The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Screen Rant ’s Ross Miller ReviewsThe Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
There are a handful of manager out there - admit Quentin Tarantino , David Lynch and The Coen brothers - whose novel celluloid are always considered to be cinematic events . Amongst that list of directors ( for me ) is Terry Gilliam , who I intend is one of the most imaginative and originative movie maker out there when it comes to the mind and subsequent visuals that come the wild imaginativeness he own .
Even when he ’s at his weakest , Gilliam always offer something deserving watch in my rule book , whether it be challenging sci - fi ( Twelve Monkeys ) or almost self - indulgent fancy ( Tideland ) . So does his late phantasy - laden film , The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassusdeliver yet again on that Gilliam charm ? Thankfully yes , even if the flick is not exactly perfect .
Doctor Parnassuscenters on the titular character ( Christopher Plummer ) , a 1,000 year - former former Thelonious Sphere Monk who centuries ago made a mess with the Old Nick ( Tom Waits ) to obtain immortality in tax return for any children he might beget in his life , once said small fry turn 16 . Dr. Parnassus make a life from his travel Imaginarium dramatic art , which permit its audience to infix a magical and mysterious earth which consume the form of the person ’s imagination , fueled by the powerfulness that Dr. Parnassus has .
One day Dr. Parnassus , along with his daughter , Valentina ( Lily Cole ) , and his travelling theater worker Anton ( Andrew Garfield ) and Percy ( Verne Troyer ) , come across the inscrutable and amnesiac name Tony ( Heath Ledger ) . With clip unravel out on his satanic contract , Dr. Parnassus and his troupe venture out to save Parnassus ’s girl before the devil follow to pick up .
Doctor Parnassussuffers from what many of these types of real earth / fantasy mankind films suffer from : The gorgeous , often awe - inspiring visuals to be found in the phantasy world make the tangible world picket in comparison . It ’s the scenes in the real world - which unfortunately make up the legal age of the movie - that run to sag in places , due to a thin story and how unevenly that story is handled . Perhaps the less - than - exciting scenes of the real world are water down on purpose to make the fantasy aspects stand out even more - but as much as that ’s admirable in hindsight , it does n’t make watching the film any more entertaining . In my opinion , Gilliam prove that his imagery sometimes outreaches his power to couch it within a package that works in its entireness .
It ’s a immense relief , then , that things pick up when it comes to the fantasy element of this motion-picture show - whether its the stories being tell by Dr. Parnassus that are shown in flashback , or the factual fantasy world in all its visually stunning aura . From reflective lands meet with jumbo confect canes and golden lily pad ( which sort of look like a warped , no - boundaries Willy Wonka manufacturing plant ) , to bright , pollyannaish , rolling hills with endless run point towards the sky - this film really is a visual treat that need to be realise to be truly appreciate .
Whether correct or wrong , much of the interest in seeingDoctor Parnassuswill be to see the tardy Heath Ledger in his last film purpose before he sadly passed away . And if I ’m being completely honest , it take me a while from when he was introduced in the film ( which is n’t direct by , FYI ) to get used to it . And I would be lie if I said that Ledger ’s last carrying into action was fantastic , or even his personal best , because it ’s not ( as populist as it may be to say , his execution as The Joker was his peak ) . However , do n’t get me untimely : Ledger turns in a good , evengreat , performance , once again showing off his diversity as an actor and his true talent when place in the right roles ( he ’s been in some not - so - not bad movie , too , let ’s not kid ourselves ) .
After Ledger died mid - way throughDoctor Parnassus ’s production , it was questioned whether or not Gilliam was give way to even continue on and finish hit the film . As a fix , Gilliam brought on - add-in three of Ledger ’s friends , Johnny Depp , Jude Law and Colin Farrell . As great as it was ( back when ) to find out three neat talents being added to the already impressive plaster bandage , I was doubtful that four dissimilar histrion ( particularly such well known ones ) play a single theatrical role was going to ferment .
Parnassus, the leader of a traveling theater troupe, makes a bet with the Devil over who can win more souls. Parnassus troupe shows audience members their dreams and imaginative depths in a magic mirror. If, at the end, the soul chooses the difficult path of enlightenment, Parnassus wins; if they choose easy ignorance, the soul goes to the Devil.
I can honestly say that the substitutions for Ledger did work , and in fact the change seem so finely woven into the framework of the film that it ’s backbreaking to opine it being any other way . Depp , Law and Farrell ’s appearances do n’t last that long ( suprisingly , Farrell is probably on - screen the most , then Law and then Depp ) , but each put their distinct stamp on the proceedings while simultaneously fitting in very well with Ledger ’s performance . Like the illusion visuals , it ’s hard to explain in word - you really do need to see it for yourself to sincerely " get it . "
Alongside Ledger , we have some fine supporting performance from the likes of theoretical account - turn - actress , Lily Cole ( sweet and innocent with a soupcon of mischief under the Earth’s surface ) , Andrew Garfield ( quick - witted and playfulness to watch ) , Verne Troyer ( make for an often rude but nonetheless loveable character ) , Christopher Plummer as the titular Dr. ( who ’s pretty much arrant for the role ) and Tom Waits as The Devil ( a genius man of casting if ever there was one ) .
At almost two 60 minutes , I feltDoctor Parnassuswas a niggling bit on the foresighted side , with numerous scene that could have been intemperately trimmed or perhaps even remove altogether . But even at its weakest , there ’s always something interesting to await at or a strange atmosphere to gazump up .
Doctor Parnassusmay not be what you ’d call a perfect film , but there ’s enough ocular wonder and conveyance ( whether logical or not ) of Gilliam ’s unmatched imaginativeness that I felt I got my time and money ’s Charles Frederick Worth . Gilliam fans will get more out of it than the median motion picture goer , but for those who love to be transported to grotesque worlds , the pic is deserving get wind .
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassushits U.S. theaters on Christmas Day , 2009 .
Parnassus , the drawing card of a traveling dramaturgy troupe , makes a bet with the Devil over who can win more souls . Parnassus company shows hearing members their dreams and imaginative profundity in a magic mirror . If , at the end , the soul choose the hard track of enlightenment , Parnassus acquire ; if they choose easy ignorance , the person goes to the Devil .
