www.film-news.co.uk – 3rd November, 2011

It’s true! Johnny Depp admires Withnail & I.

The Hollywood star is a huge fan of the 1987 movie, which stars Richard E. Grant. It’s about two out-of-work actors who decide to go on a holiday, and is famed for its witty dialogue. Johnny can quote reams of the script and thinks everyone should watch the movie.

“Oh yeah, definitely,” he replied, when asked if Withnail inspired his Pirates of the Caribbean character Captain Jack Sparrow. “But Withnail, for me, is as good as cinema gets. It has every aspect you want. It’s hysterically funny, immensely quotable and there’s a great gravity to it as well. It’s a very poetic film. For me, it’s in the top three of all time.”

Johnny’s new movie is The Rum Diary, based on the book by Hunter S. Thompson.

Withnail & I director Bruce Robinson helmed the picture, and Johnny was thrilled when he signed on.

Bruce hadn’t directed a picture for 19 years previously, and the actor has explained how he convinced him to make a comeback.

“I was a real pest,” he laughed to Shortlist magazine. “I just kept coming at him. I understand someone who makes that decision and says, ‘I’m done with this cinema game and all those nasty bits that come with it,’ but Bruce was my dream for The Rum Diary and he was Hunter’s too. So I had to pursue him until he kicked me in the mid-section.”

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