Monday, January 11, 2010
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Monday, January 11, 2010
MOVIE REVIEW
The Imaginarium Of Doctor
Parnassus
Adventures In The Imagination Of Projection And Fantasy
Jude Law as Imaginarium Tony #2 in
Terry Gilliam's new fantasy adventure drama "The Imaginarium Of Doctor
Parnassus". The film opened
last Friday.
Sony Pictures Classics
By Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
Monday, January 11, 2010
Readers who grew up decades ago in England may remember Noel Edmonds'
Multicoloured Swap Shop, a 1970s BBC TV series typically aired on Saturday
mornings. It was fun, entertaining and imaginative. Terry Gilliam, the
Monty Python alum who has gone on to direct such great films as "Fear and
Loathing in Las Vegas" and "Brazil", brings us a one-of-a-kind vision in the
finally-released drama "The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus", which takes our
imaginations to places we never knew existed.
Mr. Gilliam's new film, which expanded its North American
presence over the weekend, is a multi-colored menagerie of fascination and
fancy. More importantly "Doctor Parnassus" features Heath Ledger's
latest film performance, interrupted by his tragic death two Januarys ago.
Mr. Gilliam calls upon the talents of Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law to
complete Mr. Ledger's role as Tony, and their contributions work in haunting and
ingenious ways. Tony is a millionaire captivated by the world of
wonderment and adventure in the Imaginarium, a fantasy land where dreams or
nightmares come true. This fairy-tale-land is an invention of Doctor
Parnassus (Christopher Plummer), who has to serve a devil-in-disguise (Tom
Waits, brilliant here) in order to be freed of his debts. The good doctor
is steeped in the morose but he's got company: an enchanting young woman
named Vanessa (Lily Cole), a
dwarf, Percy, who is a faithful companion (Verne Troyer), Anton (Andrew Garfield)
who has come to appreciate this different world, and Tony, who's trying to
escape scurrilous rumors about him.
"The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus" weaves the stories of these vastly
different individuals trapped in a present-day web of desire, pleasure and
danger. Enlivened by
visual effects and spectacular sequences, the film is meticulously crafted. Mr. Gilliam,
who co-wrote the script with can be best described as a
thinking man's fairy-tale griot. The conceptions and imagery on screen are
often too wondrous to describe, and any attempt to do so is absolutely futile.
Few directors if any, have Mr. Gilliam beat in both the imagination department
and the ability to simultaneously convey a credible and absorbing story.
(Take note, Mr. Cameron.)
Thought-provoking if not provocative, Mr.
Gilliam keeps this film rolling where it could instead have grown overwhelming.
There's a moment where Mr. Troyer's character appears in blackface but as in
"Bamboozled" its use is purely satirical, in one scene involving a pitying
woman. Undoubtedly, some will find Mr. Troyer's appearance offensive.
Always immersive, "The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus" takes us on a wild,
uneven carnival ride. When it's over, we are exhausted, spellbound and
mesmerized. For some, Mr. Gilliam's films are an acquired taste, and
"Doctor Parnassus" will almost certainly warrant a second viewing as there's
lots to take from it -- but sadly that's a refreshing observation in a modern-day
movieland where fast-food celluloid servings are too often the order of the day.
"The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus" is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture
Association Of America for violent images, some sensuality, language and
smoking. The film's
running time is two hours and two minutes.
Read more movie reviews and stories from Omar
here.
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