Happy Birthday, Johnny Depp!

Today, I am happy to celebrate the 49th birthday of Oscar-nominated actor Johnny Depp. A native of Kentucky, Depp has spent his career making a name as one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood. Originally, he aspired to be a rock musician, but after nabbing a leading role in the television show "21 Jump Street," he shifted his aspirations to the silver screen. Over the years, Depp has formed a very close relationship with director Tim Burton, and he has appeared in seven of Burton's films. It is this relationship for which he is most known, but Depp has managed to wow audiences and critics on a number of other occasions as well. His superstardom skyrocketed with his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. He based the character off Keith Richards, a member of the Rolling Stones, and one could say that Depp finally got the opportunity to be a rock star, if only for a little while. Depp's performance as Jack Sparrow has opened a number of doors for his career, and he has only continued to grown in popularity ever since. Here's a look at some of the fun facts and accolades that Depp has earned throughout his career:

Acting

First Film: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Last Film: Dark Shadows (2012)

Next Film: The Lone Ranger (2013)

Academy Awards

Nominated: Best Actor, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Nominated: Best Actor, Finding Neverland (2004)

Nominated: Best Actor, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2009)

Over the years, I've managed to see twenty of Depp's films, and on average, his films have received a 'B+' grade. From these twenty, I have created the following list of my five favorite of his performances: 

5. John Dillinger

Public Enemies (2009)

*****

4. Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

*****

3. Sir James Matthew Barrie

Finding Neverland (2004)

*****

2. Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

*****

1. Captain Jack Sparrow

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Once again, I would like to wish Johnny Depp a happy 49th birthday!

Happy Birthday, Michael Mann!

Today we're celebrating the 69th birthday of four-time Academy Award-nominated director and producer Michael Mann. Mann's first directorial effort happened to be a 1968 documentary entitled Insurrection, but it wasn't until 1981 that he created his first theatrically-released, scripted feature film in Thief. From there, Mann was able to helm some of the biggest films of the 1990s, including 1992's The Last of the Mohicans, 1995's Heat and 1999's The Insider. He has worked relatively sparingly as a director throughout his career, and his most recent films have been 2004's Collateral, 2006's Miami Vice and 2009's Public Enemies. Despite his relatively low number of films with which he is associated, Mann has found a way to make a name for himself in the Hollywood community with his multiple Oscar nominations, three of which - including a Best Director nomination - came for The Insider. So, to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Michael Mann's directorial efforts, and I've found videos for your viewing pleasure. Once again, happy birthday, Michael Mann!

5. The Insider
1999


*****

4. Public Enemies
2009


*****

3. Heat
1995


*****

2. The Last of the Mohicans
1992


*****

1. Collateral
2004