Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003) Review

Johnny Depp hijacks Disney's summer ride with a shimmering comedic performance that recalls the subversive spirit of British personalities Keith Richards, Eddie Izzard and sketch comedian Paul Whitehouse.

Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in The Curse Of The Black Pearl (Courtesy of IMDB)

The last time a Hollywood leading man wore this much mascara, it resulted in an Academy Award for Best Actor. And quite frankly, William Hurt's 1985 performance in Kiss Of The Spiderwoman is as good a reference point as any when trying to convey the full impact of Johnny Depp's gravity-defying turn as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates Of The Caribbean.

Depp and other actors such as Hurt and John Malkovich are able to jump off the deep end to challenge our conventional expectations of what a cheerful buccaneer, a homosexual prison inmate or a ruthless presidential assassin should look and sound like. In Depp's case, he has picked up right where he left off in the overlooked 1995 romantic comedy Don Juan DeMarco to create this summer's unlikeliest action hero.

To begin with, there is the accent, an untraceable British concoction that suggests a pirate who is clearly more interested in a drink in the captain's quarters rather than a battle on the prow. Then there is the treasure chest of mannerisms and catchphrases that Depp uses to punctuate his performance, from the solemn clasping of the hands to indicate his tacit approval of the proceedings to his occasional exclamations of the word "savvy."

Depp has credited Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards as the inspiration for the idea that 18th century pirates were the equivalent of today's rock music stars. Clearly, Captain Sparrow never lets the events of the day get in the way of a good time, most notably during those moments when he must once again escape from the grasp of an island governor's stuffy royal guard.

Meanwhile, when it comes to the extensive physical pantomime of the role, Depp cannot help but recall the BBC half-hour TV program The Fast Show, which ran from 1994 to 2001 in England and was later repackaged in the United States under the title Brilliant. Depp has said it is his favorite show and once dubbed Paul Whitehouse, half of a comedy team that also included Charlie Higson, "the greatest actor of all time."

Depp even went so far as to once guest star in an installment of the BBC duo's recurring sketch about a pair of demented tailors, Suit You Sir. With Captain Sparrow's faux accent, scruffy sex appeal and dazed and confused demeanor, Depp has managed to put together a characterization that is similarly hilarious without being obvious, as original in its own way as Peter Sellers' bumbling Inspector Clouseau.

Orlando Bloom as Will Turner in The Curse Of The Black Pearl (Courtesy of IMDB)

For those who are enthralled by Depp's performance, it won't be enough to detract from experiencing Pirates Of The Caribbean as an entertaining and thoroughly worthwhile companion piece to the classic 1952 Burt Lancaster send up The Crimson Pirate. However, if you're not particularly taken by Depp's two-step, then it's more likely that Pirates will drop anchor in the same murky waters inhabited by the likes of Cutthroat Island and Roman Polanski's ill-fated 1987 epic Pirates.

One of the biggest laughs at a packed opening night midnight screening of Pirates of the Caribbean came during a scene that references a famous part of the Disney amusement park ride on which it is based, namely the tableau of a dog holding in its mouth the keys to a prison cell just beyond the outstretched reach of a group of inmates.

All except for Depp of course, who in keeping with his unique characterization, uses generous dollops of mascara and a trusty bandana to create an anachronistic look that would make both Keith Richards and cross-dressing British stand-up Eddie Izzard proud. From the moment Depp glides into frame atop the mast of a sinking ship without missing a beat, he owns Pirates Of The Caribbean.