A little bit of the Cannes Film Festival came to Los Angeles Tuesday night when U.S. sales rep Cinetic Media hosted the first domestic screening of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Terry Gilliam’s highly anticipated movie featuring the last performance of Heath Ledger. (The film is scheduled to have its world premiere at Cannes later this month.) All of the major independent buyers in town packed Hollywood’s DGA theater for the screening, and while most left feeling a bit befuddled (as one often does coming out of a Gilliam feature) the consensus was that the movie is better than expected.
Although Ledger died during production on Parnassus and was replaced by three actors — Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell — one source in attendance says that the late Oscar winner indeed appears throughout the film as Tony, a crooked philanthropist. His three replacements, meanwhile, only pop up in dream sequences. (Farrell’s sequence is the longest, says one person who attended the screening.) The two-hour film apparently features amazing visuals, but the storyline is rather complex, centering on Christopher Plummer as Dr. Parnassus, a man who runs a traveling sideshow with his daughter, a young barker, and a sidekick, played by Verne Troyer. Tom Waits plays the Devil, with whom Parnassus makes a Faustian bargain, and Ledger’s character joins the troupe after they find him hanging from his neck under a London bridge.
Sources tell EW.com that buyers are currently circling the film, and while The Hollywood Reporter‘s Steven Zeitchik reported Tuesday that the sellers are looking for a "studio-level deal with studio-level prices," such an opaque story might limit its commercial prospects.
Sounds fantastic; can’t wait to see it!
It already has release dates in Australia and Canada, Sept 24th. I cannot wait! I love Gilliam and adore Heath and Johnny! RIP Heath.
Well as much as we love heath ledger we will not be watchin this movie out of respect for the ledger family.we will do what ever it takes and write whom ever we have to write to see to it this movie is not and will not be shown.why must you make the ledger family suffer all over again by showing a movie where heath kills hisself.talk about being cold hearted and not havin a soul or respect but i guess now a days people will do anything to make a buck of someone who has passed away.well i will not waste my money on this movie cuz i do have a heart and respect for heath and his family and i will refuse my daughter to watch this movie
umm. k. They weren’t going to finish the movie, but Heath Ledgers family encouraged them to do so. It’s their will. Don’t deprive the world of his talent that his family is willing to share one last time. Perhaps doing more research for accurate information will prevent you from making a fool of yourself again.
Theresa and Ashley, are you two serious? Wow so you are saying you are going to go see the movie because Heath Ledger was in it? And you think it’s disrespectful to his family? Personally I think it would be disrespectful of people not to go see his last and final show. You are the cold hearted person for not showing support for his final show. God how would you feel if you were a talented start who’s life ended at a young age just as you were making a great imaginitive movie and some one like you…. came and said all this bull about having no heart and shit. Think about it. If you don’t go see the movies, it’s not going to affect the ratings, because unlike you there are millions and millions of people who will go see that. It’s going to be a hit in the US when it finally opens and you will be the one sitting there with your daughter wondering why it’s such a hit. You will see his daughter Matilda at the premier having the time of her like cuase she gets to see her Daddy again. Even though he attempts suicide in the movie does not refer to the real him. He was making this movie before he died, it was almost done, why would the directors cut it short? You just don’t know what you are talking about. People are going to be thrilled to see his last perfomance, his last show of how talented he was. You’re a fool who doesn’t know what she is talking about.
It’s what people will do for free that really shocks me..
To theresa and ashley, you do realise that the script for the movie does not include ledger killing himself at all. If you want proof I can even show you the script! Plus the Ledger family has already seen the film and the loved it. So take that stick out of your ass and open your mind! If you think that just because a few pictures show Heath in a noose means it’s suicide just go back in history and look at all the people who were lynched! Or even hung as a punishment by law!
I adore Heath. I’ll watch it to support him. He was happy to work with Terry Gilliam, and this is the very last time we’ll see anything new from Heath. This ends it.
To the theresa and ashley comment. What you said is just plain stupid! Heath Ledger’s family have already expressed their excitement for this film and are obviously proud of ledger’s performance. This film should be a celebration of the late actor’s talent and not about one little scene in a two hour film that you personally think is “cold hearted”.
Here’s hoping a movie distributor picks up HEATH LEDGER’s final film. As crazy as TERRY GILLIAM’s films can be, I LOVE THEM! And w/TOM WAITS as the devil, this one’s gotta’ be good..not to mention “THE TRIO DELUXE” of JOHHNY DEPP, JUDE LAW & COLIN FARREL. And CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER in it is “nothing to sneeze at,” too!!! I’ll patiently await to see THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS!!!
I’m quite sure Heath’s family are in full support of this film. They have spoken openly about it. Personally, I’m quite intrigued by whatever Gilliam has come up with.
@Kate: Just wondering where you got those release dates from? If the film doesn’t even have a distribution deal yet how can it have release dates?
@theresa and ashley: I’m sure the film will miss your 2 ticket purchases. Get informed before you write such drivel.
I have been interest/enthused/excited about this movie since I heard about it three years ago! I will be going to the first showing I’m able to attend. Because even a mild misfire from Gilliam is better than 75% of the stuff usually in theatres. (and if people are saying “better than expeted” it’s probably awesome)
Im sooo happy that Aussie distributors have picked up this amazing movie. I cant wait to see it, and unfortunately Heaths final performance. It has release dates “Kristen” because ALOT of countries have bought it, only the US is being stupid hasnt made up its mind about it yet. Johnny, Jude and Colin will be great in it too, bring on Sept! =)
I really wish they would set a US release date… I cannot wait to see it! Heath was my favorite actor and he is truely missed. I would hate for it to go straight to DVD…
France 22 May 2009 (Cannes Film Festival)
Italy 4 September 2009
Romania 18 September 2009
Netherlands 24 September 2009
Czech Republic 1 October 2009
Belgium 11 November 2009
France 11 November 2009
we might as well all move to France for the weekend just to go see the movie. It’s out in England too so we can see it there and won’t have to learn a new language lol
Hope those dates help guys! And I agree, they really need to give us a release date for the U.S.
And why wouldn’t you wanna see his last film ever, if your a true fan you will go see it!!
I WOULD PROBABLY STRIKE A DEAL WITH TOM WAITS ALSO