Understanding Johnny Depp's Acting Beyond Jack Sparrow And 'Pirates Of Caribbean'

Most of the casual movie viewers across the globe associate Johnny Depp with Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Jack Sparrow has become synonymous with Depp. Some kids associate him with Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland franchise and now with Gellert Grindelwald after watching him become a baddie in the Fantastic Beast series. But his witty, shady, pirate Sparrow image has overwhelmed a long illustrious career that is not without a few spots (that is a discussion for another time).

On his 57th birthday, please allow us to recommend you some of his finest works that did not benefit a lot from the Hollywood buzz, thus making them his hidden gems.

1. Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie

This TV movie made for Funny or Die became a sensation because it released at the right time. The US was looking at the horrid possibility of the divisive figure of Donald Trump becoming their president for the next four years. Watching Depp parody Trump with a few funny one-liners is a good pass time. The story was written by Adam McKay who is known for writing a whip-sharp satire on the powers that be, including politics and media. It is not Depp's finest performances, but there is fun in watching the unlikely impersonation possibility play out in a parody.

2. Black Mass

Depp plays infamous Boston mafia boss Whitey Bulger in this 2015 movie. His acting is the saving grace of this movie that is riddled with half-baked stories and the outlook that seems inspired by Martin Scorcese's style of directing. But Depp plays Bulger with a spine-chilling reserve and balances the line between being a mafia turned informant and being a devoted community man, brother, son and father. The movie is worth a watch just to see Depp's performance. Benedict Cumberbatch playing his sly brother William is the only cherry on the top.

3. Rango

Johnny Depp is also a master of voice work and loves eccentric things (his appearance speaks for itself). Playing Rango a pet chameleon who accidentally winds up in a dusty town in the Wild West that desperately needs a new sheriff. This weird comedy keeps you guessing about whatever next moves Rango plans to wriggle out of this risky situation thrust upon him. The animation of the movie is not like the most movies we have seen. After Depp's excellent voice performance, the next thing that should grab your attention is how the water is animated. Seriously, pay close attention.

4. Finding Neverland

Depp plays Scottish playwright J.M. Barrie who wrote Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Never Grew Up. Finding Neverland's story focuses on when Barrie met his inspiration -- Sylvia Llewlyn Davies' four boys. Watching Depp in an extremely polite situation that was the norm in Victorian England is an experience in itself. In the modern world talking about a man who is fascinated by young boys sounds alarm bells, but the Victorian era was something else and Barrie's life reportedly does not present any evidence beyond that the man was genuinely interested in the imaginative world the Davis boys created for themselves. In this setting, you will see Depp on the other extreme end of Jack Sparrow.

5. Chocolat

Yes, even Depp is not immune to doing a romantic movie and Johnny being who he is, did a fabulous job with his role as Roux. If we look back now, maybe the soul of Roux never left Depp. This 2000 movie mainly focuses on Vianne's (played by the fabulous Juliette Binoche) story and how she changes the boring life in a small town in France. But Depp's Roux as her love interest fits perfectly in this beautiful mosaic.

There is more to Depp than the eccentric roles he is most known for. We have just given you the starter pack in understanding his craft.