Whose side is he on?

Severus Snape one of many untrustworthy movie characters

Those who have read the book or seen "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" already know, but some may still be wondering: Just whose side is Severus Snape on?

We wouldn't dare spoil things by answering. Instead, here is a look at similarly duplicitous characters from the world of fiction. The only thing they can be trusted to do is entertain.

Johnny Depp's woozy pirate is like that friend who is the first you'd call for fun and the last you'd call for help.

Even when he's being heroic in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies, it's mostly as a side effect of saving his own behind. Throughout, Sparrow tries to steal the gold, the girl - heck, he even stole the entire series from supposed star Orlando Bloom.

Dashing, charming, top dog in Cloud City - this is just the sort of guy you have to keep your eye on.

Billy Dee Williams brought a debonair roguishness to the "Star Wars" films when he showed up as Han Solo's friend in "Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back" - right down to the minute he turns our heroes over to Darth Vader.

Of course, he redeems himself in "Episode VI - Return of the Jedi," which probably helped him sell a lot more Colt 45.

Another redeemed figure, Sean Bean's well-meaning warrior in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" nonetheless succumbs to the ring's tempting power, trying to wrest it from Frodo, its designated carrier. He reclaims his honor with a sacrificial last stand in the movie's cliff-hanging climax. This mystery woman from television's "Lost" - one-time Other and Jack's current lover - has gone back and forth from good to bad so many times she makes your head spin. Which is probably just how wily actress Elizabeth Mitchell wants it. An aura of suspicion has hung over Kevin Spacey in every role since his jarring turn in "The Usual Suspects," an intricately designed crime puzzle that hinged on the least likely suspect. This is one of those rare movies that managed to fool almost everyone - just as Kint did to his cohorts in the film. Few movies have had so many cons and double crosses - and I'm only talking about the last 10 minutes.

Just who in this picture would you completely trust: Matt Damon? Leonardo DiCaprio? Mark Wahlberg? Jack Nicholson? You'd be better of siding with the rat scurrying along the railing in the picture's final image.

Read more by Josh Larsen at LarsenOnFilm.com. Contact him at jplarsen@scn1.com or 630-416-5206.