The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Rated PG-13 · 122 minutes · 2010
I’ve made no secret of my love for director Terry Gilliam throughout the years. Even when his movies are terrible (Tideland being his worst) he still manages to get his crazed sense of invention across. Unfortunately, in his more recent films, that sense of invention has gone hand-in-hand with an annoying lack of focus. Gilliam was in the middle of filming his latest fantasy opus when star Heath Ledger died, and he has employed the likes of Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law to complete his part. The plot involves a man (Christopher Plummer) given eternal youth by Satan (Tom Waits). He travels throughout England with a show on a carriage, and a young mysterious man (Ledger) joins the troupe. There’s a mirror that the characters go through, and they experience some fantasy on the other side. While Ledger and his stand-ins are good here, Gilliam lacks focus, and the whole thing makes little sense.
More Magic Needed
Heath Ledger is solid in his final film, but the movie itself doesn't work »
Official Site: www.sonyclassics.com/theimaginariumofdoctorparnassus
Director: Terry Gilliam
Producer: Amy Gilliam, Samuel Hadida, William Vince, Terry Gilliam, David Valleau and Victor Hadida
Cast: Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Verne Troyer, Andrew Garfield, Lily Cole, Tom Waits, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, Peter Stormare, Maggie Steed, Mark Benton, Simon Day, Paloma Faith, Richard Riddell, Montserrat Lombard and Moya Brady
Director: Terry Gilliam
Producer: Amy Gilliam, Samuel Hadida, William Vince, Terry Gilliam, David Valleau and Victor Hadida
Cast: Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Verne Troyer, Andrew Garfield, Lily Cole, Tom Waits, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, Peter Stormare, Maggie Steed, Mark Benton, Simon Day, Paloma Faith, Richard Riddell, Montserrat Lombard and Moya Brady
Reviews/comments
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What others are saying (5)
Charleston City Paper
Terry Gilliam's vision leaves too much to the imagination
One imagines Terry Gilliam at his laptop plotting his next screenplay. He's unsure of the eventual outcome but certain in one regard: there will be dwarves, time travel, a scrumptious young female lead, and men dressed in a Middle Ages-meets-steam punk mix of tattered clothes and stringy hair. If you can count on Gilliam for anything, you can depend on the British director for the patented antiquated, murky, visually chaotic worlds he creates in his well budgeted but ramshackle films — The Brothers Grimm, 12 Monkeys, The Fisher King, and Tideland. In Gilliam's fantastical creations it makes perfect sense for giant Monty Python heads to bubble up from the earth like geysers, for black rivers to turn into hideous serpents with human faces, or for the devil to make an appearance in human form. Gilliam's film world may appeal most to phantasmagoria junkies — people who crave visual excitement, but have less concern with continuity, logic, or the traditional three-act storyline.
by Felicia Feaster
01/20/2010
Terry Gilliam's vision leaves too much to the imagination
One imagines Terry Gilliam at his laptop plotting his next screenplay. He's unsure of the eventual outcome but certain in one regard: there will be dwarves, time travel, a scrumptious young female lead, and men dressed in a Middle Ages-meets-steam punk mix of tattered clothes and stringy hair. If you can count on Gilliam for anything, you can depend on the British director for the patented antiquated, murky, visually chaotic worlds he creates in his well budgeted but ramshackle films — The Brothers Grimm, 12 Monkeys, The Fisher King, and Tideland. In Gilliam's fantastical creations it makes perfect sense for giant Monty Python heads to bubble up from the earth like geysers, for black rivers to turn into hideous serpents with human faces, or for the devil to make an appearance in human form. Gilliam's film world may appeal most to phantasmagoria junkies — people who crave visual excitement, but have less concern with continuity, logic, or the traditional three-act storyline.
by Felicia Feaster
01/20/2010
The Coast Halifax
Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus a visual treat
Gilliam's movie is a little lopsided, but still great to watch. If only he and Heath Ledger had more time to collaborate.
by Hillary Titley
12/31/2009
Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus a visual treat
Gilliam's movie is a little lopsided, but still great to watch. If only he and Heath Ledger had more time to collaborate.
by Hillary Titley
12/31/2009
Colorado Springs Independent
Opening this week
Daybreakers, Leap Year, The Young Victoria, Youth in Revolt and more.
01/07/2010
2 more reviews...
Opening this week
Daybreakers, Leap Year, The Young Victoria, Youth in Revolt and more.
01/07/2010
Portland Mercury
Terry Gilliam's Traveling Circus
In The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, Terry Gilliam creatively edits Heath Ledger's final role.
by Alison Hallett
01/07/2010
Terry Gilliam's Traveling Circus
In The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, Terry Gilliam creatively edits Heath Ledger's final role.
by Alison Hallett
01/07/2010
Colorado Springs Independent
Doctoring it up
You'll never be bored by the film, yet there are too many WTF? moments and messy plot turns to recommend it.
by Tricia Olszewski
01/07/2010
Doctoring it up
You'll never be bored by the film, yet there are too many WTF? moments and messy plot turns to recommend it.
by Tricia Olszewski
01/07/2010
