We talk about it, but maybe you haven’t read it yet. Johnny Depp, who must announce projects to prove the stability of his career after the legal fight against his ex-wife Amber Heard, will shoot a new film. The actor, who is in France to embody Louis XV (yes!) in a “biopic” by Maïwenn on “Jeanne Du Barry”, intends to go back behind the camera. He only shot one feature film as a director in 1997. It was “The Brave”, where he had obtained Marlon Brando in the cast for a five-minute role. The thing did not prevent a rapid oblivion. The movie wasn’t even released in the US…
“I feel incredibly honoured, but I’m still really humbled.”
Johnny intends this time to tackle a life of Amedeo Modigliani, which may surprise. He is going to adapt a play by Dennis McIntyre, created in 1980. “Modigliani, A Play in Three Acts” takes place in 1916, four years before the premature death of the painter in Paris. Excess of all kinds. The film will be co-produced with Al Pacino and Barry Navidi according to “The Hollywood Reporter”. The distribution is not fixed yet. Filming would take place next year in France. For now, Johnny Depp is content to say he is “incredibly honored” to be in charge and “really humble” about the subject at hand. This is what sheds little light on our lanterns!
A precedent in 1958
Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920) has already been the subject of a filmed biography. It was in 1958. It was originally a project by Max Ophuls, who died during the preparations. He was succeeded by Jacques Becker, who opted for unspectacular black and white and a rather psychological content. If Anouk Aimée could convince as a faithful companion until the final suicide, it was hardly the same for Gérard Philipe in “Modi”. Lino Ventura was more effective as an art dealer, as he should be treacherous. The reconstruction of the period remained quite weak. It is now a curiosity.
Basquiat and Pollock
In general, painters have attracted little interest from filmmakers. For that, they need a romantic existence at will. All the same, I saw Charlton Heston paint the Sixtine and Kirk Douglas as Van Gogh for a good “Lust for Life” by Vincente Minnelli. There have otherwise been several lives of Goya (including one from East Germany), a Greco, two Artemisia Gentileschi, an Andrei Rublev particularly inspired by Tarkovsky, a Rembrandt filmed under Hitler, at least two Caravaggios, several Picassos and a Mussolinian Salvator Rosa. . The Neapolitan artist held there less often the brush than the sword. Let’s not forget the Basquiat filmed by his ex-colleague Julian Schnabel in 1996. It’s still quite a bit. Oh yes, I still have to point out the Jackson Pollock signed by Ed Harris in 2003! Sex, alcohol, death young in a car accident. The perfect cocktail.
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Painting in the cinema – Johnny Depp will attack Amedeo Modigliani
– Johnny Depp will tackle Amedeo Modigliani
The American will direct a film on the life of the painter in 2023. It is a project that he announces when he plays the role of Louis XV today.