While Johnny Depp is well known the world over as Captain Jack Sparrow, that role barely scratches the surface of this versatile actor’s resume. Descriptions below are from IMDB.
Black Mass (R, 4/5 stars)
Based on the true story of James “Whitey” Bulger, an Irish Mob godfather and FBI informant who had a “secret trading” deal with his brother, William “Billy” Bulger, a state senator and a Boston public figure, and John Connolly, an FBI agent.
They planned to take down the Italian mob and mafia in Boston, which went awry and things turned massively violent.
When trust for each other began fading out, drug dealing, murders, and extortion started to rise, and forced the FBI’s Boston office to confirm that Whitey Bulger was one of the most notorious criminals in US history and also one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List criminals.
– Written by Gusde
The Libertine (R, 4/5 stars)
In 1660, with the return of Charles II to the English throne, theater, the visual arts, science and sexual promiscuity flourish.
Thirteen years later, in the midst of political and economical problems, Charles II asks for the return of his friend John Wilmot, aka the second Earl of Rochester, from exile back to London.
John is a morally-corrupt drunkard and a sexually-active, cynical poet. When the King asks John to prepare a play for the French ambassador so as to please him, John meets the aspiring actress Elizabeth Barry in the playhouse and decides to make her into a great star. He falls in love with her and she becomes his mistress.
During the presentation to the Frenchman, he falls into disgrace with the court.
– Written by Claudio Carvalho
Note: Johnny Depp won a British Independent Film Award for his portrayal of the Earl of Rochester in this film.
The Ninth Gate (R, 3.5/5 stars)
Dean Corso, a rare book dealer, is appointed by a renowned book collector, Balkan, to verify the authenticity of one of his books: a volume said to be authored by Satan himself.
According to sources, only three copies of that book exist, and in three different places.
After losing his friend who has been killed for that book, he leaves on the mission. He wants to verify Balkan’s book but finds something else!
During his dramatic travels through Paris and Madrid, too many things beyond his expectations are revealed!
– Written by amioDgreat
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (PG, 4/5 stars)
When Willy Wonka decides to let five children into his chocolate factory, he decides to release five golden tickets in five separate chocolate bars, causing complete mayhem.
The tickets start to be found, with the fifth going to a very special boy, called Charlie Bucket.
With his Grandpa, Charlie joins the rest of the children to experience the most amazing factory ever.
But not everything goes to plan within the factory.
– Written by FilmFanUK
Sleepy Hollow (R, 4.5/5 stars)
After the head of a Hessian horseman is stolen, the horseman returns from hell to take the heads of the people of Sleepy Hallow until its own is returned.
Constable Ichabod Crane is called in to investigate three murders.
Through his investigation he learns of the legend of the Headless Horseman, but he doesn’t believe that the stories are true – until the horseman takes off the head of one of the elders right in front of his very eyes.
Now he must race to find out the origins of the horseman in order to send him back to his grave for good. But the question remains…if the head was stolen once, how safe is it?
– Written by thexotherxchris
Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride (PG, 4.5/5 stars)
Set back in the late 1800s in a Victorian village, a man and woman by the names of Victor Van Dort and Victoria Everglot are betrothed because the Everglots need the money or else they’ll be living on the streets and the Van Dorts want to be hight in society.
But when things go wrong at the wedding rehearsal, Victor goes into the woods to practice his vows.
Just as soon as he gets them right, he finds himself married to Emily, the corpse bride.
While Victoria waits on the other side, there’s a rich newcomer that may take Victor’s place. So two brides, one groom, who will Victor pick?
– Written by XxCherrySodaxX
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (R, 4.5/5 stars, closed captions available)
In the Victorian London, the barber Benjamin Barker is married to the gorgeous Lucy and they have a lovely child, Johanna.
The beauty of Lucy attracts the attention of the corrupt Judge Turpin, who falsely accuses the barber of a crime that he did not commit and abuses Lucy later after gaining custody of her.
After fifteen years in exile, Benjamin returns to London under the new identity of Sweeney Todd, seeking revenge against Turpin.
He meets the widow Mrs. Lovett who is the owner of a meat pie shop who tells him that Lucy swallowed arsenic many years ago, and Turpin assigned himself tutor of Johanna.
He opens a barber shop above her store, initiating a crime rampage against those who made him suffer and lose his beloved family.
– Written by Claudio Carvalho
From Hell (R, 4/5 stars)
The infamous Jack the Ripper case set in London of 1888. The Ripper has been running amok in the Whitechapel district murdering and dissecting prostitutes.
Scotland Yard Inspector Fred Abberline, aided by his partner, Peter Godley, are on the case to figure out who this serial killer is and why he is killing these women in such a brutal manner. Abberline is an opium addict and when “chasing the dragon” he is able to have visions of the future, a certain psychic ability that allows him to solve cases.
As Abberline and Godley investigate the crimes, they become acquainted with the prostitutes who were friends and colleagues of the victims. Abberline begins to fall in love with Mary Kelly, one of the prostitutes, or as the nobles called them “unfortunates”, being hunted down by Jack the Ripper.
Abberline digs deeper and deeper into the conspiracy and attempts to solve the case before Mary Kelly is the next victim.
– Written by sevenarms
Edward Scissorhands (PG-13, 4.5/5 stars)
A kind inventor is almost finished piecing together his latest creation when fate prevents him from completing his most important project.
Edward may seem dangerous, with scissors instead of hands, but when a compassionate Avon lady comes calling, it’s clear that things are going to be changing for him after having been alone in the large empty mansion.
What they both don’t realize is that the most important change of all won’t be found in him but in the residents of the sleepy suburb he will be calling home and a young teenage girl whose eyes will be opened.
– Written by Leah Fugere
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