THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS
RYAN: “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” was easily one of my most anticipated films of the year. One look at the trailer and I was completely entranced.
CAROLINE: I know. I remember you reacting immediately to it. I’m sorry I didn’t make it to the screening with you. It’s Heath Ledger’s last film.
RYAN: I know and it’s really sad that way because he’s just as good in this as anything he’s done. I actually liked him better in this than as the Joker.
CAROLINE: [gasps’ Blasphemy!
RYAN: I know. That’s what he’ll best be remembered for, but he was really fabulous in this. All of the performances are phenom.
CAROLINE: Because he died before finishing the film, they had to recast his role.
RYAN: And really brilliantly recast.
CAROLINE: They split his remaining scenes between Jude Law, Colin Farrell, and Johnny Depp.
RYAN: All great actors and all give wonderful performances. I really love how the story actually accommodates each actor playing the same role as Heath. You have to see it to understand what I mean. Oh, Christopher Plummer’s in it too.
CAROLINE: I always lovingly think of him as Captain Von Trapp from “The Sound of Music.”
RYAN: Only here he looks more like Professor Dumbledore.
CAROLINE: So was it as good as you’d expected?
RYAN: Not at all, sadly. Really, it’s one of the greatest disappointments of the year for me because I so wanted to love it. In a way, it kind of reminded me of the movie “The Fall” but even that was better.
CAROLINE: I liked that movie. Lee Pace is so hot.
RYAN: There’s the man candy here too and the concept is truly original and smart. It’s really like an adult fairy tale – something I think there are far too few of in the world.
CAROLINE: Let it out, honey.
RYAN: [laughs’ No, really. I think about that. But for some reason, even though this movie was beyond gorgeous to look at, the story was interesting and engaging and the performances were terrif, I was just simply bored the entire time.
CAROLINE: Ouch. Why do you suppose?
RYAN: For the life of me I cannot figure it out.
— BOTTOM LINE —
RYAN: Again it’s a great story and it has great performances, but I was just bored. However, since it’s such a feast for the eyes and the final film of Heath’s, I’ll be generous and call it a “rental.”
— RATING —
