Before even entering the cinema, you must first accept that it's a Terry Gilliam film. Because if you have no idea how a Terry Gilliam film would play, you might get lost.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, from the title alone, will already tell you more or less what the movie is about. I can only describe it as the cinematic equivalent of a Pink Floyd album, or a Salvador Dalí painting. Well, you can also compare it to the animated classic Yellow Submarine, only a little loonier. And like I said, it's Terry Gilliam. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I suggest watching the old Monty Python shows. The animated segments there were all done by Gilliam. And this movie has a lot of those (quoting my friend Myka) where-did-that-come-from? moments. So it's basically Gilliam's Python sketches in live-action and CGI. That'll give you an idea how much of a head trip this is.
This film also plays on the level of mythology. An old man, doomed to immortality, and a brash young newcomer -- that's just some of the archetypes the story uses. It has that timelessness to it, sort of like a legend, and if Verne Troyer hadn't mentioned the word "telephone", you wouldn't even be able to date the film.
Anyway, I shall force myself to say something about the actors.
Heath Ledger, you were so good, that ten minutes after you first appeared, I already forgot you were Heath Ledger.
Christopher Plummer, you were great, but the last time I saw you onscreen was in The Sound of Music.
Johnny Depp, do I even have to say anything?
Jude Law, I appreciated your acting after Sherlock Holmes, so you're safe now.
Colin Farrell, okay, you didn't talk much, so I wasn't able to hear if you used your indecipherable Irish accent.
And Verne Troyer, I'm sorry. You will always play roles like that. Such is the curse of Hollywood midgets.
*some info from IMDb
pic from sceneunseenpodcast.com
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. UK. 2009.
Rating: Eight out of ten.
