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The Daily Movie Wallpaper
Sunday, September 13, 2009
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Nikkatsu Noir Contest from Cinema is Dope – Enter Today
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The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was one of the last movies I saw play at Cannes this year. Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits ranks as one of the most impressionable movies I saw as a kid that helped give me my great passionate affinity for the power and magic of cinema. Gilliam’s body of work is such that whatever he does I’m more than eager to check it out as was the case with this latest effort as word of mouth was very strong.
Heath Ledger turns in his most unique and soul searching performances to date. Coming off playing the Joker and perhaps recognizing how audiences perceive him, he goes in a completely different direction to really dive into the character of Tony and this story by Gilliam. He does anything but play it safe or try and walk ground we have seen him walk before which if nothing else will bring back his fans to watch this again and again.
Lily Cole and Christopher Plummer in particular I thought were exceptional and really help to give the effort more emotional attachment and energy.
The assemble cast that inhabits Ledger’s shoes are all interesting in their own ways but I think it would have been far better had Ledger been able to finish it and we have seen his complete character arc, which is a shame as I’ll always wonder how and where he would have taken Tony as the film raced towards its final act. Law, Farrell and Depp make the most of their screen time and their most to blend right in.
As I watched the first half of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus unfold I was completely surprised by how well everything came together and was into the film, its world and characters. When the effort moves into the second half and becomes incredibly manic and the revolving door of who plays Tony next really starts swinging open again and again, I just failed to connect with it. It’s an admirable effort at just what was able to be carved together yet this part feels to sprawling and out of control. It adds too much excess in its second half in an otherwise engaging tale. One or two more passes in the edit room and its second half excess trimmed out and this would be one of the years best and I’m really looking forward to seeing its updated cut at Sitges Film Festival. If I’ve learned anything from titles that played at Cannes is that post their showing there they are often re-cut or evolve into different prints that work far superior.
