Talking Pictures

Rich Bonaduce reviews “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”

Rich’s Quickie: I love me some Terry Gilliam. Not this, mind you; but some other stuff from Terry Gilliam.

Yes, I have a feeling I’m supposed to love this latest offering from offbeat ex-Python director Terry Gilliam. I know his stuff takes a bit of getting used to. I know it’s Heath Ledger’s last movie, and that it’s received 5 nominations for various reasons. I know the visuals are spectacular, and that it’s all some allegory or metaphor or SOMETHING for something else, and there’s probably a terribly deep and hidden meaning that I, as a populist broadcast critic, am just missing due to my being an imbecile.

Knowing all of that, I guess I could comb the internets and come up with something that makes me sound like I know what I’m talking about. But that’s not my job.

My job is to tell you what I think – not what I think I’m supposed to say. And unfortunately I thought this movie – although wonderful to look at, with star power and a great director – was unfocused, not really about a whole lot of anything, with far too many unanswered questions and out-of-left field developments to be satisfying. I’m sure people will check it out; it is Heath Ledger’s last movie after all, and a sausage-fest at that – with the likes of Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell taking his place at times (although I was too busy staring at the lovely Lily Cole to notice them), but I found myself wondering frankly, why bother? There isn’t much there, there.

Movie Grade: D+
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for violent images, some sensuality, language and smoking.
Director: Terry Gilliam
WriterR(s): Terry Gilliam and Charles McKeown

Tags: Rich Bonaduce reviews, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
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