This Friday, Johnny Depp will officially join the legion of extraordinary actors who have played Ebenezer Scrooge in an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer is also serving as Depp’s first major Hollywood role since his lengthy and publicized legal battle against Amber Heard, and the first reactions to the Ti West directed flick have emerged. I’ll update more as they roll in.
Although our own JimmyO wasn’t too pumped by the idea of yet another Christmas Carol adaptation, he walked away impressed by the film, which he said was his favourite Depp performance in the last few years. “I was not terribly excited about the prospect of another Christmas Carol. Thankfully, Ti West’s Ebenezer presents a darker look at this Christmas fable,” he said. “Yet it brings more sincerity than many of the earlier efforts. Johnny Depp gives a layered performance as Scrooge. And while it is cartoonish at times, it is far more layered than the trailer would suggest. You actually see his growth with each spirit visiting him. It’s my favorite Depp performance in a few years.“
Andrea Carnevali added, “I didn’t think I needed another Christmas Carol film, but #Ebenezer really surprised me. It embraced the horror side of the story at its fullest but it’s one of the best and most faithful adaptations of Dickens… and it looked beautiful too. I even got teary at the end.“
But Lewis wasn’t overly pleased with the film, saying, “There are no superlatives to describe how truly awful #Ebenezer is. Excluding the production design and score. Every single element is chaotic, mismatched and horrifically ill judged. Ti West? I love you. But this was a complete and utter bust. Shameful. Avoid it like the plague.“
Set in early Victorian London, it follows the miserly businessman as he’s forced, through visions of the past, present, and future, on a supernatural journey toward a chance at redemption.
In addition to Depp, the film also stars Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit, Andrea Riseborough as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Sam Claflin as Fred, Scrooge’s nephew, Daisy Ridley as Clara, Fred’s wife, Arthur Conti as young Ebenezer, Ellie Bamber as Belle, with Tramell Tillman as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley.
Ebenezer will hit theaters on November 13.