Let's collaborate - Part I

There are some directors who are famous for loving to work with the same actor in more movies. From today in three parts I'll write about some famous director&actor/actress "couples" whose names equal success not only alone but put together as well.
1. Tim Burton and Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp, also known as one of the most popular actors of our time owes a lot to Tim Burton - back in 1990 he gave Depp the role of Edward Scissorhands and the rest is history. Since then Burton let the actor show his talent in various yet typically Burton-esque roles. He played legendary director Ed Wood in 1994's Ed Woodand if you have seen the movie I don't think I have to explain what a great performance it was. Though many expected Sleepy Hollow to be a horror, those who know how to approach a Tim Burton movie (expect darkness and lots of irony instead of fear) adored Depp's interpretation of the clumsy and coward romantic hero, Ichabod Crane.

Though their next collaboration seemed to be a children's movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was anything but. The not-so-hidden social message comes through each and every children character in the film. Right after Willy Wonka's adventures Burton decided to make an animated feature - Corpse Bride. But it doesn't mean he couldn't find a role for Depp and his wife (and beloved actress) Helena Bonham Carter so they lent their voices for the main characters (Victor was reportedly inspired by Johnny Depp himself). The next project for the pair was Sweeney Tood: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. This tragic musical and, once again, the brilliant directing and acting earned Depp his third Oscar nomination and first Golden Globe award. Though for the few upcoming years there are no news of another work together, I am quite sure these two will make many more movies and I am also sure I'm not the only one who's looking forward it a lot.


2. Pedro Almodóvar and Chus Lampreave
This collaboration is not as famous as the one with Penélope Cruz (that I will be posting about in one of the next parts) but it is more significant. Ever since Lampreave appeared in Entre Tinieblas (Dark Habits) as Sister Rat, she has worked with Spain's most famous contemporary director 7 more times (including his next project, Los abrazos rotos /Broken Embraces/).

With her easily recognozeable voice and wonderful acting that seems to come with no effort for her, she has become an important person in Almodóvar's films such as Matador, Volver, Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) and Hable con ella (Talk to Her), regardless if she only had a smaller part or one of the leading roles. Now, at 77 she is still working and hopefully this entertaining relationship will show its face in many more common projects.