Okay, okay... I know right off the bat from my title that some of you might be gaping with your mouth open asking, “WHAT?! That vampire guy?” Yes, that very one! But before you toss his acting ability aside due to his hunky heartthrob status, let me explain.
First, let me talk a little bit about Johnny Depp. We can't forget that when Depp first started out he was a heartthrob as well. Teenie-Bopper magazines were covered with his hot little "21 Jump Street" face. Just like Robert, no one really took him as a serious actor either. Hmmm... maybe it was because of their hairstyles... see any similarities?
So what changed? Depp started following his passion for his craft.
Let’s delve into what makes Johnny Depp's career so unique. It is not his “star power”. In all honesty, it was not till "Pirates of the Caribbean" that he was such a big box office draw. He has his fan base, don’t get me wrong, but he was never really “Hollywood”.
He was certainly handsome enough and had the charisma to go mainstream, but he chose to take on films that challenged him, that allowed him to try an amazing range of characters and emotions. It almost seemed that he was willing to face any acting challenge.
No other actor has done so many unique types of roles that I can think of. It takes some guts. He brought Burton's beautiful fairytale of a guy with scissorhands to such life, and wasn't scared to play the greatest lover in the world. If you have any doubts as to his range, just take a look at his film credits.
And the best part is... sometimes it didn't work out. But at least he tried something new. I mean, in my opinion, movies such as "Cry Baby", "Nick of Time" and "Willy Wonka" were… ummm... well, crap. Not that he did bad, but they just shouldn’t have been made in the first place.
Now let’s consider Robert. Granted he hasn’t seen all that much screen time, but I see that passion for acting in him, much like I see in Depp. After seeing “Little Ashes”, I think he is one of those actors that thrive in doing quirky characters. And, as I see the roles he is choosing to take, even after his instant stardom with “Twilight”, he seems to be taking his career along the same path as Depp. He is doing films that interest him, that challenge him and that take him to unique places as an actor. Future roles such as those in "Bel-Ami" and "Unbound Captives" will prove his capabilities.
Yes, now granted, his performance in “Twilight” didn't cause the critics to stand up and shout from the rooftops, but I honestly can’t blame him for that one. He definitely has the talent. To me the director was too focused on the visuals (which I admit were stunning), and not on the acting. Kristen Stewart is also proof of that. She is a talented actress, but in “Twilight”, her much joked about “dead eyes” were allowed to take over and her character was not as charming as in the books. Directors are as much to blame for "okay" performances as actors are. If you have not seen “Little Ashes” you should. I think it will give you a new perspective on Robert’s potential.
Hopefully, one day I will get to sit down with Robert and see what makes him tick as an actor. To see what drives him and what his goals are. I see it in him, and hopefully he keeps his career on an interesting path like Depp. At this point, it will be easy for him to go mainstream. But I think he will chose a more challenging path. I will be keeping an eye on him!
“Little Ashes” Movie Trailer
By Anna-Marie Abell - Big Head Marketing, LLC
