Discussion Point 7, One of the Greatest Actors of all Time

Originally Posted by Karen 19th February 2006


"With its adaptation to the big screen, The Ginger Man has seen a host of Hollywood’s finest vying for the leading roles. The boozing, brawling, wife-abusing anti-hero Sebastien Dangerfield is to be played by the eminent Johnny Depp. Donleavy has expressed his delight at this, citing Depp as 'one of the greatest actors of all time, like Gielgud or Olivier. In that class or better. ' "


The above quote is one of the glowing descriptions of Johnny that Mr. Donleavy has made.

Keeping this in mind, what do you think Mr. Donleavy sees in Johnny that he did not see in 50 years of leading men? In other words, what do you think are the things Johnny can bring to Sebastian that no other actor can bring?

Lynxxx67


Undoubtedly it comes down, yet again, to Johnny's ability to root out something likable within seething ses-pool character traits. His ability to add layers of vulnerability, charm, sadness, optomism and comedy no doubt add much to his favour. I could add more! This Sebastian character needs for us to find him both dastardly charming and pitiful in the same measure, for us to invest in his story at all.
If I'm honest, I'm surprised (pleasantly, o'course!) that it's taken till now for a movie to be agreed by Mr Donleavy. It seems as though he's been waiting for just the right actor to reach just the right peak in his career. Was this truly his design??

Karen


Mr. Donleavy appears to be a very interesting and highly opinionated artist, writer and citizen of the world. I really am looking forward to asking something similar to this very question in our Q&A with him.

So please remember to jot down or begin emailing me your questions for him. johnnydeppreads@aol.com

Over the past 50 years there have been countless actors who could have turned in a fantastic performance as Sebastian. Robert Mitchum and Nick Adams come to mind immediately. Paul Newman? I still have to wonder WHY JOHNNY? WHY NOW?

Oh this is going to be a good thread.....

Deppraved

Oh, yes, I do agree, on all counts. Johnny can make these complex characters seem so real, can he not? The actor playing SD needs to tap into just why women were so attracted to DANGERfield. Ultimately repelled, of course, but they just couldn't see the cesspool for the glistening water on the surface. They just were so willing to dive right in and get s**t all over them.

And there is so much emotion behind Depp's eyes--so as to make us feel something other than disgust for SD. No one is all bad, right?

Deppraved

Do you suppose his age has anything to do with it? It's now or....never?

He is still in a position to have some creative control. Or, he has made a cerebral connection with Johnny, who shows respect to his elders, and trusts him with the vision.

Karen


Maybe all of the above? We shall ask Mr. Donleavy for sure about this!

Shadowdog


From what has been said in this thread, Karen?, he hasn't sold the film rights? Perhaps that is what is different here. He would under this scenario have a great deal of control over the script and the movie production, unless I am missing something here.

If he has something of an ego (reminds me of HST), he would not be happy with selling the story and letting someone else do as they will with his creation.

Karen


Mr. Donleavy has not sold the film rights to TGM. And as has been said in many of the articles he is writing the screenplay.

SROBERTS101A


Has Donleavy already completed the screenplay or is he currently writing it? It will be interesting to see how he develops the screenplay with Johnny in mind as Sebastian Dangerfield.

Giselle


not much i can add to this because i agree w/all the posts. mr. donleavy sees how good johnny is at inhabiting his characters and bringing them alive as the complex beings we all are.

johnny has played real people who are/were alive to comment on his portrayal - george jung, joe pistone, hunter (remembering him today)....and they all talked about how dead on he was in everyway. he's so observant to nuance and small bits of a personality that readily seen on the surface.

the ginger man is written in stream of consciousness and i believe that is very hard to bring to the screen. there's never been a film verson of "on the road"! i'm sure mr. donleavy is excited because, if anyone can bring this style to life, it's our johnny!

Karen

I tend to think while there appears to be a script, I don't think any author/screenwriter is ever finished with a script. And we know that the Brendan Behan character is being fleshed out for JPD and JD friend Shane MacGowan.

Deppraved


And I know that Behan is a real guy in the life of JPD and not a character in The Ginger Man. I scratched me head over that one for a while.

Karen

Yup...you're right...and JPD has said that he's writing the Behan character into TGM for Shane.

Shadowdog


I think it is good that JPD is doing the screenplay. I wondered, as I read the book, how the movie would incorporate the images going on in Sebastian's head. It will be interesting to see how he does this. Lots of running commentary from Sebastian perhaps??

SROBERTS101A


In my humble opinion, a great actor is one that disappears, fully allowing the character to breathe, live, and speak for themselves. I think this is going to be a fascinating and inspiring collaboration between a great writer and a great actor. I think Johnny's tremendous physicality and ability to transform himself makes him the ideal choice to cast in a character-based project like this because he is able to allow the complexity of the story and its complicated relationships to come through in his performance and does so in such a "seemingly" effortless way that doesn't call attention to the "acting." He's done this in so many roles during the course of his career. I think that's why Donleavy thinks so highly of him and wants him to play SD in TGM.