NMR: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

This will probably only be remembered as the last film that Heath Ledger did. That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially if it gets a few more people to check it out. Directed by Terry Gilliam, this is another trippy piece of eye candy that is equal parts engaging and frustrating. Gilliam's directing style is an accquired taste and when it works like in a film like The Fisher King, it's rewarding and when it doesn't it can turn into a noisy mess, like with The Brothers Grimm. Here he deals with some interesting themes involving religion, mortality, and temptation. When it sticks to its narrative, I really enjoyed the film. I particularly appreciated Tom Waits' work as the Devil. However, Gilliam can't help but attack the viewer with as many visuals as possible causing the film to frequently veer off course. One aspect that was seemless to the film was the use of substitute actors to fill in for the scenes Ledger had not completed before he passed away. Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law all fill in at various time in the movie, but it's never awkward. It's tough to explain here, but trust me it works. In general, this is a mixed bag but definitely worth a look if you want to see Ledger's final (and once again great) performance or if you tend to enjoy Gilliam's work. Grade: B-