Burton And Depp Do It Again

Rating: 8/10 (17 September 2014)

Reteaming for their fifth collaboration in 15 years. Tim Burton directs Johnny Depp in Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. I don't understand all the have this movie gets. I for one found it as enjoyable as the 1971 version. It's very silly, but visually stunning and I enjoyed a hell lot of it.
I can't praise the cast enough of this movie enough here. AnnaSophia Robb as Violet Beauregarde, Julia Winter as Veruca Salt, Jordan Fry as Mike Teavee, and the boy with the funniest line In the movie Philip Wiegratz as Augustus Gloop (His delivery of said line is hilarious.) are all splendidly horrid. Then there is Freddie Highmore as Charlie Bucket. I love this kid, I think he is superb in everything I have seen him in, (check out Finding Neverland and August Rush) Burton does a great job getting great performances from his child actors.
As for the adult cast David Kelly as Grandpa Joe is a delight, Helena Bonham Carter (in her first of five pairings with Depp) as Mrs. Bucket is surprisingly less cooky than one would imagine, and it's a true case of less is more. Noah Taylor is fine as Mr. Bucket. Missi Pyle is fun as the ambitious glory driven pushy mother Mrs. Beauregarde. Christopher Lee has a small role as Dr. Wilbur Wonka and Deep Roy is great as every Oompa- Loompa. Then there is Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.
Back when this was made Depp was one of my top 10 actors, but sadly there is something missing in his work since this time (with the exception of Sweeney Todd) as he seems to be lost in big budget sequels to the 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' and underwhelming movies. I was bored all the way through 'The Tourist' but I at least stayed awake. I fell asleep during 'The Rum Diary' and 'Public Enemies' (his best movie since Sweeney Todd) was a missed opportunity, Although I liked Depp's performance. There is an energy around Depp (that unless he is working with Burton) has been missing in most of his work between then and now.
The film's heart comes from Highmore, a gifted young performer whose performance is very sincere, honest and unforced in a way that's rare in a child actor. Johnny Depp was so impressed with Highmore's performance when they co started in 'Finding Neverland' that he recommended that Tim Burton hire him for the role of Charlie Bucket.