Actor Johnny Depp (1963)

Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, From Hell (2001) is a period detective horror film directed by the Hughes Brothers and written by Terry Hayes and Rafael Yglesias. Set in 1888, it follows Mary Kelly and her fellow London prostitutes as they navigate their harsh daily existence. Ann Crook, a former prostitute now married to painter Albert, has recently given birth to a daughter named ...

Before Night Falls (2000) is an American biographical drama film directed by Julian Schnabel, based on the eponymous autobiography by Reinaldo Arenas, which was originally published in English in 1993. Set in Oriente Province, Cuba in 1943, it follows Arenas as he is raised by his single mother and her parents before the family relocates to Holguín. Moving to Havana in the 1960s to further his education, Reinaldo embarks on a journey of self-discovery and explores both his ambitions and his sexuality. After receiving an honorary mention in a writing contest, he is ...

Chocolat (2000) tells the story of a young woman named Vianne and her daughter Anouk, as they travel through Europe, guided by the same north wind that led Vianne’s mother years before. In 1959, they settle in a tranquil French village where the strict mayor, Comte de Reynaud, is gearing up for Lent. Despite not being accepted by the villagers, Vianne opens a chocolate shop and slowly starts to win over some of the locals. However, Reynaud, who is still in denial about his wife leaving him, publicly denounces Vianne for tempting people during Lent. One of her early supporters is her elderly landlady Armande, whose daughter Caroline refuses to let her see her ...

The drama film, The Man Who Cried (2000), written and directed by Sally Potter tells the story of Fegele Abramovich, a Russian Jew who becomes separated from her father in 1927. As her father seeks his fortune in America, he promises to bring Fegele and her grandmother to join him. Before departing, he sings ‘Je Crois Entendre Encore’ from Les pêcheurs de perles by Bizet to his daughter. Tragically, a pogrom strikes their village after he leaves, and Fegele is forced to flee with the help of kind neighbors. Despite facing numerous obstacles on her journey, she eventually boards a ship bound for Britain with ...

The Source (1999), a documentary directed by Chuck Workman, follows the lives of influential Beat writers, from their first meeting at Columbia University in 1944 to their deaths. Through dramatic interpretations by three actors, the film delves into their friendships, rise to prominence in American culture, travels, frequent parodies, and eventual passings of Kerouac and Ginsberg. Their movement intersected with bebop music, John Cage’s compositions, abstract expressionism art, and experimental theater. In recent interviews with figures such as Jerry Garcia and Tom Hayden, the likes of Ginsberg, Burroughs, Kesey ...

The neo-noir horror thriller film, The Ninth Gate (1999), was directed, produced, and co-written by Roman Polanski. The main character, Dean Corso, is a rare book dealer from New York City who is hired by Boris Balkan, a wealthy collector. Balkan has obtained a copy of The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, a book believed to have been written by 17th-century author Aristide Torchia in collaboration with the Devil. Only three copies are said to have survived when Torchia and his works were burned for heresy. In order to determine the authenticity of one of these copies, Balkan wants Corso to inspect the other two. ...

The American science fiction thriller film, The Astronaut’s Wife (1999), marked Rand Ravich’s feature directorial debut. Spencer Armacost, a NASA astronaut, and his wife Jillian, a second-grade teacher, faced a terrifying situation when an explosion on their mission caused a loss of communication with the command center. After a safe landing, both spouses visit them in the hospital where they are unconscious until they recover. While Armacost wakes up without any issues, Streck requires an emergency electrical cardioversion. However, neither of them discusses the in-flight incident. Subsequently, Armacost ...

Tim Burton’s gothic supernatural horror film, Sleepy Hollow (1999), is a loose adaptation of Washington Irving’s short story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Set in 1799, the film follows New York City police constable Ichabod Crane as he investigates a string of brutal murders in the upstate Dutch hamlet. Among the insular town elders who receive him are wealthy Baltus Van Tassel, town doctor Thomas Lancaster, Reverend Steenwyck, notary James Hardenbrook, and magistrate Samuel Philipse. According to local beliefs, the killer is an undead headless ...

The film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) was released, based on Hunter S. Thompson’s novel of the same name. The story follows Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo as they speed through the Mojave Desert in 1971. While under the influence of mescaline, Duke shares his encounters with giant bats and takes stock of their drug supply. In their rented red Chevrolet Impala convertible, they pick up a hitchhiker and reveal their assignment from a magazine to cover the Mint 400 motorcycle race in Las Vegas. However, their excessive drug use causes the hitchhiker to flee on foot. Desperate to reach their destination before any ...

Donnie Brasco (1997) is an American crime drama film directed by Mike Newell. Set in 1978 New York City, it follows the story of Lefty Ruggiero, an aging enforcer in the Bonanno crime family, and Joseph D. Pistone, a young FBI agent undercover as jewel thief ‘Donnie Brasco’. When Donnie questions the authenticity of a diamond acquired by Lefty from a strip club owner and takes revenge on his behalf, their partnership begins. Under Lefty’s guidance, Donnie learns about the rules of the Mafia and meets his colleagues in the crew – Sonny Black, Nicky, Paulie, and rival leader Sonny Red. After the ...

The film adaptation of the Gregory McDonald novel, The Brave (1997), marked Depp’s directorial debut. He co-wrote the screenplay with his brother and the film was first shown at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, where it garnered generally negative reviews. The story follows Raphael, a Native American man living in a remote community near a garbage dump. In order to support his family, he resorts to selling whatever he can. Desperate for a better life for his loved ones, Raphael agrees to star in a snuff film for a large sum of money. However, he is given an advance ...

Nick of Time (1995), an American political action thriller film produced and directed by John Badham, follows the story of Gene Watson – a mild-mannered, separated and widowed accountant who arrives with his daughter Lynn at Union Station in Los Angeles. While Gene tries to make a pay phone call informing an unknown person about his delayed train, two mysterious strangers in suits – Mr. Smith and Ms. Jones – observe the station from a catwalk. They are discussing a yet-to-be-revealed plan. Soon, they notice Gene standing up against a skater who was bothering his daughter. Focusing their attention on ...

Don Juan DeMarco (1995) is an American romantic comedy-drama film starring Johnny Depp as John Arnold DeMarco, a 21-year-old man who truly believes he is Don Juan, the greatest lover in the world. He dresses like Zorro with a similar mask, hat, and cape, and even goes by the name Don Juan. However, his passionate affair leads him to contemplate suicide. Psychiatrist Jack Mickler intervenes at the billboard where John plans to take his life by pretending to be Don Octavio de Flores. As a result, John is held for a ten-day evaluation at a mental institution. Without medicating him, Mickler conducts the evaluation before ...

The American acid Western film, Dead Man (1995), was both written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. It follows the story of William Blake, an accountant from Cleveland, Ohio, as he travels by train to Machine, a frontier company town. He is looking to start a new accounting job at the metal works. However, the fireman on the train warns him against this plan. Upon arriving in Machine, Blake realizes that the townspeople are not welcoming towards him. To his dismay, he discovers that the accounting position had already been filled by someone else. The town’s owner, John Dickinson, even resorts to threatening Blake with ...

The American biographical comedy-drama, Ed Wood (1994), was directed and produced by Tim Burton. At the time, Ed was determined to make a name for himself in the film industry. He heard that producer George Weiss was looking to purchase Christine Jorgensen’s life story from an announcement in Variety magazine. Hoping to direct a film based on this story titled I Changed My Sex!, Ed met with Weiss, but was not selected. However, he did have the opportunity to meet his lifelong idol, horror film star Bela Lugosi, and their friendship began. Convinced that having a well-known actor in the film would attract ...

Benny & Joon (1993) is an American romantic comedy-drama film by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. Following the accidental death of their parents, siblings Benjamin ‘Benny’ Pearl and his mentally ill sister Juniper (‘Joon’) live together. When Joon loses a bet during a poker game with friends and agrees to let Sam, the eccentric cousin of Benny’s friend Mike, stay with them, Benny is initially upset. However, after spending an evening at the local diner with Sam and coming home to find that he has cleaned the house, Benny changes his mind and decides to let Sam ...

The indie film Arizona Dream (1993), written and directed by Emir Kusturica, follows Axel’s journey from New York City to Arizona for his uncle Leo’s wedding. After being convinced by his cousin Paul, Axel agrees to stay in Arizona and take over the family business of selling Cadillacs. Along the way, he meets two intriguing women: Elaine, who dreams of building a flying machine, and her stepdaughter Grace, who longs to be reincarnated as a turtle. In one memorable scene, Axel and Paul struggle with Grace’s stubborn pet turtle during dinner while she floats in a levitating chair with a smile on her ...

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), a American coming-of-age drama film directed by Lasse Hallström, follows the story of Gilbert Grape in the small town of Endora, Iowa. He is busy taking care of his autistic younger brother, Arnie, who is turning 18. As the town prepares for the annual Airstreamers’ Club gathering at a nearby recreational area, Gilbert’s days are filled with watching out for tourists’ trailers passing through. Since his father’s suicide seventeen years ago, Gilbert’s mother Bonnie has been consumed by her couch and TV and excessive eating. With her severe obesity ...

Cry-Baby (1990), a film by John Waters, takes place in Baltimore in the year 1954. The protagonist, Wade ‘Cry-Baby’ Walker, is known for his ability to produce a solitary tear. He leads a group of rebellious individuals known as the ‘drapes’, which includes his sister Pepper, tough girl Mona ‘Hatchet-Face’ Malnorowski and her devoted boyfriend Milton Hackett, and sexually mature Wanda Woodward. Allison Vernon-Williams, a wealthy girl tired of conforming to societal norms, falls for Cry-Baby after they meet at a talent show at her grandmother’s Charm School. Despite her initial ...

Directed by Tim Burton, Edward Scissorhands (1990) is an American gothic romantic fantasy film. On a snowy night, an elderly woman shares a bedtime tale with her granddaughter about a young man named Edward, who possesses scissors for hands. Peg Boggs, a door-to-door Avon saleswoman, visits the eerie Gothic mansion where Edward resides. Created by an old inventor, Edward is an ageless humanoid who was homeschooled until the inventor’s untimely death from a heart attack. Left unfinished without hands, Peg discovers Edward and offers to bring him to her home upon realizing he poses no threat. At the Boggs household, ...