Some critics have been rather unkind to Johnny Depp’s take on “A Christmas Carol” from the new movie Ebenezer, but I think that they need to get off their high horses, and appreciate at least a little what many viewers seem to be loving. Johnny Depp’s still got it going on, and brings his unique blend of drama and humor to the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. He morphs into his characters, enjoys playing them, and brings that enjoyment to audiences as well. No, it’s not Shakespeare, but it sure can be fun…
What distinguishes Ebenezer from previous video adaptations of Dickens’ classic tale is its darkness, and focus upon the horror elements of the four featured ghosts. I think that this is only fair, after all, since Christmas has been trying to push Halloween off the stage since October.- – Well, turnabout is fair play, Christmas, so how about taking a few nightmares before Christmas?
A case in point here would be the Ghost of Christmas Past, shown above.- – Isn’t she marvelous nightmare fuel? White not black is the color of death in a number of cultures, and Christmas Past as played by Andrea Riseborough is a ghastly cadaverous white, with even her eyeballs fully whited out in the film. This gal ought to make you mend your ways…
Ian McKellen (yes, Magneto!) plays Scrooge’s partner Jacob Marley, and the film deviates from the novel in that Marley isn’t “dead, to begin with.” We actually get to see him alive for a while as Scrooge’s partner, perhaps partly shaping Scrooge’s character, even out-doing him in some ways…
The Ghost of Xmas Present as portrayed by Tramell Tillman is a spirit of robust appetites who eats, drinks, and belches…
Then we have the Ghost of Xmas Future (Yet to Come), a black, cloaked, terrifying creature portrayed by Robert Strange…
Johnny Depp is sometimes referred to as “The Master of Misfits,” and I look forward to seeing his return and the Ghostly quartet in this film by Ti West…
(Ghosts are so frightfully good!)
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