Ledger's Last Lead: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
December 24, 2009 • By Khari Williams
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is Terry Gilliam's latest film but will forever be known as Heath Ledger's last. The Academy Award-winning Australian actor died during production, necessitating a trio of A-listers to complete the project in his stead. And while Ledger likely won't receive another posthumous Oscar nod, as he did for 2008's The Dark Knight, Imaginarium nonetheless succeeds as a swansong.The plot revolves around the traveling freak show led by Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer), a 1,000-year-old wizard blessed (cursed?) with the gift of manipulating the imaginations of those who walk through his mystical mirror.
Once transported into the fantasy world that lies beyond, guests must choose between the wide, easy path that promises pleasure or the difficult, narrow and often steep way that could lead them to redemption - if only it were more attractively packaged. The virtuous Parnassus often finds himself on the losing end of this cosmic tug-of-war with the devilish Mr. Nick (Tom Waits), until an amnesiac stranger named Tony (Ledger, et al) helps turn the tide in Parn
assus' favor. Ultimately, the charismatic Tony is faced with choices of his own that could affect both himself and those of his new circus mates.
assus' favor. Ultimately, the charismatic Tony is faced with choices of his own that could affect both himself and those of his new circus mates. The all-star team of Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell all perform admirably while alternately substituting for Ledger, beginning about halfway through the film. Still, Ledger's performance should do plenty to please his legion of fans worldwide. Plummer and Waits acquit themselves well in their roles, as do Lily Cole and Andrew Garfield, who play, respectively, Parnassus' daughter, Valentina, and circus hand/magician Anton, who for his next trick would love to win the heart of his winsome bandmate. The scene-stealer of the group, however, is the diminutive, wise-cracking Percy, played by Verne "Mini-Me" Troyer. His humor lightens up what is often a dark and eerie morality tale. (Parnassus to Percy: "What would I do w
ithout you? Percy: "Get a midget.")
ithout you? Percy: "Get a midget.") Aside from the impressive visuals and creativity evident in each trek through someone's imagination, Imaginarium's true value for any person of faith lies in the spiritual lessons garnered from watching Mr. Nick go to work.
The interactions between him and Parnassus should remind us all that (a) the devil doesn't play fair; (b) he is relentless, and relentlessly calculating; (c) a deal with the devil isn't much of a deal at all, leaving you the worse for wear if you choose to play his game. While it is unclear whether Gilliam intended for the film to reinforce spiritual doctrine, the inherent messages are unmis
takable.
takable.Imaginarium might be too dark for some younger viewers, but it's well worth watching. Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight catapulted him into legendary status, and his final film will do nothing to knock him off his perch. For the spiritually-attuned, though, Imaginarium should have extra meaning: It's a reminder that the battle between good and evil is often waged in our own minds and imaginations. The choice is yours.
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