle Verte tells the story of an alien who visits Earth. Sounds simple? Well, it's a lot, lot more than that.
Ahead of its time by a good ten years - at least - the film's main character is played by Coline Serreau herself. She is the visitor from a small planet where the ecology matters. Everyone is green (not literally) and there are no cars, no machines and no money. Just one big commune. She arrives in Paris to see how we humans - a terribly backward race - are doing and chaos ensues as she 'disconnects' a few people from their current reality.
There's plenty of humour (my favourite part being when the musicians get disconnected), but that's not where the power of the film lies. Its true message is in the way the visitor, Mila, simply doesn't understand why we do things like eat meat, use make-up and treat each other so badly.
The cast is also remarkably good: Serreau, of course, but also Vincent Lindon putting in a great performance, and even an early appearance by Marion Cotillard (who'll be alongside Johnny Depp in Public Enemies next month).
It's a film that's very easy to watch, but very hard to forget. The message stays with the viewer. It encourages revolt, pushes the film-goer to reconsider their life and their goals and can be incredibly inspiring - or depressing, depending on your mood. It will change you, even if you don't want it to.
Whatever else is said, it's a crime that this film has virtually disappeared. It's absolutely essential viewing for the modern human, whether they're eco-friendly or not. Learn French if you have to, but watch it. You won't regret it.
I thought I'd drop in and say "Hello", since I've been away at my new home for a while now. It's been pretty successful: the freelancing's picked up, the site's doing well and things are moving along nicely.
Why not drop in and see what's new? I'll bring the coffee if you bring the biscuits.
Deborah Gibson. Rawr!
How cool is this? It's not due to be released for another five days or so, but a B-rated straight-to-video monster flick starring a Geek Goddess? One who appeared in Playboy, no less? Oh, my!
Yes, it's true. From the director of such junk as Wild Things 2, Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus tells the tale of two gargantuan beasties that have been frozen for ten million years. They un-freeze and decide to fight for domination of the world's seas. Of course, they'll do the fighting just off California, so that they can damage the Golden Gate bridge, planes, boats and anything else within reach
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Here's something I bet you thought you'd never see: a good Steven Seagal movie. No, I'm not drunk. I'm not on drugs. I'm also not kidding.
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It's grim up north
I'll admit it: I hadn't seen either of these films despite the fact that I've yet to hear a bad review of the former and bad reviews of the latter are pretty rare. I guess it's because I'm not a horror fan - specifically because the (mainstream) horror genre is generally over-populated by shocker and gore films, rather than actual horror.
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No, no, make it stop!
Now, here's something I never imagined I would see: a vampire movie starring Steven Seagal. Yes, you read that right. It's not a special forces or a cop story - it's vampires.
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Reviewing a book about which one has personal feelings is never a particularly easy task. Even harder is reviewing a book written by someone one knows personally. So you'll have to bear with me a little as I talk about Catchers - because the author is one of my brothers.
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Great stuff.
Comment by SpikeTheLobster
on Now for the cladding!
Wordophilia
Qwerk
Peanut Butter