Tuesday, October 03, 2006

The Libertine: Grade D

D

The Libertine

Johnny Depp, Samantha Morton, John Malkovich

This is a dreadful costume drama set in 17th century London. The director used gray and sepia filters to make everything look dark, foggy, smoky, and colorless. Maybe that’s how life was back then, but it sure makes an ugly movie. The story is the hackneyed theater within theater theme. JD writes a play for the king (JM) starring protégé SM. But the play is puerile and prurient sexual material that could hardly hold the attention of an adult, but predictably, the king is offended and clever words are spoken. What saves this murky movie from failure is mesmerizing acting by Depp and Morton. These are towering acting talents who have such skill and presence that they rise above all mud, and they alone make this movie worth having a look.

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