 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough
The Brothers Grimm (M)
Directed by Terry Gilliam
The Brothers Grimm - Heath Ledger and Matt Damon, in his best role since Team America.
Once upon a time there was a group of really clever, really funny friends who kept the world in stiches for many, many years.
One very sad day this talented group of friends decided they couldn't work together anymore and they all went their separate ways. But each, in their own special way, continued to entertain the masses, one creating the most amazing, imaginative and visually stunning films the world had ever seen.
So when producers were searching for a director for a film about two of the most imaginative storytellers in all of history they knew there was only one man suitable for the job: Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame. (Mind you, as anyone who saw the doco on previous unfinished, unmitigated disaster movie Don Quixote would know, it was a brave decision).
The Python animator brings all his creative genius to The Brothers Grimm - the dark, magical tale of Wilhelm (Heath Ledger) and Jacob Grimm (Matt Damon), two brothers eking out a living in 1796, conning simple-minded villagers in French-occupied Germany with stage tricks and illusions.
Becoming more and more infamous for their supposed skill at eradicating supernatural beings, the brothers come to the attention of torturer Cavaldi (Peter Stormare) who delivers them into the evil clutches of Napoleon's officer Delatombe (Jonathan Pryce). Their special talents are required in the village of Marbaden where 10 young girls have disappeared. Our two young heroes, with the help of beautiful huntress Angelika (Lena Headey), must determine whether it is the work of some human sicko or if the surrounding forest is cursed.
The Brothers Grimm proves to be the perfect foil for Gilliam. Visually breathtaking, extraordinarily imaginative and often quite scary, it may be based on real life characters but Gilliam has placed his own unconventional, wickedly dark spin on the tale. Werewolves, deadly walking trees, horses that can swallow a child alive and throughout it all, glimpses of the future fairytales that will enchant generations of children.
If you love the fantasy genre and are a fan of Terry Gilliam's other mind-blowing films, such as Brazil and 12 Monkeys, then The Brothers Grimm is highly recommended.
|
