The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus (catchy title) ended up being a hit with all sorts of problems: overrunning, pesky health and safety issues from bureaucratic Brits, and last, but by no means least, the death of one of its main leads. Yep, the hugely talented antipodean that was Heath Ledger tragically died midway through filming, and left a big hole both in the film, and in Hollywood.
But the ever-resourceful Gilliam eventually found a way round it, casting Messrs Depp, Law and Farrell in the Ledger role in various points throughout the film - and incredibly, partly thanks to the typically madcap nature of the film, the changeovers are close to seamless.
So what of the film? Well The Imaginarium Of Dr Parnassus is essentially a tale of morality in typical Faustian tradition. Degenerate gambler Parnassus, played brilliantly by Christopher Plummer, makes a bet with the devil for immortality, before making another one to land a cracking girl. But having started down that slippery slope, poor old Parnassus just can't help himself, and before long he has lost a bet for the ownership of his daughter - the lovely Valentina - on her sixteenth birthday. As the day fast approaches, Parnassus starts to fret, but to his aid, perhaps, comes help in the form of an unlikely stranger - Tony.
Visually, The Imaginarium Of Dr Parnassus is something to savour, mixing rickety old stage carriages with contemporary London. Perhaps not quite as way out as Brazil, Parnassus is still another fantastical insight into the legendary Python's brain.
In terms of cast, and there are enough to choose from, Christopher Plummer gives an excellent performance as the eponymous gambling drunkard, while Tom Waits gives a suitably slimy turn as the devil. Ledger is, as always, charismatic but for those expecting a performance akin to The Joker, they will be sadly disappointed as Ledger's role is not the central figure in the film. Stepping into his shoes for various dream sequences, Johnny Depp gives a hilarious, albeit Cap'n Jack Sparrow cameo, while Farrell is also sublime. However, it's probably best to skip over Jude Law's brief, but not brief enough, wide-eyed performance. Up-and-coming actors Andrew Garfield and the beguiling Lily Cole also excel, alongside the world-weary Verne Troyer.
All in all, The Imaginarium Of Dr Parnassus is another snapshot into the mind of a supremely talented director and some might say lunatic, but thanks to all the hype, expectations may well be too high for this charming, magical film.