The Lone Ranger - Part 2

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I thought Depp was phenomenal in the first Pirates and never considered that a sell out role.

 

[Octoberist]

I love Depp, and I will respect him.

Got that out of the way.

I cannot remember the last Depp performance I honestly liked. I don't know..Public Enemies? Maybe 'Sweeney Todd'.

The rest of his roles in the past 10 years I've always thought were passable, or just bad. Bad as in his performance in 'Alice in Wonderland', 'The Tourist'..and yeah, I'll add 'Dark Shadows'. Three different performance that had the usual facial tics and mannerisms (thanks Cinema Blend) that couldn't make Depp the everyman (Tourist) or wacky (Alice). They were just boring. Coasting along. What's makes it worse to me personally was that his Hatter, his Tonto, and his Vampire Dude, were just amalgamations of Jack Sparrow, with superfluous changes. That's why I felt they all seemed a little TOO familiar because Sparrow's DNA was so ingrained into those performances (yes even The Tourist) that they didn't come off as unique or interesting. Just familiar and not so fresh.

That being said, this post is not all negative, because I believe Depp will be fine. He will be the phoenix, rising from the ashes. This could be just a minor wake-up call. I hope 'Transcendence' is good, but MY LORD, I was annoyed that Depp dropped out of 'Black Mass' due to money. (Really?) He just needs to stay away from funny hats and white make-up for the time being.

 

[Project862006]

so depp and will smith have monster flops in 2013

amazing lol

 

[Octoberist]

And it happens. It's a weird time in Hollywood and studios are adjusting to the changes. Even if it means money going down the tubes. Maybe Spielberg is right and Hollywood might implode soon. I hope the suits will wise up till then.

 

[Sawyer]

so depp and will smith have monster flops in 2013

amazing lol

You're next, Hanks. Or Cruise. Or whoever the **** is next, I don't know.

 

[Octoberist]

Hanks never had that 'ego' moment though. Even though he's not as active, he's almost been this omnipresent actor in Hollywood.

I think Denzel's been pretty good about it too.

 

[Sawyer]

That's why I put Cruise in there. Probably more accurate to that class of actors.

I'd have put Sandler, but I respect Smith/Depp too much to put him in their category.

 

[Octoberist]

I've given up on Sandler a while ago.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Plus, in terms of this year, Grown Ups 2 is not gonna bomb at all.

 

[Sawyer]

Sandler is pretty much just Rob Schneider at this point.

 

[Project862006]

it seems like as these comedians got older they got less funny and more kid friendly

hate that

 

[flickchick85]

Well as they get older, they also tend to have kids. That may have something to do with it.

 

[Bruce Malone]

it seems like as these comedians got older they got less funny and more kid friendly

hate that

You can say that about almost any actor or profession really. You usually peak at a certain point and then sort drop off a bit with age.

Hell look at some of the movies you're seeing from guys like deniro and pacino now (sadly enough pacino was in Jack and Jill).

 

[sueb1863]

While it's true that Depp's had great success with his wacky characters, my problem with LR has always been that Tonto is not and has never been a wacky character. They just made him wacky because that's what Depp does. The makeup and dead bird hat was just going too far. I imagine they could have conveyed the character's mysticism without them. Actually just losing the dead bird would have been a massive improvement. That's just plain fantasy.

I thought he was great as the Mad Hatter, but then, in that case the characterization worked perfectly because the guy is, well, flat out insane. It fit the character and the whole vibe of the movie. Unlike Tonto.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Awesooooome! t:

Probably the best, most fun setpiece of the year.

I'd be the best favor you could do to yourself if you get into the theater to see this sequence only.

Thanks guys. I think I'll make the effort to see this on the big screen for the train sequence.

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

Sandler is pretty much just Rob Schneider at this point.

Except Sandler continues to make films that actually make money at the box office.

 

[Project862006]

i haven't liked a sandler film since anger management

 

[Silvermoon]

Numbers aside, how was the big train sequence?

Even though you already responded to everyone who responded to this, I'll throw my voice in as well... train sequence(s) were AWESOME. Knowing that they built their own train(s)/did as much practically as they could just added to my enjoyment of it So... yeah

 

[Dugath]

Even though I somewhat enjoyed it, I can see why it is failing.

To me, and this might be only my perception mostly do to the fact I am old enough to remember The Long ranger on TV as a young kid and the fact my theater almost consisted of people 55+ years of age.

Perhaps this movie just did not interest the younger crowed, while older people went because it is nostalgic. Of course I am probably wrong lol.

 

[Gold Samurai]

You're next, Hanks. Or Cruise. Or whoever the **** is next, I don't know.

Hanks had "Cloud Atlas"

 

[redhawk23]

Hanks had "Cloud Atlas"

True but that wasn't really the same kind of "actor vehicle" that the other actor's films were. Though he featured prominently in the marketing that was pretty much most ensemble focused ensemble film imaginable, not to mention it was technically and independent film.

 

[redhawk23]

Even though I somewhat enjoyed it, I can see why it is failing.

To me, and this might be only my perception mostly do to the fact I am old enough to remember The Long ranger on TV as a young kid and the fact my theater almost consisted of people 55+ years of age.

Perhaps this movie just did not interest the younger crowed, while older people went because it is nostalgic. Of course I am probably wrong lol.

Box office mojo reports that the audience definitely skewed older and male than most other movies lately.

 

[marcvader]

I genuinely feel bad for this property along with Green Hornet and John Carter. I had hoped they'd been done justice.

 

[DarkKnight88]

Johnny Depp never set out to be a box office star though. In the 90s, he was considered box office poison and he didn't care. I bet once Pirates hit, he just rode the wave knowing it was going to end sooner or later so he took on all the dream roles he always wanted to play (Dark Shadows, Lone Ranger).

He always played roles he felt like doing, not what others thought he should be doing. If he doesn't get these big movies anymore, I doubt he'll give a crap.

 

[chamber-music]

Good point Darkknight88

People tend to forget that while Depp was popular he wasn't big box office draw pre-pirates. Depp said many times that studio execs would say his box office poison when his name came up for roles.

Disney thought Depp was ruining the first Pirates movie with the way he was playing Captain Jack Sparrow and Depp thought he was going to get fired.