The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus review

2009

Directed by Terry Gilliam

Starring Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole & Heath Ledger

This movie is about a man, Doctor Parnassus, who runs a theatre troupe and also happens to have made a deal with the devil, granting him immortality. Included in his troupe are his daughter, Valentia, a young man, Anton, a midget, Percy, and later on Tony, a man who cannot remember his past. Doctor Parnassus' deal with the devil states that if the devil wins five souls, then Val (the daughter) is his. If Parnassus wins, then Val goes free.

This movie is quite interesting, and I have to say I think it would have been even better if Ledger had been able to finish shooting (he had only been filmed in about 1/3 of the movie when he passed away in 2008). To replace him, however, three of his friends ( Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell) took turns playing his character, Tony, in different stages of Parnassus' imagination. They all did a wonderful job, and it did add a special sort of "twist" to the tale.

I don't want to say much more for fear of ruining something in the plot/giving away the ending, but I can say that I liked the movie a lot, although I was slightly dissatisfied with the way it ended.

I would recommend it, though. Especially if you are a Ledger fan. (:

/ [Akayume]

   More movie reviews