TIFF RED CARPET: Johnny Depp gets mobbed at the premiere of documentary West of Memphis
The red carpet for West Of Memphis lacked the glitz and gowns of some of the week’s other events, which is somewhat understandable considering Amy Berg’s doc follows the case of the West Memphis Three, a trio of Arkansas teens convicted of murdering three young boys in 1993. One of them, Damien Echols, who co-produced the film, was sentenced to death, but his execution was perpetually postponed, as evidence arose suggesting that the West Memphis Three were wrongfully convicted (they’ve since been released). Their plight attracted many celebrity benefactors, including the Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines and actor-slash-heartthrob Johnny Depp, who sent the crowd at Ryerson Theatre into a frenzy (thank goodness he had the protection of a leather jacket and about five other layers of clothing).
John Semley’s writing has appeared in the Guardian, Rolling Stone, Esquire and elsewhere. He is a regular contributor to Wired, the New Republic and the Toronto Star.
