Despite some questionable career choices and an arguably past-it creative relationship with Tim Burton, Johnny Depp remains one of Hollywood's most impressive and eclectic talents. Not long ago he was one of Tinseltown's most bankable stars, and despite potentially souring audience goodwill by consistently rehashing Jack Sparrow and featuring in the Lone Ranger debacle, he's still an A-lister of the highest order. So seeing him prise his considerable talents away from Burton/Disney and hitch his wagon to such interestingly premised work certainly excited movie fans. However, the end result of all this intrigue isn't the tour de force you were hoping for. Instead, Depp's Will Caster is a dull watch you can tell that pre-download Caster is supposed to come off as an intense, odd individual, but he's less 'brooding' and more 'heavily sedated'. Things only get more difficult post-download virtual Will is emotionally stunted by necessity, monotonous, cold and omniscient by definition. Needs must, but Depp's talents are better suited to chewing the scenery by making Will so sure of himself, it robs the actor of any dramatic meat to chew on. Curiously, the film looked to be taking an interesting turn midway through the second act when Evelyn chides her virtual husband for pretending to eat dinner. AI Will is understandably confused by this, and remains confused when his wife tells him to stop analysing her hormones. There could've been plenty of dramatic mileage in Will not being able to understand the human condition or wanting to be corporeal, but sadly, and much like everything else, the film bungles this. Plus, when synthetic Will turns up at the end, it's something of a wasted twist the film should've done more with.
Durham University graduate and qualified sports journalist. Very good at sitting down and watching things. Can multi-task this with playing computer games. Football Manager addict who has taken Shrewsbury Town to the summit of the Premier League.
You can follow me at @Ed_OwenUK, if you like ramblings about Newcastle United and A Place in the Sun. If you don't, I don't know what I can do for you.
