THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS

UK, 2009, 122 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Plummer, Heath Ledger, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield, Tom Waites, Vern Troia, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell.
Directed by Terry Gilliam.

Of course, it's really the imaginarium of Terry Gilliam. And those who have followed his imagination for over thirty years – the Python films, Time Bandits, Brazil, The Fisher King, Love and Loathing, Tidelands – will definitely want to add this one to their collection.

Of course, again, it is unpredictable and, so, hard to know at times whether one is enjoying it or not. Only at the end can we deal with the images, the sounds, the characters, the eccentricities and test whether they worked or not. And the answer is, inevitably, yes and no.

It is certainly a visual extravaganza, the Imaginarium wagon itself, the variety of vast interiors depending on the imagination and desires of those who enter. The sound engineering is often ominous.

As for themes, this is basically a deal with the devil story. Dr Parnassus, an eastern monk, makes a pact with the devil for immortality and another to regain youth and marry. Christopher Plummer brings his usual strong presence and voice to this role. Tom Waits (not singing) is music hall kind of devil, effective and sinster nonetheless.

Heath Ledger, in his last role, is all right as Tony, found hanging under a London bridge, revived and then an entrepreneur for Dr Parnassus' show. Because of Ledger's untimely death, three actors portray his character when he enters the imaginarium, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell, all effective but Johnny Depp really shows how good an actor can be even in the briefest role. Lily Cole is Dr Parnassus' daughter and Andrew Garfield (trying too hard at times) is the assistant, Anton. Verne Troyer has a substantial role as Percy, Dr Parnassus' guardian.

The main dramatic conflict is in Tony's regaining his memories and facing his moral options.

At times, bewildering, at more times, bedazzling.

1.The imagination of Terry Gilliam? His films, design, artwork? Fables and storytelling?

2.The film as a visual extravaganza: the contrast with ordinary London and the Imaginarium itself? The landmarks of London? The exterior imagination? The interior imagination? Inside the Imaginarium, the variety? The drunk seeing his world, the child, the rich woman and the shoes? Tony in his three different incarnations? The thugs? The scope and extent of the Imaginarium? The monastery, the monks? The landscapes, the world of the Devil, the giant snake? The deserts? The musical score – and the songs to match?

3.The basic ingredient of the fable: the deal with the Devil, the consequences? For Doctor Parnassus, for Tony? And Valentina as the victim of these deals?

4.The introduction to the Imaginarium, Anton and his makeup as Hermes? Valentina on stage? The wagon itself, looming, but nothing much? The doctor sitting, lotus position? His drinking? In the old streets, the clients from the pub? The drunk going in, his experience? The police searching for him? Going to the fair, the children and their parents, the child going in and seeing all the sweets, the parents objecting? Doctor Parnassus moving on?

5.Doctor Parnassus and his long life, ancient, his appearance? In the contemporary world? Drunk? His love for Valentina, trying to keep her as twelve rather than sixteen when she was due to go to the Devil? His story, as a monk, the Devil’s appearance, his deal? Treading the ages? Seeing his wife, the deal to be youthful again, the flashback, in the boat with his wife? Valentina and her role in the caravan? Anton and his position as assistant, his forced performance? Percy, comment on his being vertically challenged, his reactions? His helping Doctor Parnassus, advice, guardian? Life on the road, the squabbles and trying to eke out a living?

6.The card with the hanged man, the silhouette on the river? Tony hanging under the bridge, rescued by Anton, revived, his loss of memory? The Devil watching? The doctor seeing the headlines and knowing who Tony was? Pretending to do a process of mindreading? Tony and his whistle, Anton and his doing magic and irritating Tony? The reactions of the group for and against Tony?

7.Tony, his ideas, clothes, mask, changing? Wanting to update the Imaginarium? Going to the shopping centre? Gathering the wealthy women around, their all wanting to go in? Their experiences? The Devil and his discussions with Doctor Parnassus, Doctor Parnassus wanting to get out of his contract, the bet about getting five souls and the Devil or the doctor getting them first? Valentina and her new style at the Imaginarium, Anton dressed as a large woman?

8.Tony and his going into the Imaginarium? Johnny Depp, his charm, the comments on his change of appearance, in love, but money, his abandoning people? The woman, her selling her soul, sailing off? The contrast with Jude Law, his appearance, on the ladder, trying to reach the clouds? The woman advertising success? The stilts, the Balkan thugs, their pursuing Tony, his loosening the rungs, sliding down? The background of the loan? Their mother calling them, her being revealed as the Devil, exploding? Tony and his fall? Falling on Anton as the woman? Their discussions, Tony wanting success? The contrast with Colin Farrell, seeing him in the ideal homes magazine? With Valentina, his wanting the limelight, the president of the charitable fund, the speech, the questions? With the children, Anton as a child, Valentina watching, Tony hitting the child, punching, the people’s reaction, condemnation, his being taken to the gallows? The doctor and the pipe? The bet? The doctor hanging, reviving, Tony dying?

9.Valentina, sixteen, pretending to be twelve, listening to her father’s stories, Anton for company, the way she was seen in Tony’s imagination, the upshot of the bet, her dismay about the truth?

10.Anton, the assistant, working with the doctor, his own imagination? Magic tricks? As the woman in the fantasy? Finally seen with Valentina, the child – happiness?

11.Percy, at the monastery, accompanying the doctor, the comments on his size, his reactions? His participation in the performance? His reappearance at the end, at the door of the building?

12.The doctor, humiliated, wandering the desert, the ice, prostrate in London streets, begging?

13.Seeing Valentina, meeting Percy, seeing Valentina and Anton and the child?

14.The decision not to go in, Percy and his advice? Making of the marionette show – and their selling it? The marionettes bowing at the end?

15.The appeal, style, story, imagination?