MalReynolds
September 2nd, 2005, 02:24 PM
The Brothers Grimm
Starring: Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Jonathon Pryce
Director: Terry Gilliam
I've never seen any of Gilliam's other films, so when I heard this one was "more mainstream" it really didn't bother me... Some things did, however.
"MAGIC BEANS, JACOB!" The viewer is constantly reminded... And that's exactly what this film is. At the beginning, we're introduced to Will and Jacob Grimm (Matt Damon and Heath Ledger). Will is tending to his sickly sister, while Jacob is supposed to be selling the family cow to raise money for a doctor. Jacob bursts through the front door. "Did you get the money?"
"No, I got something better... I met a stranger who gave me these magic beans!"
Fifteen years later, Will still won't let Jacob live it down. Why? Because the screenplay doesn't treat the audience with enough respect. I rememberd that Jacob was responsible for the death of his sister without the constant chides of "Magic beans". But, that's just one small thing.
The Brothers Grimm make their living by slaying witches, killing trolls and performing exorcisms for small Hamlets in the German country side. What the people in each town don't realize is that they're frauds... Each task they perform, they set up. Each demon they slay, they created... So when they're called in by the French Army to catch another set of frauds, they know what they're doing. Little do they know, the enchantment is real.
Which brings you into the thick of the plot. Germany is occupied by France, meaning many of the more villanous characters speak with heavy, heavy accents that are a trifle difficult to understand. Sloppy editing makes the plot particularly hard to piece together, especially if you're having a hard time paying attention.
One thing the movie did get right, however, was the ambience and the setting. The village was very dark and brooding, and the forest was actually quite scary for parts of the film. What I particularly liked was how the story focused more on the Tower than the town. Many people say that the film worked less because of the hub (the tower) that the film revovled around, but I think that was one of its stronger points.
Matt Damon and Heath Ledger were quite good; especially Ledger. Playing the timid Jacob Grimm, jumping several times through the movie at little bumps and birds was quite funny. Jonathon Pryce, veteran screen actor (Pirates of the Carribean, Glengary Glen Ross) was more annoying that effective as the evil French commander.
All in all, the movie keeps reminding the audience that what they're seeing is a movie. Sloppy editing, a haphazard musical score and confusing plot make what could have been the cure for the common summer movie just an average adventure film.
The two words to best describe this film: Magic Beans.
6.5/10
Starring: Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Jonathon Pryce
Director: Terry Gilliam
I've never seen any of Gilliam's other films, so when I heard this one was "more mainstream" it really didn't bother me... Some things did, however.
"MAGIC BEANS, JACOB!" The viewer is constantly reminded... And that's exactly what this film is. At the beginning, we're introduced to Will and Jacob Grimm (Matt Damon and Heath Ledger). Will is tending to his sickly sister, while Jacob is supposed to be selling the family cow to raise money for a doctor. Jacob bursts through the front door. "Did you get the money?"
"No, I got something better... I met a stranger who gave me these magic beans!"
Fifteen years later, Will still won't let Jacob live it down. Why? Because the screenplay doesn't treat the audience with enough respect. I rememberd that Jacob was responsible for the death of his sister without the constant chides of "Magic beans". But, that's just one small thing.
The Brothers Grimm make their living by slaying witches, killing trolls and performing exorcisms for small Hamlets in the German country side. What the people in each town don't realize is that they're frauds... Each task they perform, they set up. Each demon they slay, they created... So when they're called in by the French Army to catch another set of frauds, they know what they're doing. Little do they know, the enchantment is real.
Which brings you into the thick of the plot. Germany is occupied by France, meaning many of the more villanous characters speak with heavy, heavy accents that are a trifle difficult to understand. Sloppy editing makes the plot particularly hard to piece together, especially if you're having a hard time paying attention.
One thing the movie did get right, however, was the ambience and the setting. The village was very dark and brooding, and the forest was actually quite scary for parts of the film. What I particularly liked was how the story focused more on the Tower than the town. Many people say that the film worked less because of the hub (the tower) that the film revovled around, but I think that was one of its stronger points.
Matt Damon and Heath Ledger were quite good; especially Ledger. Playing the timid Jacob Grimm, jumping several times through the movie at little bumps and birds was quite funny. Jonathon Pryce, veteran screen actor (Pirates of the Carribean, Glengary Glen Ross) was more annoying that effective as the evil French commander.
All in all, the movie keeps reminding the audience that what they're seeing is a movie. Sloppy editing, a haphazard musical score and confusing plot make what could have been the cure for the common summer movie just an average adventure film.
The two words to best describe this film: Magic Beans.
6.5/10