The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus (2009)Directed by Terry Gilliam
Length: 123 minutes
Rated PG-13 for violent images, some sensuality, language and smoking
When eating a fine piece of meat, you are often encouraged to slowly chew and savor the experience, letting your pallet absorb and savor the tastes and textures. However, we typically just gobble what is in front of us and move on to the next thing. Movies, like a fine piece of meat, are similar: some can be easily devoured allowing you to instantly form an opinion. Others, such as Terry Gilliam's latest, require a bit of chewing. While the film will more famously be known as Heath Ledger's last, there is an interesting, weird, and almost absurd charm to this marbling.
In my best attempt at summarizing the premise, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus follows a traveling sideshow that allows you to enter the imagination of the film's namesake. However, we soon learn that the real reason Dr. Parnassus, played by Hollywood vet Christopher Plummer (Up, The Last Station), is seeking adventurous patrons has nothing to do with money, but something much more valuable - souls. Over many centuries, the immortal Dr. Parnassus and Mr. Nick aka the Devil, played by none other than Tom Waits (The Book of Eli), have competed on several occasions to see who could collect the most souls. But the traditional carnival sideshow act has lost its luster on today's cynical youth, leading to an ineffectual and ridiculed show. All of this changes when Parnassus and his crew find young Tony, initially played by Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight). With the help of the young and charming Tony, Parnassus is soon able to start collecting souls again; but Tony has a secret that threatens to cost the good doctor the prize at hand in his wager with the devil - his daughter.
Yes, the movie is as ridiculous as the plot; in fact, I cannot even begin to describe the ridiculousness. Inside the imagination of Dr. Parnassus, we find a colorful world of unimaginable possibilities - it's like one giant acid trip mixed with Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Only adding to the madness is the change in appearance of Tony. With the death of Ledger during production, director Terry Gilliam was forced to rework the script in order to finish the movie. This led to the casting of Johnny Depp (Alice in Wonderland, The Rum Diary), Jude Law (Repo Men, Contagion), and Colin Farrell (Ondine, Crazy Heart) as alternate versions of Tony found within the imagination of Dr. Parnassus. While it may sound confusing, it actually comes off quite nicely and flows well.
Let's just be frank about it, Terry Gilliam is one weird dude. Everything he has ever done or been involved in just takes the level of weirdness higher every time. From his background as a member of the Monty Python troop, to his films like Brazil and 12 Monkeys, Gilliam definitely knows how to make you say "huh?". This film certainly isn't for the casual movie fan - I dare say many of you will probably feel slighted if you were to watch this. Though many will be drawn by the prospect of Heath Ledger's last film, you'd be better off savoring his sublime performance in The Dark Knight. But if you are looking for a good film to enjoy, say recreational activities with, than look no further than The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.
Final Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote:
Dr. Parnassus: "Percy, what would I do without you?"
Percy: "Get a midget."
Oscar Nominations:
Best Achievement in Art Direction
Best Achievement in Costume Design
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Directed by Tim Burton
Length:108 minutes
Rated PG for fantasy action/violence involving scary images and situations, and for a smoking caterpillar
Rated PG for a smoking caterpillar...pretty sure that sums up what you can expect from Tim Burton's interpretation of Lewis Carroll's classic Alice in Wonderland. Famous for his dark, twisted, and typically drab films, Burton has slightly strayed from his typical M.O., key word being slightly. This is definitely not the same Alice that Disney released in 1951. With a grown-up protagonist, a charred wasteland known as Underland (Carroll's name of the fictional world Alice finds at the bottom of the rabbit hole), and an "epic" battle between the dreaded jabberwocky, Burton has delivered a relatively enjoyable experience, albeit a flawed film that cannot overcome its shortcomings.
Departing from the traditional renditions, Burton has blended both of Carroll's works, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, with a bit of artistic licensing to create a new story from the one we all grew up knowing. This go around, Alice is a 19-year old girl; an odd young girl running away from what is expected of her by society. All the initial elements are there: the white rabbit in a waste coat with a pocket watch, the rabbit hole, the shrinking potion, the growing cake, so on and so on (cue "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane at any moment). However, as soon as Alice steps through the door into Underland, the story takes a decidedly different and darker tone. The "prophecy" has predicted Alice's return with the goal of slaying the deadly jabberwocky - a fire-breathing dragon that has destroyed the land and ensured the reign of the literal big-headed and shrill Red Queen, Burton squeeze Helen Bonham Carter (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The King's Speech).
Perhaps the most essential element of the film is the casting of Alice, portrayed by Mia Wasikowska (In Treatment, The Kids Are All Right), a performance best summarized by the Red Queen's favorite line: "Off with their head!" Wasikowska's performance is quite listless, leaving you clamoring for just one inkling of emotion, excitement, sadness...something! Of course, everyone really just wants to know about Johnny Depp (The Rum Diary, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) and his much-anticipated role as the Mad Hatter. While Depp certainly does not suffer from the same problems that plague Wasikowska's performance, Depp could not be consider at the top of his game. Though the Mad Hatter is certainly one of the better characters, his accent (a mix of gap-teethed whistling and an angry Scottish lunatic) can be very difficult to understand at times. Minor gripes aside, the scenes involving the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter are certainly some of the best.
Where the story and acting may be lacking in excitement or unpredictability, the visuals are very nice to look at. Filmed in 2-D then converted to 3-D, you can really tell the difference between this and say Avatar. The highest grossing film of all-time was shot entirely in 3-D, eliminating the campy elements that often are associated with the third dimension (i.e. a spear coming at you, etc.); instead, Avatar and its incredibly beautiful cinematography added depth, texture, and believability to its luscious forest world. In the case of Alice in Wonderland, it relies more on the stereotypical elements. While it is still a pretty film to look at, and the 3-D certainly adds to the experience, it cannot compare to the true standard-bearer that recently changed cinematography for all movies attempting the third dimension.
So where does this leave us? Enjoyable? Certainly! This is a fun movie, overall, filled with a few good chuckles/laughs, pretty visuals, and one awesome dance move (just you wait till you vigorously futterwagon all night long). But is this an instant classic that clamors for repeat viewings, cult classic status, or even warrant the typical Burton legion of fandom love? No! Alice in Wonderland is a flawed movie that the more serious film-goer may not be able to overlook. But for a casual, fun night out, it's certainly worth the exorbitant price you'll pay for the 3-D.
Final Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote:
Mad-Hatter: "I shall futterwagon quite vigorously!"
Oscar Winners
Best Achievement in Art Direction
Best Achievement in Costume Design
Oscar Nominations:
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
Directed by Spike Jonze
Length: 101 minutes
Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action, and brief language
Even if you hate reading, you have to admit you had at least one favorite book/story as a child. There are the classic Dr. Seuss books, The Rainbow Fish, and many more; but almost everyone cherished Maurice Sendak's classic children's book Where the Wild Things Are - a classic tale of a young boy craving attention and adventure, who runs away to an island of monstrous creatures who embrace the boy (Max) as their king. While the modern master Spike Jonze (Adaptation, Being John Malkovich) does not stray too far from the basic concept of Sendak's work, the interpretation takes on a much darker tone that may be lost on the more casual viewer.
As stated earlier, the protagonist is Max, played by Max Records (interesting name, eh?), a young, angry, and adventurous boy who craves attention and the chance to be wild. Raised by his single mother, portrayed by Catherine Keener (Cyrus, The Soloist), Max screams, claws, and bites at those who fail to take the time to play with him. After one particularly nasty fight, Max runs away from home, only to take a boat that whisk him away to a strange island full of giant creatures that think Max is their king. Wait...he is whisked away on a boat to an island? I know, I know...can we say deus ex machina; but you have to remember this is a movie told from the eyes of a young child with a vivid imagination. So just go with it; in fact, just accept a majority of the movie as a child would and you will enjoy it more. Crowned king, Max leads the monsters in dog piles, fort building, and dirt clod wars. As we learn more about the personalities and flaws of the characters, Max's fantasy develops a more disturbing meaning.
While Where the Wild Things Are can be interpreted in many ways, I took the monsters to be a representation of Max's family and how he perceives himself in said family. Carol, voiced by everyone's favorite mobster James Gandolfini (Welcome to the Rileys, The Sopranos), represents a patriarchal figure for Max; due to Carol's unpredictable and sometimes violent nature, it is not unreasonable to believe Max had an abusive father that is no longer a part of his life. Though Carol loves Max, he often threatens violence on those that disagree or hurt him. Paul Dano (The Extra Man, There Will Be Blood) voices Alexander, the goat-like creature that nobody listens or pays attention to, a la Max. These are but a few of the creatures, but you can begin to understand that Max is more than just an adventurous little boy, but a person suffering from psychological trauma. Trauma manifested via aggression, wild behavior, and a vivid imagination that all lead to a constant need to "act out."
Maurice Sendak wrote a timeless classic enjoyed not just by children but adults as well; however, Spike Jonze has developed a much darker rendition aimed at challenging the audience to look past the surface of the film. While it is easy to see Max has a vivid imagination that leads to adventures and trouble almost equally, the reasons for his behavior can be inferred if one can connect the dots between Max's fantasy and his real world. We all manifest the happenings in our lives in different ways. Some people write poetry or songs; some use such events to motivate them towards a greater goal. For a little boy like Max, he creates an entire world where he has friends that listen, play the games he develops, and follow his ideas with conviction. Ultimately, the film poses the question: where are your wild things?
Final Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote:
Carol: "If I was stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing, it'd be Douglas. We can share him if you want."
