Christopher Plummer remarkable!
If you're pining for a total escape from reality, Gilliam' breathtaking feature film - The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassum - just may be the ticket worthing springing a few hard-earned bucks on.
The stunning imagery, well-crafted sets, and remarkable fanciful world created on celluloid, is worth the price of admission alone.
Christopher Plummer plays Doctor Parnassus, a mystical character who appears to be walking a tightrope between fantasy and reality, after having sold his soul to the devil (played spendidly by actor Tom Waits).
In his prophetic hands, Parnassus holds the power of imagination, which he steadfastly (and stealthfully) uses at whim to temp souls - and ultimately - hopefully reign supreme over his slippery adversary (where he imagines peace and harmony await him the end scenario with open arms).
The Imaginarium - on its face - seems to be a mindless carnival sideshow rife with adventure and folly and with all the visual stimulation of a potent LSD trip into whimsical dream-like realms.
Curiously, as it turns out, stepping into the imaginarium (by virtue of a two-way mirror in a circus tent) forces the hapless victim to come face-to-face with their inner demons, all-encompassing desires, and the like.
Couple this with the fact that actor Heath Ledger met his early demise during the course of filming - and the whole kit-and-kaboodle - becomes downright intriguing.
Gilliam turned to Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell to help tidy up loose ends for the imaginarium of Heath's own soul-searching character (left dangling when the tragedy unfolded unexpectedly before the shoot was wrapped).
Script changes explained away Heath's transformative persona onscreen in a plot line that was all over the map - and thus, made sense - in the final analysis.
In a fascinating plot twist, it turns out that Parnassus's mortal daughter sprang up from the loins of one of the Devil's diabolical temptations, which boosts the stakes higher for the wizard at odds with his nemesis.
To the film's credit, Gilliam has lent his extraordinary storytelling skills with flair (confidence) and aplomb.
The acting - in particular that of Johnny Depp, Christophe Plummer and Colin Farrel - is exceptional; in fact, I could not find fault or flaw anywhere with the characterizations or acting styles facilitated to conjure them up seamlessly on the silver screen.
Perhaps it was the magical gift of Gilliam that managed to keep all the actors enthralled.
Ah, what a taskmaster!
By the way, this is one screening you'd be wise to sit through 'til the final credit has rolled.
Each contributor's name is artfully scripted with eye-catching distinction before the curtain falls down.
And, at one point - a nod to Heath Ledger & friends - brings a tear to the eye.
What might have been!
Heath Ledger's last bow!
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