THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS ☆☆☆ 1/2

I haven't seen too many Terry Gilliam movies, and the only one other than "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" was "The Brothers Grimm," his last movie before "Parnassus," and one of the only mainstream-type films, (meaning a plot that makes sense) that he made (...I think). "Brothers Grimm" didn't lack in Gilliam's visual style, and neither does "Parnassus," though with less visual depth and detail than "Brothers Grimm," still arrests you. Personally, a visual style close to Tim Burton's romantic goth spin, and twisty Shakespearian settings and costume arrangements is one I like to see on screen, and Gilliam, along with DP Nicola Pecorini, production designer Anastasia Masaro, and costume designer Monique Prudhomme (who all, for the most part, have worked with Gilliam before), mix that together nicely with Gilliam's very grimy-looking, dingy London streets. It's a style I love, and it looks great here.

The story, yes, as you would guess, is hard to make out, but Gilliam tackles it like it was a long beloved Shakespearian play he was faithfully adapting to the big screen, and it certainly seems like a long forgotten Victorian fable, or Grimm fairy tale, and he, Gilliam, tells his story with the same master touch of an old campfire storyteller dictating his narrative with ease. That doesn't mean the story is still easy to make out, but it compels you anyway, and the cast seem to get it: Christopher Plummer as Dr. Parnassus himself, in a lead role I haven't seen him ever do since I stared watching movies on a regular basis, and he's really good here; and, of course, Heath Ledger, as the mysterious Tony, is too in his last role. Ledger might have been Gilliam's man-muse next to Tim Burton and Johnny Depp if not for his sudden departure, but Gilliam takes full advantage of him here as a shady Londoner with a knack of wooing woman, a boozy disposition and a thick English accent. Ledger was good in his last role in "Parnassus." Heath, you were a good actor, and one who probably would have went on to be a great one. Farewell.

Following the other good, well-known actors in this movie playing Tony, Colin Farrel, Jude Law, and Johnny Depp, all honor Ledger's role by taking up his reins to finish off the part in what could have easily been a disaster for the movie, but, considering it's story, having Tony played by three other actors, and good ones, when they go off into a world behind a stage curtain, works tremendously. Personally, something I would have wanted to see is Ledger, rather than Farrel, take back the role near the end for a good full-circle, but it worked nonetheless.

Terry Gilliam's style is of dark, comedic abstract fantasy, and "Parnassus" is Gilliam at his best. I only say that because from what I hear of other, better experts on Gillam's movies, and have seen most to all of them, than I have, is that "Parnassus" is Gilliam at his best. You don't have to take their word for it, or mine. Go see the movie, and see more of Gilliam's work. I certainly need to.