When Johnny Depp accepts an acting postion, a producer/director can count on Depp to be versatile. Versatility is Depp's namesake. And the means with which he explores his characters have made him one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. Depp's versatility and willingness to adapt are just some of the many qualities which garnered him the illustrious Dartmouth Film Award.
Depp, a leading man in such critically-acclaimed movies as "Ed Wood" and his newest release "Don Juan Demarco," was honored this Saturday with a Dartmouth Film Society Tribute at the Hopkins Center, the center for the performing arts at the College.
Depp, sporting faded jeans and a worn coat, accepted the DFS award, making him the 32nd recipient ofthe prestigious award. Depp now joins the ranks of such illustrious film stars as producer/director Ken Burns, actress Glenn Close, and Latin American writer/producer Pedro Almodovar.
The evening which began with a preview of "Don Juan Demarco," later featured an introduction by Bill Pence, director of film for the Hopkins Center.
Pence, in his brief speech, highlighted several of Depp's achievements including his protrayal of several original characters which reflect the breadth and depth of the human experience and Depp's integrity in choosing those parts.Depp chose to turn down the leading roles in both "Speed" and "Interview with the Vampire," Pence said.
A brief compilation of Depp's films followed Pence's laudatory words about the actor. Featuring selections from six of Depp's nine pre-released movies, the vignettes gave the packed audience at Spaulding Auditorium a chance to experience some of Depp's most bizarre characters: mutant teenager Edward Scissorhands, tranvestite producer/director Ed Wood and John Waters' title character, Cry Baby.After the fanfare of films, Depp entered on-stage to accept the award.As he expressed his thanks, his words were continuallydrowned out bythe maddening wails of the women there. Later interviewed by Owen Gottlieb"95 and Nadia Bowers '95, Depp answered questions quite candidly and seemed to distract some of his nervousness by playing with the crowd.The audience also previewed Depp's new film "Don Juan Demarco." The film chronicles the life of a young manplayed by Depp who begins to fantasize that he is the infamous Don Juan. Seducing every woman in sight, Depp is aided by apsychiatrist played by film veteran Marlon Brando. Faye Dunaway adds even more flavor to the film in the role of Brando's wife. Roger Ebert's' review of "Don Juan Demarco" praised Depp's performance as the highlight of the film: "It stars Johnny Depp, who in Benny & Joon and Arizona Dream showed the kind of delicate touch an actor needs to slip into the darkness of the soul and find human comedy there ... he has an openness to fantasy that makes his strange characters touching and convincing."
