Articles from December 2005



Johnny Depp voted Best Actor of 2005 for THE LIBERTINE by Beverly Hills Outlook

The Beverly Hills Outlook has named Johnny Depp Best Actor of 2005 for his performance as John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester in THE LIBERTINE. Congratulations, Johnny! Congratulations as well to director Tim Burton and writer Caroline Thompson; THE CORPSE BRIDE, featuring the voices of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emily Watson, won the Outlook’s award as Best Animated Film of 2005. You can read the full list of the Beverly Hills Outlook’s awards HERE. The Zone thanks Gilbert’s Girl and Sheila for reporting the story on the Zone’s News & Views forum.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN voted 4th greatest family film of all time

Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow has sailed into the ranks of the greatest family films ever made, according to a UK poll conducted for Channel 4. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN placed fourth in the survey, bested only by ET: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL, SHREK, and MARY POPPINS, and outpolling such family favorites as TOY STORY, THE LION KING, and THE WIZARD OF OZ. Congratulations to Captain Jack! Such news bodes well for his return in July.

The Zone thanks emma for posting the poll results; you can read the full story on the Zone’s News & Views forum.

"Depp, a dazzling chameleon:" VOGUE reviews THE LIBERTINE

John Powers reviews THE LIBERTINE in the January 2006 issue of VOGUE (U.S.), and finds much to praise about Johnny Depp’s portrayal of the dissolute earl. Powers writes, “[Director Laurence] Dunmore’s impressive debut offers an unsentimental portrait of a London whose coffee-stained hues and devouring shadows hint at the spiritual corruption that made Wilmot more famous for his licentiousness than his art. What saves this from being a grim morality play is Depp, a dazzling chameleon whose sole flaw is that he hides himself so far inside his characters that we don’t feel the humanity within. Wilmot’s cynical detachment clearly speaks to something deep in this superb actor, inspiring his most expansive work since his larky turn as Captain Jack Sparrow in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. With his long, wavy tresses and frilly garb, Depp’s Wilmot may look every inch a man of the past, but his disillusionment feels utterly modern. He’s a Restoration pop idol bored with his own power to thrill.”

Thanks to Donna B. for posting the Powers review; you can read it in its entirety on our News & Views forum. Thanks also to FANtasticJD for sharing the gorgeous French poster for THE LIBERTINE on our Recent Pics forum. To see a larger version of our thumbnail of the poster, click HERE.

Johnny Depp ranks #1 on the IMDb Starmeter for 2005!

For the second year in a row,Johnny Depp has won the Internet search crown: more searches were conducted on IMDb.com for information on Johnny Depp than any other celebrity. IMDb.com bills itself as “the Earth’s biggest movie database,” and they have more than 30 million users. Congratulations, Johnny! . . . The Zone thanks takingbackthrsdy for breaking the news. You can read the full listing of the IMDb Starmeter’s Top 25 celebrities HERE.

THE LIBERTINE will open in New York and Los Angeles on Christmas Day

A special holiday gift for Deppheads in New York City and Los Angeles: THE LIBERTINE will be showing at one theater in each city, beginning on December 25th. New Yorkers can see Johnny Depp’s performance as the Earl of Rochester at Landmark’s Sunshine Theater, 143 East Houston Street in Manhattan. Angelinos can see THE LIBERTINE at the Laemmle Music Hall 3, at 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Despite rumors that the film might be rated NC-17, THE LIBERTINE carries an R rating. For those who want to see the film but aren’t lucky enough to be near Manhattan or Beverly Hills, THE LIBERTINE is scheduled for wide release on January 13th.

Got chocolate? M&Ms to celebrate the release of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST with "Pirate Pearls"

If you enjoy white chocolate, you’ll love the M&Ms tie-in for PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST. Following their successful STAR WARS EPISODE III tie-in, which introduced dark chocolate M&Ms and featured one of the signature characters dressed as Darth Vader, Masterfoods USA has decided to use DEAD MAN’S CHEST to introduce a white chocolate M&M. The white chocolate M&Ms will be called “Pirate Pearls” and will have unique candy shell color blends; the promotion campaign will feature the signature M&M characters in pirate garb. Look for Pirate Pearls to appear in stores by June.

The Zone thanks emma for the news; the full article on the tie-in is posted on our News & Views forum.

For your consideration–CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY makes the Oscar shortlist for Visual Effects

Tim Burton’s summer blockbuster CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, starring Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka, is one of seven films announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today as being in consideration for Achievement in Visual Effects for the 78th Academy Awards. Other contenders are BATMAN BEGINS, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, KING KONG, STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH, and WAR OF THE WORLDS.

On Wednesday, January 25, 2006, the Visual Effects Award Nominating Committee will screen 15-minute clip reels from each film, and then the members will vote to nominate three of these films for the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Those nominations will be announced on Tuesday, January 31st. The Academy Awards will be presented on March 5, 2006, and will be televised live by ABC.

In other Oscar news, the song “Remains of the Day” from TIM BURTON’S CORPSE BRIDE is one of 42 contenders for the 5 Best Song nominations. To be eligible in this category, a song must consist of words and music, both of which are original, and written specifically for the film. Thanks to sleepy and DeepinDepp for the Oscar updates; you can read the whole story on the Zone’s News & Views forum. Congratulations to all the potential nominees!

London Film Critics nominate Johnny Depp as Best Actor for CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY!

Johnny Depp received a nomination as Actor of the Year from the London Film Critics for his performance as Willy Wonka in Tim Burton’s CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Other nominated actors include Don Cheadle (recognized for HOTEL RWANDA and CRASH), Bruno Ganz for DOWNFALL, Heath Ledger for BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, and Viggo Mortensen for A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE. The critics, as always, favor the heavily dramatic roles, so to achieve a nomination in lighter fare speaks volumes about the impact and quality of Johnny’s performance. The London Film Critics award winners will be announced on February 8, 2006.

Thanks to sleepy for posting the good news on the Zone’s News & Views forum. Congratulations, Johnny!

BREAKING NEWS–Johnny Depp receives Golden Globe nomination for CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY!

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association today honored Johnny Depp with a Golden Globe nomination as Best Actor in a Motion Picture–Comedy or Musical for his performance as Willy Wonka in Tim Burton’s CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. This year’s nod is Johnny’s third consecutive Golden Globe nomination, and the sixth of his career. He was previously nominated as Best Actor in a Drama for FINDING NEVERLAND (2004), and as Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical for PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (2003), ED WOOD (1994), BENNY & JOON (1993), and EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990).

The 63rd Annual Golden Globes ceremony takes place on Sunday, January 16, 2006 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The ceremony will be broadcast on NBC beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern, with red carpet coverage available on the E! network. The Zone thanks Icarus_MalfoySparrow for breaking the news; you can read a full list of this year’s Golden Globe nominees HERE.

Congratulations, Johnny! Deppheads everywhere are thrilled to see your work recognized for its excellence. We hope to see you on the red carpet on January 16th!

TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE wins Best Animated Feature from National Board of Review!

The National Board of Review gave its Best Animated Feature award to TIM BURTON’S CORPSE BRIDE when it announced its annual list of winners on Monday, December 12th. Congratulations to Tim Burton and co-director Mike Johnson, the gifted animators, and of course the ingratiating voice cast, including Johnny Depp as the nervous bridegroom Victor Van Vort and Helena Bonham Carter as the vivacious Corpse Bride. You can read the full story HERE. The Zone thanks FANtasticJD for posting the news on the News & Views forum.

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and CORPSE BRIDE receive Critics' Choice Award nominations!

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY was nominated as Best Family Film (Live Action), and CORPSE BRIDE received a nomination for Best Animated Feature from the Broadcast Film Critics. In addition, Freddie Highmore was nominated as Best Young Actor for his outstanding performance as Charlie Bucket in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. The Critic’s Choice Awards will be presented on January 9, 2006. Congratulations to all the nominees!

The Zone thanks Gilbert’s Girl for breaking the news; additional information and a full list of nominees in all categories is posted on the News & Views forum.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST trailer in theaters today!

Captain Jack Sparrow alert! Fans of the charismatic pirate can see him on the big screen again this weekend; Buena Vista confirms that the trailer for PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST will run with “most prints” of THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA this weekend. NARNIA is opening on 3,616 screens in North America today, December 9th. Members who are too busy with holiday preparations to take time out to visit the multiplex can see the DEAD MAN’S CHEST trailer on the Zone’s Video Clips forum. A big Zone thank you to theresa and Susanne for their wonderful work on Video Clips!

BREAKING NEWS–Johnny Depp featured in PEOPLE MAGAZINE's "20 Years of Sexiest Man Alive" issue!

Johnny Depp is prominently featured on the cover of PEOPLE MAGAZINE’S retrospective issue celebrating “20 Years of Sexiest Man Alive.” Johnny was named PEOPLE’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2003. He shares the cover with past winners Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, and George Clooney. Johnny has a six-page feature in the magazine, including four full-page photos. The article starts on page 128 for those who want to peruse it at the supermarket checkout. Deppheads who can’t wait to see what PEOPLE offers can check out Donna B.’s wonderful scans on the Zone’s News & Views forum. Thanks very much to Donna B. for breaking this story!

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY song receives a Grammy nomination

Congratulations to Danny Elfman and John August, composer and lyricist of “Wonka’s Welcome Song” from CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY! Their infectious composition has been nominated for a Grammy in the category of “Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media.” The awards ceremony is Wednesday, February 8, 2006 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles; CBS will broadcast the event. The Zone thanks Gilbert’s Girl for breaking the news and DeepinDepp for publishing the list of nominees. More details are available on the News & Views forum.

Join the Zone for a special EDWARD SCISSORHANDS celebration in honor of its 15th anniversary!

Fifteen years ago today, December 6, 1990, marked the premiere of Tim Burton’s classic film EDWARD SCISSORHANDS. On the following day, December 7, 1990, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS went into limited release; it has been astonishing audiences and moving them to laughter and tears ever since.

Please join the Johnny Depp Zone in honoring this special film in an all-day celebration tomorrow, December 7th. The Movie Nights forum will be open for you to post your reflections about your own encounter with EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, and of course Pic Parties will be welcoming your favorite pictures of Edward. You might even want to try your hand at fanfic and enter the Zone’s drabble challenge!

We hope to see you here to remember this special film and its place in our lives as Depp fans, and we congratulate Johnny Depp, Tim Burton, and the remarkable cast and crew who brought the magic of EDWARD SCISSORHANDS into our world. Once seen, Edward can never be forgotten–he lives on in our hearts and our imaginations forever.

CORPSE BRIDE nominated for Best Animated Feature at 2005 Annie Awards!

ASIFA-Hollywood, The International Animated Film Society, announced their nominations for the 33rd Annual Annie Awards, which honor the year’s finest animation in film, television, short subjects and gaming. TIM BURTON’S CORPSE BRIDE received a nomination for Best Animated Feature. Carlos Grangel, who created the unforgettable look of Victor Van Vort and the Corpse Bride, was nominated for Best Character Design in an Animated Feature, and Mike Johnson and Tim Burton were nominated for Best Direction of an Animated Feature. Congratulations to all the nominees!

In addition, CORPSE BRIDE has already won their prestigious Ub Iwerks Award for technical achievement in animation. The awards will be presented at a gala celebration at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California on Saturday, February 4, 2006. Tickets for the 33rd Annual Annie Awards are available to the public as space permits by calling the Alex Theatre Box office at (818) 243-2539. Admission is $75 per person and tickets include both pre and post receptions. Further details are available on the Zone’s News & Views forum. We thank DeepinDepp for breaking the news!

CORPSE BRIDE and CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY score Golden Satellite nominations!

TIM BURTON’S CORPSE BRIDE received a Golden Satellite nomination as Best Motion Picture in the Animated or Mixed Media category, and Danny Elfman was honored with a nomination for Best Original Score for CORPSE BRIDE. Congratulations to the dedicated artists who brought CORPSE BRIDE to life! Cinematographer Philippe Rousselot received a nomination for his brilliant work filming CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. The Golden Satellite awards are given by the International Press Association “to acknowledge this year’s outstanding artists, films, television shows, DVDs, and interactive media.” The awards ceremony will be held at the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills on December 17, 2005.

At this year’s ceremony, special effects wizard Stan Winston will be honored with the 2005 Tesla Award in Recognition of Visionary Achievements in the field of filmmaking and the cinema arts. Depp fans have a special place in their hearts for Stan Winston, since he created the look of Edward Scissorhands. He also designed the Jurassic Park dinosaurs, the extraterrestrials in Aliens, and the Terminator. Congratulations to Mr. Winston on this well-deserved honor!

The Zone thanks Gilbert’s Girl, ana and mamasfolly for posting reports on the awards on the News & Views forum and the Pit.

Rosamund Pike wins British Independent Film Award for THE LIBERTINE

Rosamund Pike, who plays John Wilmot’s long-suffering wife in THE LIBERTINE, won the Best Supporting Actor/Actress Award at this year’s British Independent Film Awards. Ms. Pike’s competition in this mixed-gender category included her LIBERTINE colleague Tom Hollander. THE LIBERTINE was shut out in the other categories, as THE CONSTANT GARDENER won Best Picture, Actor and Actress. A full list of the award-winners is posted on the News & Views forum. The Zone thanks DeepinDepp for sharing the story, and extends warm congratulations to the remarkably gifted Rosamund Pike.

Australian Peter Weir to direct Johnny Depp in SHANTARAM

Warner Bros. has picked Australian Peter Weir to direct SHANTARAM, their adaptation of the Gregory David Roberts novel that will star Johnny Depp. Weir, who received an Oscar nomination for the screenplay of GREEN CARD, will work with Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth to develop the script, VARIETY’s Michael Fleming reports. Weir also has four Oscar nominations as Best Director–for WITNESS, DEAD POETS SOCIETY, THE TRUMAN SHOW, and most recently for MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD.

In SHANTARAM, Johnny Depp will play an Australian heroin addict who escapes a maximum-security prison and flees to India. In the slums of Bombay, he reinvents himself as a doctor. His attempt to find medicine for his destitute patients leads him into counterfeiting, gunrunning and smuggling. SHANTARAM is an epic adventure story, brimming with passion and danger; similar in tone, VARIETY notes, to Weir’s early, much-lauded films with Mel Gibson, GALLIPOLI and THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY.

Warner Bros. hopes to begin production on SHANTARAM late next year.

The Zone thanks micdus and emma for breaking the story; you can read the Variety articles on our News & Views forum.