You know, isn’t it strange how Movie Nights can get …
Strange …
Well …
Odd …
Well, ok, not odd, per sé, just unexpected musical.
You see, myself, Movie Night Adrian, Kevin D and Kevins wife, Sarah, had all got together to catch a movie.
You’d worked that out, I know.
And Sarah, bless her, got here a touch late.
Complete with a trumpet she was going to fix up, and pass on to a friend.
You know, twiddle with the valves, blow the dust out, make sure everything was working.
That’s her, tootling away in the picture. She’s rather talented with brass, I should add …
|»»•««|
Which is sort of going sideways isn’t it … ?
It’s also sort of incidental to the film we’d all got together to catch.
The 2009, Terry Gilliam directed fantasy that is The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus. And I swear whoever voiced the trailer couldn’t pronounce ‘Parnassus’.
Wouldn’t’ve happened with Don LaFontaine, I think. But that’s incidental.
Because The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus? Is quite good.
Maybe not on a par with some of Gilliam’s best work. But certainly not his worst, either.
The film follows the title character, Dr Parnassus — played by Christopher Plummer — as he, his daughter, Valentina and his two assistants — Anton and Percy — travel around London, with his small travelling show, the Imaginarium.
The twist in the tale … ?
Is that the Dr has been given immortality by Mr Nick: none other than the devil, himself, played with a certain relish by singer/songwriter* and actor, Tom Wait.
And the price of the good Doctor’s immortality is simple: that Mr Nick get’s the soul of the Dr’s daughter, Valentina, as and when she turn’s sixteen.
|»»•««|
13/10/2010. 12:28
Well, ok, I say morning …
But as you’ve probably noticed from the time-stamp, it’s actually a touch later than that …
Oy!
Bless ’em, I’ve just had Paul and Graham pop in on me: just as I was going to get in the shower.
Ahem!
Now, where was I … ?
Oh, yeah …
|»»•««|
Which I think I managed to tell you was the film that Movie Night Adrian, Kevin D, Kevin’s wife, Sarah — who I’m thinking should maybe dubbed Sarah, Tootles — and me all managed to catch, last night.
And I’ll have to admit, I think we can safely say we all of us enjoyed.
After all, Terry Gilliam is generally regarded a genius of a director.
If he isn’t … ? He’s certainly one of the more creative: with the possible exception of David Lynchº, I don’t think I know of any other that’s quite so visual.
And definitely one that’s capable of getting some interesting performances out of his cast: do you remember seeing Brad Pitt’s deranged performance in 12 Monkeys?
Exactly.
Which is kind of my point: I think he’s managed to do that again, with the cast and crew of The Imaginarium Of Dr Parnassus.
The shame of it is that Heath Ledger died. Because I think — had he survived — this could have been his equivalent. An off-the-wall Gilliam hit, with the rôle of Tony showing us a bit more of his range.
That’s not to talk down Johnny Depp, Jude Law, or Colin Farrell: who was the actor who stood out for me.
After all, Depp and Law’s scenes as Tony saw the Tony character turning up the charm, something I felt they did well.
But — granted their scenes didn’t call for it — I felt both Farrell and Ledger had a dangerous streak that gave us a little of what lay beneath the charm.
|»»•««|
All told … ?
Well …
There’s possibly a lot more I could add: especially about Christopher Plummer who I felt really shone as the title character.
But the bottom line is that The Imaginarium Of Dr Parnassus is a good film: although I know there was one scene that both Kevin D and Movie Night Adrian weren’t fond of.
But on the whole?
The Imaginarium Of Dr Parnassus an enjoyable film that we all felt is worth catching.
* You know, whenever I use the phrase ‘singer/songwriter’, I’m actually tempted to write ‘singer/songwriter/actor/dancer/model and Page Three Stunna!’ But that’s silly, isn’t it …
º Saying that, I don’t think I’ve seen as much Lynch or Gilliam as I’d’ve liked. I know that both Brazil and Eraserhead are on my bucket-list.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love it when people comment. But, having had anonymous comments I feel may be libellous, actionable or just plain offensive, over the years?
I’d appreciate you* leaving your name — with a link to your website or social-media profile†, for preference — before you post a comment.
Should you choose to use a pseudonym/name, I’d appreciate it if that name were to be polite and inoffensive. I’d rather you kept it clean, and relatively adult. Comments left with a pseudonym will be posted at my discretion: I really prefer a link.
Contentious, actionable or abusive posts left anonymously will not be posted. Nor will comments using offensive pseudonyms or language, or that are abusive of other commenters.
If you can also leave you comments on today’s Teaser Video, that would be good.
Thank you.
* I know many value their online privacy. I respect that. But hope you respect my wish to see who’s commenting on my blog: and my wish for you to introduce your self to me, and to your fellow commentors.
† Your Facebook, X/Twitter, Blogger, Instagram, TikTok or LinkedIn profile are acceptable: as are Bluesky or Mastodon links. I also like seeing folks webpages.