Johnny Depp’s flight to Rome was delayed, so he missed a press conference scheduled for Saturday at the Rome Film Festival to talk about his new film, Modi: Three days on the wings of madness. Depp was scheduled to screen the film that night, collect his prize, and then fly out on Sunday morning.
The actor is considered a controversial figure in Hollywood after years of legal troubles and a messy divorce from ex-wife Amber Heard, which included domestic violence accusations and a highly publicized defamation trial between him and Heard. But Depp is in the midst of a career reboot in Europe, which began with a collaboration with French director Mervyn at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. Jeanne DuBarryin which he played King Louis XV.
Modi, The film, which premiered at the San Sebastian Film Festival last month, tells the story of three tumultuous days in the life of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani. The story takes place in the war-torn Montmartre area of Paris in 1916, which was home to many bohemians and artists at the time. Depp sits down hollywood report rome Talks about how he identifies with Modigliani, puts aside the past, and jokingly compares his reputation to O.J. Simpson.
As early as 1997, Al Pacino first recommended this movie about Modigliani to everyone.
Al was going to direct the movie at the time, and he was talking to me as we were making it together. Donnie Blascohe wanted me to play Modigliani. And then it disappeared and Al called me over twenty years later and he said [imitating Pacino]”Hey John, I think you should direct the Modigliani thing,” I said, “Why?”
How do you feel about being a director? This is your second attempt at directing a film; the first, brave manBack in 1997, things weren’t going well.
brave man It didn’t go well. I well remember the critics’ frustration brave manall it did was make me understand. What’s your job? You learn from it.
[Riccardo Scarmacio, who plays Modigliani in Modi, interjects to say: “By the way, (Italian auteur Michelangelo) Antonioni said ‘Bravo, bravo!’”]
Yes, he did, bless his heart. That did happen.
Do you identify with Modigliani? He was a wild man – he was addicted to sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. And he couldn’t stand rejection.
He and I are the exact opposite. I like saying no. [Laughs.]
But is there any way you can identify with his character?
certainly. My upbringing was different from Modigliani’s, but you do understand the heights you have to climb, climb the ladder or climb the wall to get to the point where you earn your stripes. I do understand him because he stuck to his own unique style which was too barbaric for people at the time.
Like you, he spent some time in the wilderness because of personal issues. Is this a good description?
It was a vast wilderness, and ultimately that vast wilderness taught me a lot
What lessons did you learn?
Oh, let’s see. Is this supposed to be funny or is it supposed to be real? [Laughs.]
Just give it to me directly. Last month you said in San Sebastian that your life had become a soap opera. Do you still feel this way?
I could honestly sit here right now and think about all the hits and how everyone is against me and yeah, yeah, he’s off the map… endless stuff. I remember it all. Been through it all. Some weren’t the most beautiful times and some were hilarious. Some of them were angry. The problem is, it’s just wasit’s just yes. So, for me, it happened. I learned, man. Everything we go through, whether it’s getting you a snow cone or walking your dog, you learn something in the process. So I don’t have any ill feelings towards anyone. I don’t have such a large reserve of hatred, because hatred requires care. Why bring this luggage?
You also said you felt you didn’t need Hollywood anymore.
I had some arguments with Hollywood about their unique approach to simplicity, smooth three-act structure, and all that predictable stuff. I’m sorry, but I have to go in and twist it a bit…
Despite all the challenges you faced in your personal and professional lives, you still delivered unforgettable performances. Do you have an instinct, intuition, or method that allows you to focus on the authenticity of your character?
Oh yes, of course, that’s my responsibility. But it can also be helpful in certain situations, especially when everything falls apart. It’s strange to be able to escape rather than enter a character, but it’s nice to be able to inhabit a character because everything is in your toolbox – some of which can be used as available excitement. This is awesome. So yes. Everything has been… it is, it is. At some point, it’s going to come up, that sort of thing. Like orange juice or something. But hey, that’s what happened. that’s all.
