In discussing Terry Gilliam's DR. PARNASSUS, let's get its footnote in film history over with from the start. It was the film Heath Ledger was working on when he died. Gilliam reworked the script and brought in Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Collin Farrell to play versions of his character in dream sequences. It makes no difference why the choice was made, because it works so well. This is one of Gilliam's best films.
Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer, SYRIANA) has been in a wager war with Mr. Nick aka the Devil (Tom Waits, SHORT CUTS) for centuries. The mystic doctor was immortal until he gave up his immortality for love. But as deals with the Devil often go, there is always fine print. Now Dr. Parnassus must save five souls before his daughter Valentina (Lily Cole, ST. TRINIAN'S) turns sixteen or the beautiful girl will become property of the Dark Lord.
Dr. Parnassus has the power to get inside a person's mind and lead them into a fantasy realm where they have the choice between the path to enlightenment, or the road to damnation. He uses a travelling side show act as his front for saving the weary. Helping him are his daughter, the young magician Anton (Andrew Garfield, BOY A), who loves daughter, and Parnassus's right hand man Percy (Verne Troyer, AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME), think Jiminy Cricket but in the form of Mini Me. One night travelling down the road in their fantastic wagon (which transforms into their stage when they need to perform on the spot) they stumble upon a man hanging from the underside of a bridge. Valentina wants to take the mystery man (Ledger) with them, but the others are reluctant. However, Dr. Parnassus warms up to the man when he sees how good he is at charming customers into the mirror world.
While the film is set in the modern world, Dr. Parnassus is straight out of the past. This sideshow act is dated, but haunting in its own way. When customers walk through the mirror, the fantasy worlds represent the states of those that enter. Depp's mystery man is a charming ladies man. Law's mystery man is consumed with reaching the sky on stilt-like ladders. Farrell's mystery man you'll have to see to discover. As the story moves along, we learn more about Ledger's real world mystery man and why he's so good at what he does for Dr. Parnassus.
The mystery man's story runs parallel to Dr. Parnassus, a man who has been alive for so long that he's just plain tired. His age old battle with Mr. Nickl is getting old. He drinks too much and he barely has the energy to perform. But he loves his daughter and will do anything to keep her safe. It's a unique film role for Plummer who brings a theatrical quality to the performance, which suits it very well. Waits is a wonderful counter to him. He's spry and crafty. Parnassus seems like he's no match for the man in the slick hat and pencil-thin moustache. Waits' Mr. Nick is a cross between Rumpelstiltskin and the crafty fox of Native American legend. This Devil relishes in the games he plays.
Like many of Gilliam's films, his ending isn't happy in a traditional sense. But unlike some of his downer conclusions, this film has a bittersweet quality. It's a story of charmers and schemers. Dr. Parnassus and the mystery man are gambling with souls. But whose soul their gambling with is key to how much they have to lose.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
