Johnny Depp: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

By Shaun Munro / July 6, 2013

Johnny Depp just might be the most famous movie star in the world right now; whether you're a dedicated film buff or a casual viewer, you're going to have seen a fair share of his works, which is exactly why the guy's worth $350 million and has a swell of fans ranging from the teenage to the middle-aged. Depp is a great actor when he wants to be, but he's also one of the most inconsistent A-listers in Hollywood, turning in masterfully controlled turns and utterly unfussed, sleepwalking efforts one after the other. His latest effort, The Lone Ranger, opened in the US this week to a dismal box office and savage reviews, which alongside other things, criticised Depp for giving another of his famously phoned-in performances. We thought it apt to trawl back through the revered actor's filmography and look at what worked and, well, what sucked...

5 Awesome Performances...

5. Sweeney Todd - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

Teaming with his regular collaborator Tim Burton, Depp proved an unexpected facet of his talents by starring in an adaptation of the acclaimed musical Sweeney Todd, playing the titular murderous barber who teams with the local pie-maker to kill the locals and pack them into pies.

This could easily have been another example of Tim Burton excess, of a film that's all style and no substance, yet the performances combine with a pristine execution to make this one of the director's - and the actor's - better late-day efforts.

While Helena Bonham Carter might steal the show vocally, Depp nevertheless holds his own alongside her, hewing away from his heroic rogue stereotype and playing a truly savage character who is nevertheless an absolute hoot. The film also gives us a rare opportunity to see Depp die on-screen, getting his throat slit and graphically bleeding out.