The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Dir: Terry Gilliam 
2009
***
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a complete mess, an entertaining enough mess, but a mess all the same. That's not to say I didn?'t like it, it's just that, as much as I'm pleased the sad and untimely death of Heath Ledger didn't stop the production team from completing their film, it's very apparent that this wasn't the intended outcome, but merely the best they could do under the circumstances. It's all very confusing, not because of Gilliam's surreal imagination and imagery, that's quite accessible and rather brilliant, it's the editing that's the problem. I also wonder if the story, or should I say characters, had totally changed from those of the original script. To be honest, without the brilliant performances from Christopher Plummer and especially from Tom Waits and the brilliant Monty Pythonesque 'Policemen in tights' scene, I would have given it a lower rating. The casting is a little questionable as far as the rest of the supporting actors go but Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and particularly Jude Law, do a fine job although they are only in it fleetingly. I was also impressed by Lily Cole who I think has made a intelligent career change. Overall, better than The Brothers Grimm by a long way but not really up to Gilliam's usual greatness. Not really his fault though, and he and the rest of the crew should be commended for continuing with the production.