The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Did We Mention this is Heath Ledger's Last Film? Because It's Heath Ledger's Last Film. Heath Ledger.

By Steven Lloyd Wilson | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (29)

Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus has a new trailer out in wide release. It looks pretty similar to what was released at Comic-Con a few weeks ago, but spliced together a bit differently in the traditional minute and a half trailer format. It’s a bit more rushed than the previous footage which ran more like three minutes or so, but manages to get all the star’s names for us, although we get less of a sense of the story and characters than we did previously. It gets the basics though: crazy Gilliam surreal effects, Doc Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) makes a deal with the Devil (Tom Waits) to live forever with the catch that the Devil gets any children of the good Doctor when they turn sixteen. Parnassus has a daughter, the Devil comes to collect, but offers a double or nothing bet hinging on which of them can steal five souls first. Gilliamness ensues. This trailer seems to hang the plot far more on Tom (Heath Ledger) than previous footage: “now a mysterious outsider will…”

Gilliam insisted at Comic Con that while Ledger was instrumental in getting the film made and was wonderful to work with, they’ve tried really hard not to obfuscate the fact that his character is not the main character of the film. Well, seething contempt for PR aside, you can’t really blame them for emphasizing: “HEATH LEDGER’S LAST FILM, RIGHT HERE!!!!” Ah, we snark because we love, the film still looks good.

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Comments

That shit right there...that shit right there...that shit looked good.

Posted by: Deistbrawler at August 10, 2009 7:14 PM

I will see this. I must. It looks so gorgeous.

Posted by: Pinky McLadybits (aka Dangle McGee) at August 10, 2009 7:24 PM

I almost forgot: Doc Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) makes a deal with the Devil (Tom Waits) to live forever with the catch that the Devil gets any children of the good Doctor when they turn sixteen. Parnassus has a daughter, the Devil comes to collect, but offers a double or nothing bet hinging on which of them can steal five souls first.

Now that, that is a fucking plot that I can get behind. No Allspark, no nanoshitbots, no serial killers filling a floor with acid, no horseshit - but tons of possibility.

Posted by: Pinky McLadybits (aka Dangle McGee) at August 10, 2009 7:27 PM

Here's hoping it's Vern Troyer's last film, as well.

Posted by: KiwiBrownn at August 10, 2009 7:27 PM

Knowing that this is awful and I have no place feeling this way, seeing Ledger still feels like a kick in the chest for me. I'm a loser.

And this movie looks beautiful even if it's got that British model who looks like an alien (Lily Cole) in it.

Posted by: Genny (actually Rusty now) at August 10, 2009 7:31 PM

Yes please. I heartily agree with Pinky. Nice compact plot to go totally Gilliam on. I await excitedly.

Posted by: Anne (in Reno) at August 10, 2009 7:32 PM

Academy award winner HEATH LEDGER!
...CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER!

Sounds awkward, doesn't it?

Posted by: Ling at August 10, 2009 7:37 PM

What was Gilliam's last film? Was it that awful Brothers Grimm movie? Because I wanted so very badly for that to be good. And it just wasn't.

I'm still going to see this.

And I wonder if Gilliam still does his own concept art, or if he has a studio of minions who do art in his style, like a Renaissance Master.

Posted by: lizzieborden at August 10, 2009 7:43 PM

This looks...odd. Might be good, but honestly it looks like someone ate up Tim Burton, Baz Lhurmann and Gilliam and vomited it forth onto the world. I wish I liked their stuff more. I just don't.

Posted by: figgy at August 10, 2009 7:59 PM

I'm definitely seeing this. Johnny Depp looks almost piratey.

Posted by: Kate at August 10, 2009 8:12 PM

I'm with you Genny.

Oh man, it still hurts.

Posted by: Melissa at August 10, 2009 8:16 PM

I think it looks lovely, fun, dreamy and fantastical. I liked JD's character saying death isn't the end.

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Posted by: william at August 10, 2009 9:56 PM

*admits he liked the brothers grimm*

i know, it wasn't perfect.
the little gingerbread thing took me right out of it, but some parts were awesome.

Posted by: gp at August 10, 2009 10:38 PM

That shit right there...that shit right there...that shit looked good.

Posted by: Deistbrawler at August 10, 2009 7:14 PM

What he said. Damn. Munschausen turned up to 11. I am so there.

Posted by: Meander at August 10, 2009 11:28 PM

Good Godtopus - Gilliam with a budget! I will sell whatever it takes to get my ticket to this in the theatres. I love his stuff and this looks like it has the chance of being the best of them.

It DOES hurt about Mr. Ledger Genny/Rusty, he just has so much spark in his face...it's just not right. That's all. Not Right, and I agree with you one hundred percent.

Posted by: replica at August 11, 2009 12:39 AM

Isn't this the film where some other actors stepped into Ledger's role after he died? Sort of like I'm Not There

Posted by: John Darc at August 11, 2009 4:42 AM

*mumblemumblemumble*

Preeety.

Posted by: Miss A at August 11, 2009 5:02 AM

Gilliam... Depp... Ledger... uh huh...

Tom FUCKING Waits!

Posted by: Amanda at August 11, 2009 8:28 AM

Well, I can't wait. It looks stunning, I love Gilliam, and does Troyer look sober? Good for him.

Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at August 11, 2009 8:42 AM

Quadruple yumminess of Ledger, Depp, Farrell & Law + awesomeness of Tom Waits as the Devil = I am SOOOOOO fucking there!

Posted by: dammitjanet at August 11, 2009 8:45 AM

Tom Waits & Heath Ledger, I'm there.

Posted by: Mebe at August 11, 2009 9:53 AM

And now, ladies and gentlemen . . . The film that killed Heath Ledger:

Mr. Magorium's Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

An old guy gets to live forever, but as an old guy (which really sucks), but he still manages to get laid, because the Devil (TM) gets to keep his 16 year old daughters (screw the sons).

But then he makes a deal, and he gets to cross over to Paul Giamati's film and steal his soul.

And Heath Ledger is still dressing like the Joker.

Posted by: BWeaves at August 11, 2009 10:13 AM

Heath Ledger.

Posted by: Odnon at August 11, 2009 12:00 PM

Nine Elev... I mean, Heath Ledger.

Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at August 11, 2009 12:08 PM

This trailer confused me at first, because it was HEATH LEDGER, then JOHNNY DEPP WHO SORT OF LOOKS LIKE HEATH LEDGER, then Jude Law, and .. Colin Farrell ..

Reading the casting on IMDb really (sort of) explains how they do it. (One character - Heath - being transformed three times - Depp, Law, Farrell.) Not exactly sure if that was what the original script called for, but by God, this should be decent.

Posted by: duckandcover at August 11, 2009 3:34 PM

"does Troyer look sober? Good for him."
Mini-Me's a drunk? Huh. I bet he's a cheap one...

This looks.... ok, it looks real purty, but experience has taught me that Gilliam can be his own worst enemy when it comes to making coherent, watchable films. I haven't really liked one of his since 'The Fisher King'. So, wait and see, I suppose.

Posted by: Tarn at August 11, 2009 3:52 PM

It looks as "good" as The Brothers Grimm did, and I shall not have high hopes for this one.

This will be like every other Gilliam movie that makes it to wider release: I will see it, I will not like it, I will go home and forget about it.

It's really all up to him. He wins me on this, I'll give him a pass on the next one. He loses me on it, I'll never watch another one of his movies.

Bring it, Gilliam. Bring it.

Posted by: Christian H. at August 12, 2009 2:14 AM

That shit right there...that shit right there...that shit looked good.

Posted by: Deistbrawler at August 10, 2009 7:14 PM

You said it.

Posted by: Kiddo at August 12, 2009 11:35 AM

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Did We Mention this is Heath Ledger's Last Film? Because It's Heath Ledger's Last Film. Heath Ledger.

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