Gilliam's Imaginarium enchants with wonder and mischief

Many films are imaginative, but few dive in head first with gusto. Luckily for us the ever-eccentric style of director Terry Gilliam comes out in force in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Gilliam loads this morality tale with his quirky and impish flare. It’s a feast for both the eyes and the mind as Gilliam takes you to places you didn’t know you’d imagine. It’s an odd, soulfully fantastical journey with plenty of humor and delightful devilry. It’s Gilliam’s imagination unchained and it truly is one of the most unique films I’ve seen in a good while.

As odd and fantastical as the film is you never feel lost. The film carries a clear narrative that only gently nudges the story along letting you enjoy the splendor and mischief of the tale as you follow a traveling troop of performers lead by Doctor Parnassus, (Christopher Plummer), an immortal who has the ability to let people enter their imaginations. It is all produced through an old style, traveling players routine lead by Anton (Andrew Garfield) dressed as mercury. Also in the troupe is Parnassus’ young, lovely daughter Valentina (Lily Cole) who is to turn sixteen in three days. Unknown to her she is the prize in a bet between Parnassus and the mischievous Mr. Nick (Tom Waits). A rather large wrench is thrown into both their plains when Valentina and Anton rescue a strange man hanging from a bridge. When the man wakes up they discover his name is Tony (Heath Ledger). Tony is a charismatic, charming character whose motives are never really clear. With Tony on board he soon revamps the presentation and begins to take people beyond the mirror and into their imaginations.

This is where Gilliam is at his most stylish, impish glee. The dreamscapes are beautiful and full of devilish humor when Mr. Nick shows up to tempt souls away from purity. In these dreamscapes, Tony takes the likeness of who the person imagines him to be. This is where Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell step into Tony’s shoes. Each plays their part well. Depp and Farrell give the stronger of the performances with Depp giving a very moving speech about fame and death. “Nothing is eternal. Not even death,” he says. One might think having other actors playing Tony temporarily may hinder Ledger’s performance or muddy the character but it’s executed perfectly. It actually adds to the core of Tony’s character in the long run. It adds to the feeling you don’t understand who Tony is or what his real motives are. This is all lead by Ledger’s masterful, charming roguish performance. Everybody who thinks they have him figured out doesn’t, including the audience. A wonderfully written rouge of a character played masterfully by an incredibly talented actor.

All the big players in this film are wonderfully unique characters brought to life with great flare by the actors. Christopher Plummer gives Parnassus a heavy sullen weariness of a man who has lived for thousands of years. There’s something subtly pitiful in everything Parnassus does and it makes him a very gripping character. Verne Troyer brings some emotion to the role of Percy Parnassus’ right hand man and good friend. Lily Cole is oddly captivating as Valentina putting a lot of soul and emotion behind those incredible blue eyes of hers. The cast is rounded off in great style as Tom Waits joins the crew as Mr. Nick. Waits brings this gambling devil to life with great gusto and plenty of smarmy charm. Mr. Nick is a cool, slick cat always sharply dressed and never without his bowler hat. Every time he shows up on screen you can’t help but smile.

Odd, fantastical and bursting with the wild mischievous circus that is Gilliam’s imagination; The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a feast for the senses and the soul. The style and oddity of it might turn off some but if you’re in the mood for a wild ride of fables and the fantastical look no further. It’s the one of the greatest, strangest shows around.

Grade: A-
Running Time: 2hrs 2min        
Rated: PG