Review of film: “THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS” [ at 45th CIFF ]

    ...  I'm going to report on a "MAJOR" film that was shown on 10-20-09:

Review of film:  “THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS”  [  at 45^th CIFF  = Chicago Int'l. Film Festival  ]

        -- It has more Imagination than enjoyment =

   Rating:  7.5 of 10 stars in a 122-minute film (based on an advance screening).

As it has done in previous years, the Chicago Int’l Film Festival offered a “SURPRISE” movie to anyone coming in with Festival apparel (a clever & nice idea, tho it was a bit unclear from different announcements just what “fit” the definition)…

…  The public didn’t know WHAT movie would be shown until it started after an introduction by Fest founder Michael Kutza. When they saw it would be the long-awaited “IMAGINARIUM”, that fact brought hearty applause from those in attendance.

…  Basically, the meandering (& periodically puzzling) Terry Gilliam story concerns a “contest” between the DEVIL “Mr. Nick” (TOM WAITS) & his “opposite, Dr. Parnassus (CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER) to win five “souls” for their “side” (with the victor securing final control of P’s daughter Valentina). 

…  Parnassus (who’d gotten immortality from Mr. Nick in a wager thousands of years before) runs a sort of old-time traveling “side show”, trying to entice modern-day people into his wagon to go thru his “mirror” into an imaginary & often imaginative --  & frequently frightening – world…

…  Helping Parnassus are his assistants:  Anton playing “Mercury” in their play (acted by ANDREW GARFIELD), Percy (VERNE TROYER) & Valentina (LILY COLE).  They work to save the life of mysterious Tony (HEATH LEDGER in his last role before he died unexpectedly)…

…  Then, various of Heath’s friends “FINISH” his role in the “Imaginarium” section at the last half of the film:  the # 1 “Transformation” being JOHNNY DEPP, # 2 being JUDE LAW, & # 3 being COLIN FARRELL…

…  Anton tends to be usually jealous & leery of Tony, in part because his love Valentina seems attracted to him. The devil & Parnassus keep competing for various members of the public, & you see things quasi-“resolved” at the end (with special emphasis on Tony & Valentina).

…  There are some very IMAGINATIVE aspects to the film, especially a scene with flying mirrors. Considering that 4 people play the part of Tony, the role is “blended” surprisingly WELL (& the acting is decent thruout)…

…  The film got NO real applause at the end (whereas numerous “unknown” films received such acclaim at the Festival). 

…  I’m afraid that the overall film will be a “HARD-SELL” to the general public (except on a “cult” level), because, due to the way the story is often CONFUSING and not very funny, it comes across as more IMAGINATIVE than really enjoyable (which is why I rated it as I did).

              

…  After I saw the film, I talked briefly to Mr. KUTZA, who said the film was like 6 years or so in the making, & he was surprised to see the wide-range of financing involved, particularly from Canadian government agencies (besides UK & French ones)… 

…  Checking into the situation on-line, I see the film is scheduled for a LIMITED U.S. release starting December 25^th [2009]--  altho it’s already been shown at 2009 Film Festivals including Cannes, Munich, Toronto, San Sebastian (Spain), Vancouver, Rome, & set for Sao Paulo, Brazil later in October…

[  NOTE:  You can easily  SHARE  this Posting with your friends or family by sending them an automatic e-Mail LINK via clicking on the “M” button in the lower left-hand corner under “VOICE OF SILENCE” below...  ]

 

  (o_
   /\ 

= = =         …  ( <>  ^  <> )  ...