Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales | Film Review

It takes a bit to recall a time when Johnny Depp was not synonymous with his iconic creation, Captain Jack Sparrow. Way back in 2003, many have already forgotten what a gamble his casting on the original Pirates of the Caribbean actually was. Depp, a gifted actor aligned with quirky indie titles, was twisting the inherent nature of cinematic heroes, and Disney was terrified. Once the film was released and audiences began their decade-plus fascination with both the character and Depp himself, this period became as mythic as the legend Sparrow envisions of himself. In Dead Men Tell No Tales, the fifth film in the Pirates franchise, Jack Sparrow once again returns to guide our story towards another convoluted tale of past alliances, fabled quests, and wronged aggressors.

Will Turner’s son, Henry (Brenton Thwaites), has spent years studying the lore of the sea, searching for any loophole that will set his father free of the curse besieged on him in the previous films. In this era, an intelligent female astronomer going by Carina Smyth (played with pitch-perfect witty condescension by Kaya Scodelario), is seen as a witch simply because she possesses an IQ higher than the combined crew of the Black Pearl. Together, Henry and Carina believe they can solve mutual problems by setting off on an adventure to recover Poseidon’s Trident. Unfortunately, the key to their plan revolves around the assistance of a nefariously uncooperative pirate known as – you guessed it – Captain Jack Sparrow.

Standing between Jack, his crew, and the recovery of the Trident, is Captain Salazar. Javier Bardem’s Salazar is a man duped by Sparrow and cursed to live out his days in the heart of The Devil’s Triangle, until Sparrow’s own drunken selfishness unwittingly sets him free. Now on a course for vengeance, Salazar teams up with Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush, savoring the role once again) and sets out to hunt the elusive Sparrow down. These films are nothing if not a near mutiny of complications.

After the last film, many felt the franchise had run out of steam. That, aside from Jack’s wacky antics, Disney had no idea where to go with these films anymore. I’m in the camp that, aside from the wonky nonsense and uneven tone of At World’s End, I have enjoyed all of the Pirates films. In a blockbuster world stuffed with superheroes and space opera, here is a franchise revolving around the ultimate anti-heroes, hijinks aplenty, bleak mythologies and insane sea battles. All under the glossy scope of the Caribbean sun.

For this go-round, directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg grab the rudder as we set sail on the most robust and sensible Pirates adventure since Dead Man’s Chest. Thanks to their lead, Pirates 5 is an absolute stunner. Salazar’s look, in particular, is one of a person eternally submerged with hair in constant flow, which combined with Bardem’s accentuated speaking style, makes for a captivating performance.

In fact, there isn’t a single frame throughout the film that failed to stand as visual splendor. From a Fast and the Furious-ish bank heist where an entire building is stolen, to one ship literally feasting upon another, to a parting of the sea that even Moses would stop to appreciate – this film is cinematic bliss. The standout for me was a bit where Jack is destined to meet the fatal edge of a guillotine blade over and over again as it spins out-of-control. It’s a bonkers scene and despite feeling fairly confident Disney would never behead their star, it’s a nail-biting highlight.

From start-to-finish, from story-to-screen, this was the most enjoyable Pirates of the Caribbean film in years. So what could there possibly be to complain about? With so many actors delivering on every front, it seems a bit ironic that my one issue with the film lies squarely in the clutches of the very man who built this franchise: Johnny Depp.

Captain Jack Sparrow has remained an enigma. Here lies a character who, as explained in the original film, is both the greatest and worst pirate to have ever lived. For every seemingly brilliant act, Jack doubles down somewhere else on lunacy. It’s this dueling dichotomy that has endeared the character to audiences for well over a decade. As the series has progressed, the filmmakers have chosen to play with the goofy idiocy more than the conniving pirate inside, and here we reach the apex of this ascension.

For the first time in the series, Jack Sparrow – as the greatest pirate ever – is nowhere to be seen. He is still drunkenly charming and humorous in all the best and worst ways, but that underlying flash of daring and heroism is void from every scene, save for a glimpse of a past triumph. Dead Men Tell No Tales exceeds every measurement in comparison to the last two films, with the glaring exception of its lead character who, unfortunately, is now bordering on caricature.

As we careen towards a beautifully emotional finale that finally rights the most glaring error in the franchise, we are left with a film that serves its audience dutifully, yet reminds us that time is a bitch. Johnny Depp, like all of us, has begun to show the cracks in his armor. He has created a character that leapt off the screen and into our hearts with gleeful abandon, yet as it happens with all things, the tide has turned towards a need for retirement.

Thankfully, Dead Men Tell No Tales delivers a strikingly heartfelt conclusion to the series and its ever-present lead, while proving there are plenty of other stories to be told on the high seas that no longer need the great Captain Jack Sparrow. This is a world and universe that deserves to see fresh tales emerge, taking us on adventures with other scallywags and do-badders. If ever there was a cinematic universe waiting to expand, I present to you the Pirates of the Caribbean.

As Jack’s story neared its end, and despite my belief that this certainly should be Depp’s last go with the character, it was admittingly difficult to say goodbye. Choking back a few tears as the final credits rolled, I was reminded that Captain Jack Sparrow has given me so many memories and experiences over the years, and for that I will be eternally grateful to Johnny Depp. His broad swing knocked a franchise out of the theme park, and because of this, it will forever be a pirate’s life for me.