PopSugar

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus: A Little Too Crazy

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 10:30:43 -0800

Not to be confused with that movie starring Natalie Portman and Dustin Hoffman (Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium), The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus is perhaps best known as late actor Heath Ledger’s final role.

You may recall that his death occurred during production, in which case Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law stepped in to finish his role. The good news is that the transition from actor to actor is virtually seamless and works within the story’s construction perfectly.

The bad news? The film is still a bit of an all-over-the-map mess. To hear why, just read more.

The movie follows Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer), an immortal man who runs a circus-style sideshow where he invites people into his imagination via a mirror. Once there, the participants must make a choice - will they side with the devil-like Mr. Nick (Tom Waits), or are they good at heart and will therefore align with Dr. Parnassus?

Dr. P. struck a deal with Mr. Nick years ago that he would hand over his child Valentina (Lily Cole) once she reached her 16th birthday. Now days away, Nick shows up to collect with a proposition - if Parnassus can save five souls from his evil grasp (inside of Parnassus's imagination, naturally), then the doc can keep Valentina. With a stroke of good luck, Parnassus crosses paths with Tony (Heath Ledger), a former businessman with the gift of persuasion.

If all of this sounds confusing, it’s because it is. Imaginarium is positioned as a morality tale, drawing connections to Parnassus as a god who allows free will, but what's the message? The story seems so concerned with being kooky and approaching larger, ambitious themes that it never grounds itself long enough to reach any "aha!" moment.

There are still a few bright spots. Tom Waits is particularly charming as a rascally, mustached Mr. Nick, and Andrew Garfield (as a young man pining for Valentina) has an on-screen charisma that makes him a promising new face to watch. I even appreciated much of the over-the-top surrealist scenery, which shouldn't be surprising given director Terry Gilliam's unique brand of whimsy (the imagery mimics Monty Python in several instances).

You can't blame the guy for having creativity; I just wish that Gilliam used a little more restraint here instead of working himself into a fantasy frenzy. The mumbo-jumbo overshadows even Ledger's performance, which could have been great if given some clearer development. Instead, I was left wishing that his brilliant turn in The Dark Knight had been the actor's swan song.

If you'd like to review a movie you've seen recently, check out the Movie Reviews Group in community. I may even feature your critique on the site!

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

4 WISE FACTS FROM NATALIE PORTMAN

justingirl1989 — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:12:02 -0700

In the last few months, I have taken some time off to think about what I really want and how I define myself. I’ve realized that some of the most important things I’ve learned have come through difficult experiences-and sometimes from my own mistakes.

If It’s Not Working, Change It
My family came here from Israel when I was 3, and at first we moved around a lot. I got really good at figuring out a situation and diving in. I was the cool new kid; I never doubted myself. Actually, I was probably kind of arrogant. Then, the summer after seventh grade, I shot my first movie, The Professional. Looking back, I realize that I might not have been that sensitive when I told people about it, and it came off as bragging. I was going to a small private school, and the other kids completely turned against me. No one would talk to me. I was so miserable that I had to change schools. But it made me think about how what I say affects other people, and I corrected my bravado. My dad helped me so much with this. He’s a doctor, and he’s really amazing. He’s one of those rare people who will actually change his opinions or his behavior if it’s hurting someone else. It was remarkable to learn that from him.

Trust Your Gut
I’ve always been something of a pleaser: I want to make other people happy. That’s not the worst thing. I mean, the fact that you like people and want them to like you is great-as long as you’re not sacrificing who you are. I’m not someone who has a lot of regrets, but last year I did something that I wasn’t comfortable with, and I’m really sorry I didn’t listen to my intuition. There was a scene in a movie that felt inappropriate for me, but I didn’t want to make waves. So I let myself get talked into it, even though it shook me up. From now on, I’m going to trust my gut more. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is say “no.” No matter how much you plan and how hard you try, you can’t predict the outcome of things. I’m always surprised by what people end up talking about. There have been times when I’ve put my best effort into my work and had great success. Other times, I have tried just as hard, and it hasn’t worked out. I realize now that the only thing in my control is my own behavior, not other people’s reactions.

Always Maintain a Sense of Hope
When I was at Harvard, a very close friend lost someone to the violence in Israel. I felt so helpless watching her pain. I really wanted to do something, but I didn’t know where to begin. Coming from Israel, I know how polarized that part of the world scene in a can be. I had always really admired Queen Rania of Jordan. She’s the most high-profile Palestinian woman in the Middle East, and she’s so compassionate and smart. I realize that not everyone can do this, but I picked up the phone that very day to track her down and ask her for advice. I was able to meet her later, and she talked to me about the “hope gap.”

The hope gap is not really about the economic divide but the opportunity divide that accompanies it: There are people who, due to poverty, can’t even imagine their lives changing for the better. Queen Rania is the reason I got involved with FINCA (Foundation for International Community Assistance), an international organization that grants loans, mostly to women, to start small businesses. Rather than donate food, it helps people earn the money to buy their own food and gives women the opportunity to better their lives.

Since then, I’ve traveled all over with FINCA, from Guatemala to Uganda to Ecuador. I didn’t really know anything about poverty before, and this opened my eyes to how the rest of the world lives. Sometimes it’s hard to maintain a sense of hope. It’s impossible to know the outcome of anything: You have no idea whether the life you impact will go on to bring peace to the Middle East or will go blow up a building. All you can do is act with the best intention and have faith. Maybe it’s selfish, but I just don’t think it’s worth living if you don’t feel like you can change something. It’s a choice you can make: to have joy, to find joy and to spread joy. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to make the film Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium-it’s pure goodness, but in a very unique way.

Demand What You Deserve
When I was in Uganda with FINCA recently, I met a young woman whose parents had died of AIDS. She was completely alone, taking care of her brothers and sisters. They were all living in one room; they had absolutely nothing. Everyone was talking down to her, but when we asked what she wanted, her answer amazed me. While 50 cents more a day would have totally revolutionized their lives, she looked at us and said in a clear, strong voice: “My brothers and sisters deserve the same chances you’ve had. I want them all to go to boarding school.” She didn’t want a handout. She knew that her family had a right to the same opportunities as everyone else. It was incredibly inspiring. I know that I’m the luckiest person in the world, but I still have so much to learn. That woman, who had not been given any chances in life, reminded me to always keep my own worth in mind.

Style Evolution: Natalie Portman

ellegirlsays — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:46:11 -0700

2000

57th Annual Golden Globes

2001

Premiere of A.I. Artificial Intelligence

2002

"Premiere" event

2003

Cold Mountain Premiere

2004

CFDA Fashion Awards

2005

Academy Awards

2006

Premiere of V for Vendetta

2007

Premiere of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

2008

April issue of Marie Clare

Angelina Jolie's New Flick Beowulf a Box Office Winner

justingirl1989 — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 09:14:22 -0800

Audiences paid big bucks to see Angelina Jolie naked this weekend.

Her computer-animated flick Beowulf - in which Jolie, 32, appears in a simulated nude scene - raked in $28.1 million, claiming the No. 1 box office spot. (Almost half the ticket sales came from 3-D theaters.)

The news is good for Jolie, whose last big screen venture, June's A Mighty Heart, flopped.

The weekend top five:

1. Beowulf: $28.1 million
2. Bee Movie: $14.3 million
3. American Gangster: $13.2 million
4. Fred Claus: $12 million
5. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium: $10 million

source:usmagazine.com

Natalie Portman 'Not Convinced' About Marriage

justingirl1989 — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:19:10 -0800

Like many things in her life, Natalie Portman doesn't take the idea of getting married lightly.

"I'm not convinced about marriage," the actress, 26, tells In Style in its December issue. "Divorce is so easy, and that fact that gay people are not allowed to marry takes much of the meaning out of it. ... Committing yourself to one person is sacred."

Not that she's opposed to the commitments and challenges of a relationship outside of marriage. The star of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, who has been linked this year with fashion entrepreneur Nathan Bogle, declines to discuss her romantic life in detail, but she says in general that her ideal partner is "someone who pulls me up to high standards, and who is aware of what's going on in themselves and in the world."

That awareness of the world, in particular, is a major theme for Portman, whose extensive travels, she says, have taught her to respect the Earth and its environment. "If we can find ways to love life and be joyful without being wasteful or destructive – that's what's important," she says.

One part of that, for Portman, involves being a vegetarian – from head to toe. "Every time I dress I know I'm not wearing leather, and that's a great feeling," she says.

For help in achieving her goals, personal and professional, she says she relies on mentors. "Yes, absolutely," she says. "My parents, of course, but there's guidance that can't come from them. Parents are protective. Other mentors say, 'Go do it, show 'em and see how you feel.' "

source: usmagazine.com