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Johnny Depp: A Modern Rebel

While there were plenty of pictures (mostly black and white), the focus of this book was the story. It is not your traditional fan magazine geared to the pre-teen set. It is a well written, in-depth book which is geared to adults.

Robb did his homework on this. You felt like you could understand events more fully. He spent a good deal of time talking about the background of the directors, actors, and friends in Depp's life. You learned how the movies were made, what the director had in mind, what insights (or baggage) the actors brought to the project, etc. It all added to a better understanding of the context surrounding Depp and his movies.

This was not just a dull reporting of facts but of the feelings and opinions of people who have worked with Depp. A significant portion of the book is devoted to the people who have surrounded him. There were many touching comments from Depp and Ryder about their relationship. In fact, there was a lot of information in general about his life away from the camera. As you might imagine, there were many quotes from Depp, but Robb also added his own interesting observations.

The book did not go into as much detail about Donnie Brasco and The Brave since the book was published in 1996 and that is the year they premiered. It does, however, talk about the Divine Rapture movie that Depp was to star in but was cancelled part way through filiming because of finances. It is one of the few references to even mention this movie.

I really enjoyed this book and felt it gave the clearest portrait of Johnny Depp (during the time frame it covers) of any reference I have read.

Table of Contents:

  1. Slow Burn - Depp's personal background prior to acting and his inagural acting efforts in the made for TV movie Slow Burn and Nightmare on Elm Street.
  2. In the Army - Platoon as well as his relationship with Sherilyn Fenn.
  3. TV Boy - 21 Jump Street.
  4. Cry Baby - Cry Baby
  5. Winona Forever - Depp's relationship with Winona Ryder and the Edward Scissorhands movie.
  6. King of Kook - Arizona Dream, Benny and Joon, and What's Eating Gilbert Grape.
  7. Love, death, and demons - River Phoenix, The Viper Room, and Kate Moss
  8. Temper Tantrums - Mark Hotel
  9. Ed Wood - Ed Wood and Don Juan DeMarco
  10. Dead Man - Dead Man
  11. Divine Intervention - Nick of Time, Divine Rapture, small sections on The Brave and Donnie Brasco
  12. Filmography



$15.95 cover price for the 160 page book.
Brian J. Robb
ISBN 0-85965-236-X
Plexus Publishing Ltd., London, 1996.

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