The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Looks like 2010 may be said to be a year full of surprises for movie lovers. This year, you’ll meet a lot of smart movie character directed by people who are experts and professionals in the field. One of them is The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus directed by the director with imagination and metaphor, Terry Gilliam.
The film is hampered because the main players, Heath Ledger died. This finally resolved after Gilliam got the idea to “insert” 3-class actors, like Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell to fill the void in the character played by Ledger. The result? The film becomes a film that not only meaningful, but also liberally sprinkled with famous stars.
The imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus raised the issue of life that are often experienced by every human being. Doctoral Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) originally was a monk. Together with his students, he was not tired of telling the story that was never broken. According to him, the earth will still spin if the man never stops telling the story. One day, he was visited by the devil, who is described by the figure of Mr. Nick (Tom Waits). Mr. Nick tried to stop Dr. Parnassus and his students tell the story. He said that the earth will not stop spinning if the story is no longer shared. Dr. Parnassus told Mr. Nick that life will continue to run if people do not stop dreaming and imagining. Then, they were doing contract. Dr. Parnassus agreed to a bet with Mr. Nick, the prize: immortality.
The first wager was won by Dr. Parnassus. So, he got immortality. The second betting, Dr. Parnassus won easily, and get the prize: a woman he loved long ago. The third betting, Mr. Nick asked the child “Dr. Parnassus” as a gift. If Mr. Nick wins, Valentina (Lily Cole) will belong Mr.Nick when he was even 16 years.
In the middle of the sparkling city of London, Dr.Parnassus and his crew, Anton (Andrew Garfield), Valentina, and Percy (Verne Troyer) held a theatrical performance for the souls who are still pure and can determine the best option for her life. In the show, there is a mirror that will bring people into the world of imagination: the deepest dreams and obsessions of the person. There, people will be faced with two choices: follow the way of Dr. Parnassus or Mr. Nick. Of course, the choice is not easy because the road has to offer Mr. Nick is very seductive and full of worldly pleasures of illusion.
Dr. Parnassus must succeed “clean” for 5 people can hold only daughter. The presence of Tony (Heath Ledger), a mysterious figure who was found hanging under the bridge, just affects the way this treatikal group.
The project is almost no ends
“Mess man”, maybe it was the most appropriate title for Gilliam. Throughout the history of his career to be a director, Gilliam always face the same problems: a variety of obstacles that make the film project hampered or even fail. It happened on several projects, such as Time Bandits 2, A Tale of Two Cities (adapted from the works of Charles Dickens), The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, and Watchmen.
When processing the film, Gilliam also experienced the same thing: the main actor could be said leading role of the film died when the new movie until the third street. However, not Gilliam if he did not dare to take risks to continue the project. Friends took Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell, Gilliam managed to finish this movie with a perfect
There are no changes and the replacement character. Gilliam made a “insert” the three great actors to assist the charming Ledger’s acting. In my opinion, this action is a brilliant choice because it adds the element of quality and imagination in this movie.
Imagination and Animation
Gilliam’s biggest strength is imagination and animation. It’s taken the field since he first planted his footsteps in the entertainment world. Imaginary worlds depicted in the film Gilliam looks very neat because it wrapped with perfect animation cultivation. In addition, the character portrayed in this film is very strong from a stunning artistic settings. No wonder this film was nominated for an Academy Award in 2010 for Best Art Direction and Costume Design.
Of all the projects that have done Gilliam, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is considered as the film that really illustrates his philosophy
“I really want to encourage a kind of fantasy, a kind of magic. I love the term “magic realism”, whoever invented it—I do actually like it because it says certain things. It’s about expanding how you see the world. I think we live in an age where we’re just hammered, hammered to think this is what the world is. Television’s saying, everything’s saying ‘That’s the world.’ And it’s not the world. The world is a million possible things”.
Welcome Gilliam explore the world and never stop to imagine because it will make you stay “alive”.
Release Date : 8 January 2010 (USA)
Genre : fantasy
Duration : 123 minutes
Director : Terry Gilliam
Producer : Amy Gilliam, William Vince, Terry Gilliam
Cast: Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Verne Troyer, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield, Tom Waits, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Paloma Faith
Production : Infinity Features Entertainment
