Or, at least as normal as a man-turned artificial intelligence can be. The majority of Depp's recent roles have been met with a great deal of scrutiny from the film community, who view his quirky efforts as more of a schtick than an acting choice. Films like the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, Dark Shadows, and The Lone Ranger have seen Depp portraying over-the-top caricatures doused in makeup; which was fine for a little while but has grown tiresome. Transcendence is a step in the right direction, showing that perhaps Depp is taking the role of Dr. Will Caster seriously. Hopefully it's enough to earn him a few brownie points with audiences, since it will be a short-lived reprieve before he goes back to his oddball ways in upcoming films like Into the Woods, Mortdecai, Alice in Wonderland 2, and The Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Depp is a good actor, and it's encouraging to see him take on a role like this, and being surrounded by great actors will certainly help him stay grounded.
James is a 24 year old writer and filmmaker living in Portland, OR. He attended college for graphic design and writes for various sources on the web about film, television, and entertainment.
You can view all of his work on his website, www.thereeljames.wordpress.com
