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Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, The
EMAILPRINTSony Pictures Classics

Generally favorable reviews
Based on 30 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 28 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info
Genre(s): Adventure | Fantasy | Mystery
Written by:
Terry Gilliam
Charles McKeown
Directed by: Terry Gilliam
Release Date:
Theatrical: December 25, 2009
Running Time: 122 minutes, Color
Origin: UK | Canada | France
Summary
RATING: PG-13 for violent images, some sensuality, language and smoking
Starring Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield, Verne Troyer, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a fantastical morality tale, set in the present-day. It tells the story of Dr. Parnassus and his extraordinary ‘Imaginarium’, a traveling show where members of the audience get an irresistible opportunity to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom. (Sony Pictures Classics)
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan
As unusual and idiosyncratic as its one-of-a-kind title. You'd expect no less from Terry Gilliam, and admirers of this singular filmmaker will be pleased to know that "Imaginarium" is one of his most original and accessible works.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club) Tasha Robinson
In a real sort of way, Gilliam IS Parnassus, carrying his tatterdemalion show forward from year to year and trying to get people to pay attention, and the mingled sense of bitterness and hope in his story makes this whole crazed fantasy into something far more real.
Read Full Review >Variety Todd McCarthy
With Ledger onscreen more than might have been expected, the film possesses strong curiosity value bolstered by generally lively action and excellent visual effects.
Read Full Review >Time Out New York Keith Uhlich
The real drama in Parnassus comes from the troupe of sideshow performers, led by a terrifically morbid Christopher Plummer.
Read Full Review >Empire Olly Richards
There are thrilling flashes of Gilliam getting back to top form here. A scrappy movie with more ideas than it can control, but one born out of a passion and determination that are wholly infectious.
Read Full Review >Arizona Republic Bill Goodykoontz
If you're game, "Parnassus" is a richly rewarding experience. If not, it comes off like pretentious nonsense.
Read Full Review >Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
This is an Imaginarium indeed. The best approach is to sit there and let it happen to you; see it in the moment and not with long-term memory, which seems to be what Parnassus does.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Ty Burr
In short, “Imaginarium’’ is a Terry Gilliam movie and it’s a mess, which over the years have come to mean much the same thing. It’s one of his better messes, though, or at least this critic was won over by its ramshackle whimsies.
Read Full Review >Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy
If you loved his (Gilliam) older work -- and if you can stand the twinge of pain that beholding the lamented Ledger will surely evoke -- it’s worth a visit.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Ann Hornaday
Shot through with a bold, extravagant generosity of spirit, this journey behind the literal and figurative looking glass marks a gratifying return to form for Gilliam.
Read Full Review >Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey
Vintage Terry Gilliam, a pour not to all tastes but one certain to please lovers of "Time Bandits" and "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen."
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone Peter Travers
Despite a shaky framework, the magic works. It's a chance to see Ledger one last time in the act of doing what he loved. Take it.
Read Full Review >USA Today Claudia Puig
Though rambling and at times self-indulgent, its wit and pageantry, boosted by Heath Ledger's final performance, render it irresistible.
Read Full Review >Christian Science Monitor Peter Rainer
The best moments in “Parnassus” are not otherwordly but worldly. It’s a movie about a dying magician and the death of magic. This is a subject that obviously means a lot to Gilliam, and he makes us feel it in our bones.
Read Full Review >New York Post Lou Lumenick
The Depp sequence is especially poignant, apparently rewritten with references to other celebrities who died before their time -- Rudolph Valentino, James Dean and Princess Di -- and who will remain "forever young" in our imaginations.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Manohla Dargis
It’s a full three-ring affair, complete with puffs of smoke, glitter and grunge, some hocus-pocus, mumbo jumbo and even a dwarf.
Read Full Review >Village Voice Ella Taylor
This is potentially wonderful, if not exactly new stuff, but Gilliam and McKeown's willful refusal of coherent narrative and determination to pack every idea about art they ever had into one scenario, make this fiendishly gorgeous movie more exhausting than exhilarating to watch.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
As is so often the case since his "Monty Python" days, Gilliam is best at visual games and weakest at storytelling.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten
Christopher Plummer is delightful as this movie’s master magician and impresario of the rickety Imaginarium.
Read Full Review >St. Louis Post-Dispatch Joe Williams
Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell do yeoman work on behalf of their late friend and, as usual, Gilliam's film is a feast for the eyes. But all the king's men can't corral the horses running roughshod over basics like plot and character.
Read Full Review >Orlando Sentinel Roger Moore
It’s filmic fool’s gold, as every scene that doesn’t sparkle is just dirt -- dank, gritty visuals, murky plotting and very bad line-readings from Troyer (Mini-Me from the Austin Powers movies).
Read Full Review >ReelViews James Berardinelli
A movie assembled from diverse pieces that don't quite match. It's the cinematic equivalent of a patchwork quilt.
Read Full Review >The Hollywood Reporter Ray Bennett
The film is neither intelligent enough nor silly or grotesque enough to become a lasting favorite.
Read Full Review >The New Yorker Anthony Lane
He can follow any train of thought, so he does, and it’s no surprise when the trains run out of steam.
Read Full Review >The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus takes us deep into the imagination of Terry Gilliam, which once was a splendid place to visit. And might prove so again. But not here, because this film is less a coherent exercise of imagination than a haphazard lecture on its importance, a lecture that eventually dwindles into self-indulgence.
Read Full Review >New Orleans Times-Picayune Mike Scott
Parnassus is a cold film that delights in dancing along that fine line separating "fantastical" and "nonsensical." Then, when a movie is supposed to hit things home -- in that all-important third act -- it lands with a thud on the wrong side.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader J.R. Jones
The behind-the-scenes tragedy gives Gilliam an easy excuse for the dull chaos that engulfs the story, but he might have generated it all on his own.
Read Full Review >Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez
Feels like a cobbled collection of ideas and conceits rather than a stand-alone story.
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Joe Neumaier
"Parnassus," while not unwatchable, is also an elephantine mess.
Read Full Review >San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle
The film ends up landing in a confused middle category. It's neither a coherent, discrete work nor a zany tribute to the late actor.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 6.5 (out of 10) based on 28 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Annie S. gave it an8:
This movie is underrated by this site, as if Terry Gilliam's films normally make more sense. As if life normally makes more sense. Personally I prefer movies that are unique and flawed over perfect boring movies any day. Can't wait to see it again.
Billy S. gave it a9:
The fact that Terry Gilliam even finished this film merits a 10 alone. No Don Quiote this time. Gilliam instead melds Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell into the role Heath Ledger left unfinished perfectly, completing a totally entertaining film filled with magical and fantastical images with a story as close to Monty Python as he's ever done. A beautiful film and worthy tribute to Heath Ledger.
Charlotte M. gave it a0:
I was chagrined to find that through a mix-up in times, I arrived at the movie theater a half hour late. It took a a bit of time to sort out the characters and plot, but this was eventually accomplished. Still, as the movie continued to develop, I became increasingly grateful that I had arrived late. The premise was excellent, the execution was poor. The movie was was similar to having a bad dream - confusing, fragmented, incoherent and worst of all - boring. This is the only movie I've ever given a 0. Save your money and give it a miss.
William C gave it a6:
Terry Gilliam, The mind behind the erratic and genius Fear and Loathing Las Vegas and Brazil, had his creative work cut out for him, when one of his stars and backbones passes away suddenly and quietly right in the middle of shooting of his latest film, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. Though with the passing of Heath Ledger, it gave Gilliam a chance to explore a different approach to explain the fanciful story that he had created, built entirely around a man and a bet. Like most of Gilliam’s stories, to find the complete plot, you must delve deep and find it within yourself. The basic outline is centered on Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer), an immortal holy man that has been in conflict with Mr. Nick, the embodiment of Satan (Tom Waits) to both collect and redeem souls throughout the course of life. Where Ledger’s character falls, is something of an oddity, for he’s found dangling under a bridge by Dr. Parnassus’ daughter ----- and their traveling troupe. With the arrival of Tony (Ledger), Mr. Nick Brings up an ancient bet that unless Dr. Parnassus can save five souls in his imaginarium, then his daughter belongs to him. Spelling out the story is fanciful and tricky enough, yet to watch it unfold is a well-paced and lingering, allowing the viewer to slowly ponder over what is exactly going on and enjoy the overall well written comedy and spectacular sights that are in the imaginarium. But what is this magical place, full of color and CGI majesty? Simply it’s the place where ones true self – the things you most covet and treasure but may not need – are shown, and you are given the choice to repent or live with your sin. Thankfully the movie never gets preachy, as easily as it could have gone in that direction. By all rights, the story itself could have been tightened up, to tie up loose ends and remove unneeded material (“He’s upstairs”), yet it’s obvious that the cause of most of the hitches due to the demise of Ledger. It was almost as if parts of the movie were left in as a homage to the departed actor, which in most cases wouldn’t be a bad thing. However, when you have a movie that is so warped and mystical, plunging you directly into your imagination, those types of errors cannot be left. The same could be said for the three accompanying actors; Jude Law, Johnny Depp, and Colin Farrell. The trio was added into the script later, once changes needed to be made and shooting had to go on. To use them as other embodiments, “mirror-images” of Ledger in the Imaginarium. I have to say that as a whole, all three of them did a fantastic job of mimicking Ledger’s mannerisms and patters, trying to truly be him without overshadowing. Though Law feel a little short – being bland and underwritten overall - while Farrell rose a little higher – almost perfectly mimicking Ledger from earlier scenes - all of them worked splendidly as a unit. Still the movie worked, even with its downfalls. The comedy and delivery in the way it was handled (subtle and indirect undertone) flowed effortlessly, again helping the pacing of the overall story. Which also helps this movie, in the end, give it one of the staples of a “what do you think?” ending. Much like Donnie Darko or Memento, by the credit roll, no two opinions of the message or meaning will be the same, and that’s perfect. Because as we all have learned growing up, happy endings are not guaranteed.
Byron G gave it a10:
Very imaginative, creative, and fun! Good casting - Almost seamless substitution of Johnn Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law after Heath Ledger's death mid shooting.
Nerijus D gave it a1:
Ugly and repulsive film.
Hyper S gave it a6:
Strange, but often more in a w.t.f. way rather than a mesmerizing way. Even the climax of five souls felt rushed, overly simplistic, and ultimately unsatisfying. Perhaps if I saw it again I'd find a treasure trove of clever societal based metaphors, but honestly... the movie isn't that entertaining to warrant it.
