The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)

http://www.doctorparnassus.com/

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a fantastical morality tale, set in the present day. It tells the story of Dr Parnassus and his extraordinary 'Imaginarium', a travelling show where members of the audience get an irresistible opportunity to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom. Blessed with the extraordinary gift of guiding the imaginations of others, Dr Parnassus is cursed with a dark secret. Long ago he made a bet with the devil, Mr Nick, in which he won immortality. Many centuries later, on meeting his one true love, Dr Parnassus made another deal with the devil, trading his immortality for youth, on condition that when his first-born reached its 16th birthday he or she would become the property of Mr Nick. Valentina is now rapidly approaching this 'coming of age' milestone and Dr Parnassus is desperate to protect her from her impending fate. Mr Nick arrives to collect but, always keen to make a bet, renegotiates the wager. Now the winner of Valentina will be determined by whoever seduces the first five souls. Enlisting a series of wild, comical and compelling characters in his journey, Dr Parnassus promises his daughter's hand in marriage to the man that helps him win. In this captivating, explosive and wonderfully imaginative race against time, Dr Parnassus must fight to save his daughter in a never-ending landscape of surreal obstacles - and undo the mistakes of his past once and for all...

A film by Terry Gilliam
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000416/

Imdb.com:
I saw this at the Munich film festival where Terry Gilliam introduced the film, and boy was he nervous. However, the film is of marvelous spectacle yet unprofound simplicity but limitless. It's along the lines of his magnificent visual storytelling as in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, leaving out the subtext like Brazil and Twelve Monkeys. Gilliam himself summed it up as simply a man looking for his daughter - and as he warned us to erase prior perception, it is not Ledger's film, it is about Dr. Parnassus (which is perhaps an incarnation of the director himself, regarding his lesser works this decade as the modern age has no interest in his classic stories - for that is reflected in the initial narrative of this film).

Of course, it is impossible to review this film trying to ignore what impact Heath Ledger's passing had. So I'll sum it up now - it's as if they wrote it that way. It's wonderously entertaining and a joy to watch even if it starts slow waiting for Ledger to appear and leaving us with the conundrum of not knowing which character to support (even Tom Waits' deliciously slick pencil-line mustachioed portrayal of the Devil). It usually made sure it treaded back to fill potential plot holes which initially baffled one, so it makes it a satisfying viewing. Now for the statistics that everyone would be most curious about; Ledger is a supporting actor. Christopher Plummer (Dr. Parnassus) is lead. He is only in the film's second act (and perhaps the end of the first). He does appeal between Depp and Law's turn but Farrell takes Tony Shepard's demise. Their appearance is not contrived and within plot - they appear for a scene within the Imaginarium each (and acknowledge the change too) - a place beyond the magic mirror (literally two pieces of foil curtained together in true Gilliam style) where people see their imaginations in vivid form, like a personal bliss. It is a film dominated by these special effects and art direction which the score delightfully compliments forming half the cinematic experience (though finding shades of Joker in Ledger's later scenes provides endless joy even with his efficient English accent layered on top). Nevertheless, Gilliam keeps his promise of at least one brilliant film per decade.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Terry Gilliam
• trailer
• director

[Cartmen554]

Second

[thestad8]

First?

hope the vid doesnt get taken down