Movie Feature: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
Where should I begin with this movie? For starters, this is not a movie for everyone. If you are an action junkie, or rom-com fan, or drama addict, this is not the movie for you. So what category does The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus fit in?
In my opinion, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a modern fairytale with a wacky yet ingenious presentation. Fans of either Christopher Plummer or the late Heath Ledger will definitely love this movie since their roles are the most in-depth and fun to watch. Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell also lend their talents to this movie, but they only have limited screen time. Moreover, their acting skills here play second fiddle to Ledger's roguish charm as the mysterious outsider Tony. As for Christopher Plummer, he really outdid himself this time.
To sum it up, the movie is about Doctor Parnassus, thousand-year-old man with the power to guide the imagination of others due to his deal with the Devil. Along with his travelling troupe, he goes around offering his audience the chance to go beyond reality through a magical (albeit plastic-looking) mirror in his possession. However, the time has come for the Devil to collect on his due, and that is Valentina, Parnassus's 16-year-old daughter. Parnassus is offered a chance to save her if he places first in the race with the Devil to collect five souls. Joining them is Tony, a mysterious man whom the troupe found hanging under a bridge and with no memory of his past, they embark on a journey beyond anything they have ever imagined...
Contrary to most opinions about how confusing this movie is, I find it to be really simple - it is just presented in a really over-the-top way a la Alice in Wonderland, but Terry Gilliam style. The themes in this movie are also clear-cut: one, never make any deals with the Devil because it is always the Devil who deals you; and two, greed and ambition are detrimental. Even the ending is representative of this, in which each chacter is given an ending that reflects the consequences of their personal choices, and not all of them are happy. Despite its wackiness, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a pretty dark movie indeed.
Overall, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is not something that everyone will enjoy, but anyone who is appreciative of movies should at least give it a try because you will get to see some of the FINEST performances EVER. It is certainly uncanny how Heath Ledger looks like Johnny Depp and vice versa, and this movie just hardens the blow of Ledger's loss. Wild, unique, hilarious and thrilling, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was created to take a pot shot at your imagination, stretch it and twist it as far as it can go.