In the spring of 2022, the world was captivated by the defamation lawsuit Johnny Depp brought against his ex-wife Amber Heard, as well as the subsequent countersuit Heard brought against Depp, after an op-ed written by Heard was published in the Washington Post. Thanks to Netflix, we’re able to re-live parts of the lawsuit (which was highly publicized because the presiding judge allowed cameras in the courtroom) through the streaming service’s newest documentary Depp v. Heard.
Depp v. Heard Came Too Soon
Let’s get one thing out of the way: this documentary was not necessary. The trial happened just over a year ago, and while it was an enthralling moment in pop culture, once the verdict was read, the public at large moved on, and not enough in the parties’ lives, nor in the world as a direct result of this lawsuit, has happened to warrant a revisit of the trial. At least not in documentary form.
And that’s largely because this wasn’t so much a documentary as it was a strategic editing of the footage from the courtroom. While most documentaries feature interviews from people either directly involved in or with expert knowledge on the topic at hand, Depp v. Heard instead showed minutes of Depp’s testimony, then minutes of Heard’s testimony, both spliced by various podcast blurbs, TikToks, and news footage related to the trial.
The only original work in this documentary was the text written to bridge gaps in information. Unless you have absolutely zero prior knowledge of what allegedly went down during the marriage of these two actors, Depp v. Heard offers little to no new information on them or the trial.
A Lack of Clarity
The documentary’s goal isn’t entirely clear, either. For most of Depp v. Heard, it seems that its goal is to convince viewers that Heard was the victim in this lawsuit and that the verdict was wrong, but near the end, some testimonies, particularly those concerning Heard’s mental health, are pieced together in such a way that the goal of the documentary is then questioned. Are viewers to find Heard the victim, the perpetrator, or a combination? And how are we to feel about Depp? Was there even a goal? All is unclear.
Several changes to the structure of the documentary could have made Depp v. Heard a more compelling series, as well as approximately three to five more years before its making. If you missed absolutely every bit of news coverage from the trial and want a quick run-down on some of the highlights, Depp v. Heard might be worth your time, but a couple of 10-minute YouTube videos would be just as informative.
Depp v. Heard is streaming now on Netflix.