'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus' Whaddup?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 12/20/09 at 12:40pm

No noms from critics? Golden Globes? No big campaign? Is this another sad ending for Terry Gilliam?

[sabrelady]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:13am

Mother of God ! Is THIS the END of Gilliam?!

( sounds of gunfire)

[strummergirl]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:29am

It was not a good sign that it got booed at Cannes.

I come to think Gilliam is a bigger acquired taste than originally thought, that being said his last two efforts prior did not do him any kind of favors.

That being said I am looking forward to seeing it.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:44am

He lost it awhile ago.

FEAR & LOATHING and BRAZIL are two films I love, but... he has lost it.

TIDELAND was hands-down the most maddening and one of the most offensive films I've ever seen, and barely anything offends me. I've never hated a film that much.

P

[strummergirl]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 1:01am

I think he lost it making The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, and once you see the documentary Lost In La Mancha, it is very understandable. He is trying to make it again, putting on hold another project.

[Q]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 2:39am

No matter what has happened or may in the future, THE FISHER KING is one of my favorite movies.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 9:15am

You can't expect the people who give prizes to films like MILLION DOLLAR BABY and A BEAUTIFUL MIND to get anything out of Gilliam's work.

On the other hand, the movie may suck.

On the other hand, they've never had a problem giving awards and big publicity pushes to movies that suck.

Updated On: 12/21/09 at 09:15 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 9:57am

With Don Quixote, The Brothers Grimm and Tideland, Gilliam's been out of it for over a decade.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 10:33am

I liked TIDELAND a good deal, finding it much preferable to that overrated bore PAN'S LABYRINTH, but even I can't find much of interest in BROTHERS GRIMM.

[wonkit]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 10:42am

I think he gets the heir to Stanley Kubrick award, though. It is possible to be too smart/obsessive to make relate-able movies.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 11:03am

I'll take Kubrick/Gilliam's obsessive brilliance over the relatable sh*t of Eastwood or Ron Howard any day.

Updated On: 12/21/09 at 11:03 AM

[Pgenre]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 11:19am

Kubrick HIMSELF gave the "mantle" to Paul Thomas Anderson after having seen MAGNOLIA. PTA firmly established himself shortly thereafter with THERE WILL BE BLOOD, an outright homage to Kubrick (particularly the last scene).

I really don't think Gilliam is in the same league. Or anywhere near it.

P

P.S. Robert Altman also gave PTA this distinct honor. You know you're good if Kubrick and Altman praise you above all others.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 11:41am

Pgen, where did you hear about Kubrick passing the mantle to Anderson? Is this reliably confirmed anywhere?

[Pgenre]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:00pm

He was on the set for months during EYES WIDE SHUT and Kubrick told Cruise he must work with this "genius" which is why Cruise agreed to take a supporting role in MAGNOLIA (remember, this was when Cruise was king of the lalaland). PTA recounts the story a few places, I believe the Director's Commentary for BOOGIE NIGHTS and also the documentary on MAGNOLIA. I doubt he actually has ever said outright that he is Kubrick's heir, but besides Spielberg and Lynch who were really his contemporaries, Kubrick never allowed another director to observe him on set like he did PTA and PTA made TWBB for Kubrick, though he had long since passed.

Also, Kubrick left PTA the NAPOLEON script and research materials in his will and if you know anything about Kubrick's later career you know how big of a deal that is and true confirmation of the PTA/Kubrick legacy.

P
Updated On: 12/21/09 at 12:00 PM

[Roscoe]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:02pm

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I'd have thought Kubrick had better taste.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:17pm

Oh, pish-posh. In 100 years they will talk about THERE WILL BE BLOOD like we talk about BARRY LYNDON and BOOGIE NIGHTS like we talk about NASHVILLE.

P

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:21pm

People talk about Barry Lyndon?

[Roscoe]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:26pm

Pish posh indeed. They'll only talk about MAGNOLIA like we talk about NASHVILLE if there's such a colossal erosion of audience intelligence that IDIOCRACY will be viewed as a documentary.

Granted, THERE WILL BE BLOOD is a brilliant film, the best of the decade, and there's nothing in Anderson's filmography up to that point to indicate that he had it in him to create it. The vile BOOGIE NIGHTS and the bloated Altman knockoff MAGNOLIA aren't exactly indicators of talent.

And yes, Joe, people talk about BARRY LYNDON when they wish to discuss great films.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:50pm

I just remember being bored to tears by Barry Lyndon. But magnolia? Never was a bigger load of crap unloaded on a bigger crowd of eager dopes. I'm constantly amazed anyone ever let that nutjob make a movie again.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 12/21/09 at 1:01pm

I can't blame anyone for having a hard time with BARRY LYNDON. The very slow pace can be a turn off. But I always find that if I just relax and let it take me where it wants to take me I'm always blown away by it.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 12/24/09 at 12:20am

I agree I will take Gilliam's crap over Ron Howard (with exception to Frost/Nixon but that was more Peter Morgan, Sheen, and Langella).

There are plenty of Kubrick films that divide audiences even beyond Barry Lyndon. I feel like Paths of Glory was 30 minutes too short- almost as if Kubrick was given only so much time on the film. There was something missing there in an otherwise well-acted and technically sound film.

Back to Dr. Parnassus, it is 62% on the Tomato-Meter. Not terrible, not great but there are a lot of critics who still have not reviewed the film. Among top critics most of the positives admit it is flawed and some of the negatives admit it is worth-seeing still.

The CGI effects have been universally panned. That was one of my bigger issues with Brothers Grimm.
Updated On: 12/24/09 at 12:20 AM