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Do you look like Heath Ledger? If so, Hollywood is calling!

February 29th, 2008 by Scott Marks

the-imaginarium-of-doctor-parnassus.jpg
Heath Ledger in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Poor Terry Gilliam can never seem to catch a break. Remember all the difficulties he had during the filming of Brazil (1985)? Gilliam tangled with studio producers over how the picture should end; the director wanted it to be downbeat while the producers insisted on the usual Hollywood sap. The studio won out and a 94 minute cut was released to theaters. Gilliam threatened to disown the film which was eventually rereleased at its proper running time of 142 min. Gilliam became so stressed that he temporarily lost the use of his legs for several weeks.

In 1999, he began work on The Man Who Killed Don Quixote with Johnny Depp, Vanessa Paradis and Jean Rochefort. The shooting halted after only a couple of days when Jean Rochefort suffered a herniated disc (that prevented him from riding a horse) and a flood leveled the set. The only thing left over from the doomed production is a $15 million insurance claim. Both Depp and Gilliam are unable to revive the project because the insurance company owns the rights to the script.

Even if he wins he loses. The director was J.K. Rowling first choice for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), but Warner Brothers studios refused to even consider him opting instead for the “more family friendly ” Chris Columbus.

Gilliam reportedly tinkered for months with The Brother Grimm while Miramax repeatedly shuffled opening dates. According to imdb.com, “In June 2004, a stalemate occurred between Bob Weinstein and Terry Gillam over the final cut of the film. Terry Gilliam decided to place the film on hold for six months.” He went on to do Tideland, which he and Harvey Weinstein also quarreled over, and came back to finish this feature in January 2005.

In January of 2007, Gilliam announced that his next feature would be The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. One year later production ground to a halt when the film’s lead, Heath Ledger, died from an accidental overdose. According to Variety, Ledger’s participation was what got the film financed in the first place.

Ain’t It Cool News reports that instead of finishing the film with a CG Ledger, Jude Law, Colin Farrell and Johnny Depp have been recruited to replace the late actor. Cinematical quotes a studio insider reportedly saying: “There is a point in the film when Heath falls through a magic mirror. He could change into another character after that and that is where Johnny would come in.”

Gilliam still needs someone to double all of the actor’s blue screen work and a request for Ledger lookalikes has been sent out to actors’ agents.

It reads: “Please only suggest actors who look like Heath Ledger and are between five foot 11 inches and six foot three inches.”

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LIFE OF BRIAN / Terry Jones (1979)

September 23rd, 2007 by Scott Marks

Terry Jones’ LIFE OF BRIAN (1979)

Life of Brian (1979)

Directed by: Terry Jones

Written by: Graham Chapman, John Cleese

Cast: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Terence Bayler, Carol Cleveland, Kenneth Colley, Neil Innes, Charles McKeown, John Young, Gwen Taylor, Sue Jones-Davies

Aspect Ratio: 1.85 : 1

Running Time: 94 min.

Genres: Comedy

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

A satiric sandbag aimed not at the Lord, but his overzealous parishioners. In this case, attacks were as inevitable as they were spurious. Pre-publicity clearly anticipated potential discord: “See the movie that’s controversial, sacrilegious, and blasphemous. But if that’s not playing, see Life of Brian.” The life of Brian Cohen and the Kid in the crèche next door (a child named Jesus) bear remarkable similarities. The affinity is so pronounced that Brian, like Christ, winds up nailed to a cross, this time to the sprightly strains of Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. The film was originally prohibited in Norway, didn’t hit Italian screens until 1991 and, according to author Dawn B. Sova, “as recently as July 2000, Ireland retained the film on its list of movies that are banned from exhibition.” We may all sleep better at night knowing that somewhere in the world people live in fear of art. Too bad the film isn’t funnier.

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THE BROTHERS GRIMM / Terry Gilliam (2005)

July 8th, 2005 by Scott Marks

Heath Ledger & Matt Damon in Terry Gilliam’s THE BROTHERS GRIMM (2005)

The Brothers Grimm (2005)

Directed by: Terry Gilliam

Written by: Ehren Kruger

Cast: Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Lena Headey, Peter Stomare, Monica Bellucci, Petr Ratimec, Jonathan Pryce, Barbora Lukesová, Anna Rust, Jeremy Robson, Radim Kalvoda, Martin Hofman, Martin Hofmann, Josef Pepa Nos, Harry Gilliam, Miroslav Táborský, Roger Ashton-Griffiths, Marika Sarah Procházková, Mackenzie Crook

Aspect Ratio: 1.85 : 1

Running Tme: 118 min.

Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller

Rating: ★★★½☆

Don’t expect the obligatory studio-damning follow-up documentary. For a change, over the top (and frequently over budget) director Terry Gilliam received final cut.

His first completed film since 1998’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Gilliam reportedly tinkered for two years while Miramax repeatedly shuffled opening dates. In wide release at last, The Brothers Grimm is a visually dazzling Byzantine blockbuster of a thrill ride aimed at, joy of joys, adult minds.

Finally, a contemporary fantasy film that shuns the Hollywood notion that action and adventure must solely be geared for teenage boys. Given their similarities and dark underlying preoccupations, Walt Disney is likely to be applauding horizontally in his cryogenic chamber.

Continue reading THE BROTHERS GRIMM / Terry Gilliam (2005)

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