Ah Percy, what would I do without you?
URGA MOTW
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Sorry about the delay in getting this review done - it's been a busy week.
This past Tuesday, we went and saw Terry Gilliam's latest - and Heath Ledger's last - film, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus". If you've never seen a film directed by Terry Gilliam before, what the hell is wrong with you?
Gilliam, the mad genius behind Monty Python's glorious cut-out animations, has made a name for himself as a director of great vision, fantastic storytelling ability, and terrible luck. Almost all his films have had some problem during development - usually financial - and sometimes we're lucky to get the finished product at all. (Although there's rumours he is about to once again try and make his Don Quixote film, which was struck by natural disaster last time around).
In "Parnassus", we have an intimate tale of bargaining and perception, told through the eyes of a small handful of wonderful characters. Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) runs a travelling sideshow where participants are invited to pass through his magic mirror - where they enter the world of their own imagination. As the 16th birthday of Parnassus's daughter Valentina (Lily Cole) approaches, he is worried about a bargain he had struck with Mr Nick (Tom Waits) many years previously. The troupe encounter the mysterious Tony (Heath Ledger) who has been hanged under a bridge - but after they rescue him and try to help him recover his memories, more unpleasantness for the performers is in store.
It's best if you don't know too many details of the plot, as they are only revealed piecemeal as the film unfolds, and you do have to pay attention to the dialogue and action to understand everything.
Visually, this film is stunning. The scenes in the dirtier parts of modern day London are wonderfully complemented by the computer generated landscapes of the imaginations of all those who pass through the mirror. This weird and wonderful world is where Gilliam excels, and now, in the 21st Century, he can actually make fantastic scenery which is not cost prohibitive. (Just imagine what The Adventures of Baron Munchausen or Brazil could have been like if CG special effects were available when they were made).
As you may know, Heath Ledger passed away during the production of this film, but luckily he had completed the majority of his scenes - and certainly all those in the "real world". Gilliam and the production team have managed to slightly modify their script and work in a wonderful solution - Tony (and other characters) show another side of themselves behind the mirror, with different faces, which meant that other actors could be used to completed Ledger's role. Gilliam called in some favours, and we now have Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell completing the role of Tony wonderfully, all artfully imitiating Ledger's performance that was previously filmed.
Both Plummer and Cole also stand out in the emotion they give to their characters, and even Verne Troyer as Percy gets a lot more to do that he ever did as Mini-Me. Gilliam has made yet another wonderful film, and he is definitely the master of the fantastic.
9/10
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Sorry about the delay in getting this review done - it's been a busy week.
This past Tuesday, we went and saw Terry Gilliam's latest - and Heath Ledger's last - film, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus". If you've never seen a film directed by Terry Gilliam before, what the hell is wrong with you?
Gilliam, the mad genius behind Monty Python's glorious cut-out animations, has made a name for himself as a director of great vision, fantastic storytelling ability, and terrible luck. Almost all his films have had some problem during development - usually financial - and sometimes we're lucky to get the finished product at all. (Although there's rumours he is about to once again try and make his Don Quixote film, which was struck by natural disaster last time around).
In "Parnassus", we have an intimate tale of bargaining and perception, told through the eyes of a small handful of wonderful characters. Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) runs a travelling sideshow where participants are invited to pass through his magic mirror - where they enter the world of their own imagination. As the 16th birthday of Parnassus's daughter Valentina (Lily Cole) approaches, he is worried about a bargain he had struck with Mr Nick (Tom Waits) many years previously. The troupe encounter the mysterious Tony (Heath Ledger) who has been hanged under a bridge - but after they rescue him and try to help him recover his memories, more unpleasantness for the performers is in store.
It's best if you don't know too many details of the plot, as they are only revealed piecemeal as the film unfolds, and you do have to pay attention to the dialogue and action to understand everything.
Visually, this film is stunning. The scenes in the dirtier parts of modern day London are wonderfully complemented by the computer generated landscapes of the imaginations of all those who pass through the mirror. This weird and wonderful world is where Gilliam excels, and now, in the 21st Century, he can actually make fantastic scenery which is not cost prohibitive. (Just imagine what The Adventures of Baron Munchausen or Brazil could have been like if CG special effects were available when they were made).
As you may know, Heath Ledger passed away during the production of this film, but luckily he had completed the majority of his scenes - and certainly all those in the "real world". Gilliam and the production team have managed to slightly modify their script and work in a wonderful solution - Tony (and other characters) show another side of themselves behind the mirror, with different faces, which meant that other actors could be used to completed Ledger's role. Gilliam called in some favours, and we now have Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell completing the role of Tony wonderfully, all artfully imitiating Ledger's performance that was previously filmed.
Both Plummer and Cole also stand out in the emotion they give to their characters, and even Verne Troyer as Percy gets a lot more to do that he ever did as Mini-Me. Gilliam has made yet another wonderful film, and he is definitely the master of the fantastic.
9/10