Customer Reviews

Johnny Depp Starts Here

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

'Johnny Depp Starts Here' is definitely an excellent resource for the serious film scholar. Pommerance synthesizes multiple strands of theory with the multiplicity/performativity of identity and works of Johnny Depp in an engaging and accessible manner. Having done previous film projects on Depp, I tend to be skeptical about texts purporting to address the actor and his works as what I have found up to this date, for the most part, more resembles an extended issue of 'Teen Beat' than an address of film, theory, or any scholarly engagement. This book, however, does not disappoint -- easily the best book-length text on Depp theory and film I have found so far.

I thought this book would be interesting in that it focused more on Johnny Depp's work and less on his person life. It has its interesting passages if you can get through the long-winded, tedious writing. I got lost in sentences that seemed to go on and on until I forgot what he was trying to say. He seems to do a lot of speculation on what Johnny is thinking. I can't help but wonder what it must be like to sit through one of the author's classes simply because it takes forever for him to make his point.

I just want to let everyone know right now that this is not a good biography. I'm all for the Bio that only concentrates in the career of the person in fact I prefer it to reading about their personal life. but this book was just horribly self- indulgent and un interesting to read even if you are a big fan of Johnny Depp's work. so I would recommend saying away from this one cause there are plenty better bios than this.

The book is unreadable. The author seems more intent on displaying a hip sense of his knowledge of film than on providing a serious critical study. And it is badly written: where one adjective would suffice Pomerance uses five, apparently under some misguided illusion of how language works best. Depp deserves better.

Murray Pomerance's book is nothing one can be prepared for. It is not a filmography, not a biography. It's not an analysis of Johnny's films, nor of his characterizations. Yet it is partially all of these - Pomerance's book is a love letter to an illusion - the screen presence of Johnny Depp. Pomerance is in love with that elusive vision and raptures about the hidden and lyric meanings of that image. He could as well have written about Garbo's screen presence.

The book is not for everyone and definitely not for simple fans of Mr. Depp's screen work. It is a book written by and for film scholars, not film fans. The book is esoteric and complicated - Mr. Pomerance loves stringing descriptive words together (and the more obscure words the better). One is sent to one's dictionary almost at every paragraph. Sentences must be re-read (like poetry) to capture the images and meanings of Mr. Pomerance's words.

That said, it is a great book and Johnny -if he ever reads it - should be right proud that he has evoked such a serious, thoughtful and well felt tribute.

I highly recommend this unusual study of Johnny Depp's ability to disappear into character. By using specific examples from some of Depps finest roles (Gilbert Grape, Ed Wood..etc...), the author illustrates the art behind the mask, without destroying the mystery. Interesting reflections on Depps refusal to be catagorized or defined, combined with an innate talent, reminds me more of Bob Dylan everyday!!

just wanted to tell you that as the description says: This book is not meant to be a biography. Its meant to talk about his personality in a way, and the mystery that surrounds Johnny and his persona. Just thought you should know.

This idiot believes he can write, but he is very good at using big words that makes him think he is intelligent, but he's not! He sounds stupid and he doesn't have a clue what he is talking about! Of course, none of his readers do either!!! He is obviously a fan of Johnny Depp's (aren't we all?), but that's the nicest thing I can say about Mr. Pomerance. Sorry.

I was very disappointed in this book. I found it tedious, rambling, and disjointed. There were a few interesting facts thrown in for good measure, but you have to slog through so much drivel that the trip just isn't worth your time.

Much has already been said regarding the author's bombastic style and tedious verbiage, but that can be forgiven. Bombastic and tedious are a professor's bread and butter, right? The thing that is unforgivable about this book is how much of what is discussed is just plain wrong. Scenes that the author feels are important enough to discuss, are described inaccurately. Characters such as Donnie Brasco and Gilbert Grape are misquoted. Misquoted! How difficult is it to put in a DVD and make sure you've got the words right before you put quotes around a sentence? In some cases the errors and misquotes completely change the meaning of the scene being discussed making the whole exercise pointless. Also, the author's timeline of events that lead Johnny Depp from struggling musician to respected actor contains major errors any semi-serious fan will notice starting on page 6. It's bizarre. Quite a bit of thought and effort obviously went into writing this book, and yet it's full of mistakes and careless errors.