Movie : The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Wildly wonderful and wonderfully weird, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is true blockbuster brilliance. It might take a real movie buff to untangle the multiple themes running throughout, but the film’s moral high notes are easy to cipher.

The cast line-up is outstanding and the storyline is so big it almost doesn’t fit on the screen. Being director Terry Gilliam’s comeback to movies, the film has earnt itself a lot of hype, but even more so for the fact that this is the last film that the late Heath Ledger ever made. Even with Heath Ledger aside though, this is a British masterpiece deserving its own recognition.

Gilliam takes you on the journey of a struggling, travelling theatre company who, on their travels, stumble across Tony - the mysterious bad-boy up to no good – played by Heath Ledger. The first time the audience see Ledger, he is hanging from a bridge which resonates an eerie atmosphere considering the fate of the talented Dark Knight star.

The film shows the pitfalls of humanity as the audience watch Doctor Parnassus’ torment brought on by excruciating love for his daughter. Years before, he made a deal with the Devil  (Tom Waits) for immortality which he later exchanged for eternal youth. This deal was on the condition that when his daughter (played by the surprisingly talented Lily Cole) turns 16, she would be in the hands of the Devil. The characters travel through modern day London and then through the Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus where visitors choose between light and dark, and life and death, as he tries to save the ever-nearing fate of his beautiful daughter through yet another wager.

The acting is superb. Gilliam did a fine job in covering up the tragic absence of Ledger by filling the big hole he left with Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell. The metamorphosing of these actors, who all play Tony, seemed as though it was planned from the start as the outrageous nature of the film made the actor-changing unobtrusive. Though drafted in under unfortunate circumstances, Johnny Depp’s exceptional performance was ironically the best thing about this film.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus does provide uneasy viewing. The theme of life and death echoes the harsh reality endured whilst filming and the mere presence of Ledger on screen leaves a dark hue on viewers. It is worth seeing simply to see the final work of Ledger, but don’t expect a history-making performance like that in The Dark Knight.

Despite its sinister tendencies, the film is totally escapist as the Imaginarium’s fantasy factor reminds you it is just a film. Nothing will prepare you for the number of layers in meanings this film has. If you go to see it, perhaps think of it as a two hour adventure into another land to which you will return to planet Earth when the credits role. Otherwise, you will be thinking about it for days afterwards...

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is out 16th October - check www.odeon.co.uk for screening times.