Happy Birthday, Johnny Depp: Some favorite films

Johnny Depp is 50 years old. Now that I've gotten that pretty jarring news out of the way, I think it is high time I give credit where it's so rightly due: I'm going to tell you about a few of my favorite Johnny Depp movies. Mr. Depp and I go way back. All the way back, in fact, to his 21 Jump Street TV days. I'm going to shut up now about that because I'm dating myself. But without a doubt, Depp is one of the most versatile actors of my generation. It's impossible not to like at least one Depp film!

Back to my favorite Johnny Depp movies now: I have to confess that I've made about five different lists of them as I prepared to write this piece. Each one contained different films. I have a nasty habit of over-thinking everything, and when it comes to an actor with such a great filmography, it really is tough to come up with only a handful of actual "favorites." These films are just some of my favorites. See? Totally covering my bases here.

First and foremost, let's discuss What's Eating Gilbert Grape, shall we? At this point, Johnny Depp's career was already in full swing, following his huge breakthrough in Edward Scissorhands. His portrayal of Gilbert Grape, a young man struggling to take care of his mentally handicapped younger brother (played by none other than Leonardo DiCaprio), gets me every single time.

To me, this is still one of Johnny Depp's best and brightest film performances. If I'm not mistaken, What's Eating Gilbert Grape was available on Netflix instant streaming, so if you haven't seen it (or haven't seen it in years, like me), I think we should all do a revisit on this film. DiCaprio got his first Academy Award nomination (Best Supporting Actor) for his portrayal of Arnie Grape. I think we all realized back then that he'd be around for a while.

That brings me to something that's irked me for decades now: Despite having one of the most fascinatingly diverse filmographies of any actor ever, Johnny Depp has never won an Academy Award. He's come close a few times: He was nominated for best actor three times, for his roles in 2003's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, 2004's Finding Neverland and 2007's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Now granted, I like the Pirates movies as much as anyone, but I was pretty shocked about that particular nomination.

At some point, Johnny Depp is going to win an Oscar. I just wish it would come sooner, rather than later, mainly because I can't wait to hear his acceptance speech. But hey, I can't be the only one who absolutely loved that Johnny Depp was a big winner for Dark Shadows at the 2013 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, right? Here he is accepting his award. I love that kids today know Johnny Depp and love him as much as I have all these years.

Back to this attempt I'm making at naming some of my all-time favorite Johnny Depp films. I think if you forced me to name my second favorite Depp movie ever, I'd have no choice but to go with Edward Scissorhands. Quite honestly, Depp blew my mind in the title role. Tim Burton is a genius. And of course, any mention of Burton these days makes me automatically think of Johnny Depp.

If I had to pick a favorite among the many Burton/Depp collaborations, it would be Edward Scissorhands. Depp is positively heartbreaking in this movie, and even all these years later, he still makes me misty-eyed when I watch him struggle as Edward. This film, to me, is one of the most fantastically beautiful, totally unconventional romance movies I've ever seen.

My third choice for a favorite Johnny Depp film is definitely going to date me: A Nightmare on Elm Street. Yes, I know this is kind of an obscure choice, especially considering Depp's overall body of work, but I assure you, this film left a lasting impression on me. I do remember thinking "Hey that Glen guy, he's so cute!" But that was before Wes Craven gave me my own nightmares for most of my adolescence. This is really just an excuse for me to tell you that A Nightmare on Elm Street is probably my favorite horror movie ever.

I know everyone will have differing opinions on which Johnny Depp movies they love the most, so let's hear about them in the comments, okay?

I have to name some honorable mentions, because as I said before, trying to pin down just a handful of favorite Johnny Depp movies nearly drove me crazy. I also loved: Cry-Baby, Ed Wood, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Finding Neverland.

There. I feel better now.

Johnny Depp, by the way, is starring in what could be one of this summer's bigger blockbuster movies: Disney's The Lone Ranger, directed by Gore Verbinski (Rango). It looks like a fun ride, and I love that even at 50, Johnny Depp is taking on great roles that will, hopefully, make today's youth love him as much as I did growing up.

Photos courtesy of Postnoon.com and Movie Fanatic