Johnny Depp as Dillinger: A Match Made in Movie Heaven

With an official theatrical release on July 1, 2009, the first reviews of Michael Mann's Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale have hit the internet.

Two thumbs and eight fingers are up for Depp as Dillinger and kudos are rolling in as well for director Michael Mann.

Here's a bit of the review buzz:

Rex Reed, film critic, Public Enemies review, National Observer

Slashfilm.com pre-screener reviews.

From Hollywood Reporter online review offered a middle of the road review written by critic who couldn't quite keep up with all the characters who roamed the depression-era robbery circuit. The review is enlightening, however, for the numerous viewer comments falling along the left column. Running 90% + positive.

From what I've read, you can bet I'll be in the audience over the Fourth. Rating for Public Enemies is R.

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Enjoy People Pie for Christmas with Johnny Depp as SWEENEY TODD!

When it comes to the Christmas release of SWEENEY TODD, there's definitely a burst of anticipation in the air. Why? Because rumor has it Johnny Depp is back with tasty, award-winning vengeance!

But of course he is - vengeance is what Sweeney Todd is all about. Some will have trouble with Depp portraying a mad slasher, but those few people who braved Depp's astounding but very dark and gritty performance in THE LIBERTINE know that this actor can go stone-cold scary with the best of them.

Although a blade will again be a prominent prop in Depp's hand, as it has been in his other films, don't expect the naiveté of Edward Scissorhands or the roguish spankiness of Captain Jack to be much in evidence. In Dreamworks' SWEENEY TODD, Depp will morph into something altogether different, altogether sinister in the end.

Stills from the film trickled forth like, dare we say, a weeping wound until finally the trailers began appearing recently on the web.

Have some fun and judge for yourself. Click here for the US trailer of SWEENEY TODD and here for the first international trailer of SWEENEY TODD.

It will be quite a treat to see Depp slip to the depths of dark depravity as he goes from the blessedly happy gentleman Benjamin Barker to the tortuously grieving demon barber of Fleet Street known as Sweeney Todd. Well, what should an honorable man do when an evil-doer (Judge Turpin) sends him to prison for life in order to steal his wife and child? Chances are, you, too, might hatch one of the most macabre and disturbing revenge plots in musical theatre history.

Musical theatre? Yes, that's right. For those who don't know, Tim Burton's version of SWEENEY TODD is indeed based on the famous, award winning Broadway production "Sweeney Todd...The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," with songs by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. In Burton's film, there is also singing, lots of it.

The mention of singing begs the question of whether Johnny Depp can actually sing. Yes, folks, he can sing. And not just a snippet of drunken salty baritone as was croaked out in Pirates of the Caribbean, Curse of the Black Pearl. As Sweeney Todd, Johnny Depp sings throughout the movie (which is as much light opera as it is a musical).

The singing is demanding and it is said that Depp more than holds his own. Indeed...
drum roll, ... word has it that Depp has a "killer" voice quite up to the challenge of Sondheim's music.

In pre-production days, Sondheim himself approved Depp's singing for the role. Tim Burton didn't seems a bit concerned, knowing that Johnny began his career in Florida (and later California) in a band. Additionally, Depp's lovely mate, Vanessa Paradis is a famous French chanteuse who undoubtedly offered some special tips to her guy. Vanessa's recent album was #1 on the charts in France this September.


Nevertheless, despite assurances, movie fans waited anxiously for first-hand assessment. Finally, during the Venice Film Festival Depp, well turned out in a white dinner jacket, (see pics here) presented Tim Burton with a lifetime achievement award. Then, attendees were treated to an 8-10 minute short from the film. The first review came from Mastidon over at Ain't It Cool who had a front-row seat at the Venice debut of Depp's singing.

"And I'm here to tell you he has a killer voice. I wish I had a recording of the lyrics for you. Johnny sings a love song to the razor blade as he holds it in his hand! The song is about how happy he is to finally have the blade in his hands for his sweet revenge. Towards the end of the song, Helena joins in and they sing a duet to a knife!!!!! The scene ends with Johnny holding the knife in his hand and he says "Now, my arm is complete!"http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

Nick Vivarelli of Variety reports: "Singing 'My Friends' Depp proved he can carry a tune, dueting delightfully with Bonham Carter, herself debuting as a chantoosie."

Also check out the comments on the recent sneak preview by Tom O'Neil writing for Gold Derby and the LA Times. In O'Neil's words, the film is fantastic!

Musical or not, it appears that you will not be hauling out the little kiddies to see this Tim Burton, Johnny Depp masterpiece. Even PG-13 kids may not be able to see the film; indeed, their viewing fate depends largely on Burton's willingness to wield his editing chops and cut out a bit of gore.

Although his hero, Sweeney Todd has little reluctance to slash and bake, Burton, the director, is not at all eager to hack up his movie. Time will tell whether SWEENEY TODD gets stamped "R." Regardless of its MPAA rating, the eagerly awaited film will open in wide release in the US on December 21, 2007 and it will draw a good crowd.

Clearly Burton has mastered the troll like atmosphere of London a la Charles Dickens. The sets are magnificent and compliment the horror tale of Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett (with her tender meat pies) perfectly.

The cast of Sweeney Todd is a spooky treat as well. Has there ever been a better villain than Alan Rickman? In SWEENEY TODD, he plays the predatory Judge Turpin. Helena Bonham Carter is the cuddly cunning and quite odd Mrs. Lovett and Sacha Baron Cohen, quite a warbler himself, takes on the role of Signor Adolfo Pirelli.

In the end, the legendary Sweeney Todd (1756-1802) is said to have met his end at a public hanging cheered by thousands. In the Broadway play, Todd's end is equally as dire as his own cutthroat blade dispatches him. But how will the film end?

Whether Tim Burton will exercise poetic license with the ending of the film remains to be seen. However, the epilogue of the stage play most likely will apply to the film as well:

"To seek revenge may lead to hell, but everyone does it, and seldom as well as Sweeney, as Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street..."

Johnny Depp's Daughter Recovering from Dangerous E. Coli Virus

We hear the term "E. coli virus" bandied about in periodic food safety warnings. Fortunately, the virus and its attendant diseases seldom hit home with overwhelming force. Recently, however, 7-year-old Lily Rose Depp, daughter of the much-admired actor Johnny Depp, was lucky to survive a rumored battle with the deadly virus, according to reports at ITN news.

As Depp and his partner, Vanessa Paradis held vigil for weeks at their daughter's hospital bedside during the month of March, fans prayed while the press wondered what had happened to Lily-Rose. All mainstream media handled the story with caution. A bit of (false) speculation popped up regarding possible blood poisoning from a rusty nail. Responsible fan sites and Depp's spokesman, however, cautioned against speculation. All urged respect for the Depp family's privacy during the period. Remarkably, it was granted.Now it has been reported that a production crewman on Depp's new movie SWEENEY TODD is saying the child may have been struck down down by the E. coli virus. Regardless of the cause, Lily-Rose is now thankfully on the mend and out of the hospital.

While caution is still urged in speaking of the Lily-Rose's exact condition until her family issues an official statement, caution is not urged in examining the dangers of E. coli.


E. coli is found in contaminated food, but where does the virus itself come from?

As the FDA can attest, the source of an E. coli virus can be impossible to detect. On March 20, 2007, Brandon Bailey of the San Jose Mercury News writes the following:

FDA hearing fails to discover cause of E. coli outbreak in spinach:

Despite an unprecedented investigation over the last six months, federal and state health officials said Tuesday that it is unlikely they will ever pinpoint the exact cause of bacterial contamination that caused a nationwide outbreak of illness from tainted spinach last year.

The disclosure, just weeks before a final report on the investigation is expected to be released, came at a hearing where representatives from consumer groups and a national trade association for the produce industry called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to set mandatory rules to assure that fruit and vegetables are safe to eat.

Growing and packing practices need to improve said Dr. David Acheson, the chief medical officer for the FDA's food safety office. But he also warned that another outbreak of food-borne illness would likely occur.

"We're never going to get to the point of zero risk," he told reporters during a break from the day-long hearing, convened by his agency to get public input on ways to improve food safety. "Is this likely to happen again? Yes."

And not solving the mystery makes it harder for farmers, trying to prevent future outbreaks. Hank Giclas of the Western Growers Association said farmers would like to know how the contamination occurred so they can reduce the chance of it happening again.

The investigation by state and federal health officials led them to a single 50-acre field in San Benito County where spinach tainted with the deadly E. coli O157:H7 bacteria was grown last summer.

It is the same type of deadly E. coli O157:H7, which killed at least three people and sickened 200 more from tainted spinach last year alone, which may have affected Lily-Rose.

Especially problematic is hemolytic uremic syndrome, a most serious form of kidney failure that is sometimes a complication of E. coli infection. Although it is one of E. coli's more rare complication, it is potentially deadly. The elderly and young children are particularly at risk.

One assumes officials in the UK, where Lily-Rose may have become ill with E. coli, are as concerned with food safety as US officials. While the recent outbreaks related to tainted produce have focused government and industry on improving food safety, Dr. Acheson further stressed the need for "100 percent compliance. As we've seen, you don't need a large area of land to produce enough produce to make lots of people sick."

Lily-Rose Depp was treated at Great Ormand Street hospital, funded in part with full royalties from J.M. Barrie's children's classic, PETER PAN. Johnny Depp was nominated for an Oscar for his role as Barrie in the 2004 film, FINDING NEVERLAND.

Much like Barrie, Depp, is involved with children's charities. He was honored in 2006 for his quiet work with children's charities, most notably with The Children's Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition.

After a brief hiatus, filming for Depp's current starring vehicle, SWEENEY TODD, to be directed by Tim Burton, will pick up again this week.

Revered for a series of iconic characters, Depp is best recognized for his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLDS END, the third installment in the series, is due to open on May 22, 2007 to staggering box office figures.

SB 1: OR GOD - "But Why's the Rum Gone?" (Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean)

"But Why's the Rum Gone?" (Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean)

When an actor can deliver a line like "But Why's the Rum Gone?" with the same depth and angst as the philosophical line, "But why are we here (on this planet, in this solar system, etc.)," he probably "gets it" as much as anyone can. So it was with interest that I read the Johnny Depp (hoax or not) review on Amazon of the THE GOD CODE: The Secret of Our Past, the Promise of Our Future by Gregg Braden. I had some interest in the book, but after reading Depp's review, I figured I would skip THE GOD CODE. Instead I ordered SB: 1 OR GOD by Karl Maddox which Depp recommended in his review.

So, I'll let you know.

I have a lopsided stack of books sitting on my coffee table - lopsided as in ready to topple over, but also lopsided in content. Have you ever read MIDDLEMARCH? I'm tired of hearing how great this classic is; it's on the list. So are FOLLOW THE RIVER, DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY, JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR. NORRELL, a Clancy book, a Critchon novel and MY FATHER'S DRAGON which was a childhood favorite. I ordered it for my grandson but can't wait to read the stories (3) again myself. The author is Ruth Stiles Gannett - it's got that BABAR look to the artwork, so I'll bet (and hope) it's French in origin.

The French. Seems they "get it" as well.