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Review #63 of 365
Film: The Libertine [R] 130 minutes
WIP: $13.00
When 1st Seen: 14 March 2006
Where Viewed: Century 16 Belmar, Lakewood, CO
Time: 4:55 p.m.
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DVD |
Advertised widely as the most controversial film of the year, The Libertine brings the life of 17th-century poet and the 2nd Earl of Rochester, John Wilmot (Johnny ‘he seems to like wearing cool wigs’ Depp) from the small stage of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater to the silver screen. Based on the play by Stephen Jeffreys which debuted in 1996 with John Malkovich as John Wilmont, the new film recasts John Malkovich as King Charles II. It would have been interesting to see him in both roles—however, it’s hard to imagine, after seeing the film, anyone else as the King. I’ve long been a fan of Mr. Malkovich as one of the most edgy and insightful actors of his era. Usually, though, I don’t see him exhibiting the kind of tenderness he reveals as John Wilmont’s guardian in this film. This character is multi-faceted, and he brings each face to the surface with a glint of bright light. In general, the cast from Mr. Depp, who brings about another in a long series of tour de force performances adds yet another brilliant line to his already packed résumé, to Samantha Morton who plays the other woman of Wilmont’s not-so-secret main desire—“main” because, as Wilmont brazenly admits in his opening monologue, he is the desire of all women and he desires all women—Elizabeth Barry, to Tom Hollander, Francesca Annis, and the outstanding Rosamund Pike who plays Elizabeth Malet—Wilmont’s true wife and the woman who is with him until the end, is perfectly delicious.
As mentioned, the movie opens with a spooky monologue with just John Wilmont on screen. His summation instructs that we will not like him in this story, and by the end, we will like him even less. I have to admit, that, by the film’s conclusion, I did not like him less. I actually grew to like him quite a lot despite his wildly unsavory lifestyle which included a period of more than five years of his 33 which he spent drunk the entire time, despite his crass, second-class treatment of women, despite his definite superiority / Christ complex, despite his ability to treat his comrades and wife with such disdain while they gave everything to support him. I liked him because, honestly, by the end, I saw immense change and growth in him as a human being. More than that, I saw a man who, as the movie tag line suggests, “…didn’t resist temptation, he pursued it...” emerge from his own private hell, nearly blind with his body ravaged by syphilis, and carry out on the advice of his patriarch and King who told him that, “Anyone can oppose things. It’s fun. But there comes a time when you must stand for things too.” John Wilmont left behind an incredible legacy of English poetry—some have said the best of the 17th century, a life-story of a man who lived unconventionally to be sure in the aim of understanding pleasure but who recognized the shallow errors of his ways in the end, and an English government intact. When accused of being a coward, he said, “All men would be cowards if they only had the courage.” This line provided a glimpse of the clever clarity he had with language and insight he had into human nature. So, yes, by the end, I did really like him. I had many regrets for him, and I wished he had made many better choices. I was sad that there was much he would never see or know because of his poor choices. He didn’t waste his talents entirely, but he certainly could have made more of them.
As for this being the most controversial film of the year…well, it certainly has some scenes that are far too racy for the usual [R]-rating. In the USA, our film-ratings people and our media tend to label films with sexual content as being more controversial than films with extreme violence for reasons that are difficult to comprehend at times. For example, the film, The Hills Have Eyes, was one of the most extremely violent films I’ve seen in a long time, and it did not earn a ‘controversial’ label. In any case, I feel the label for The Libertine is a bit overstated.
With incredible performances from Depp and Malkovich, excellent screenplay by Jeffreys, great sets, costumes, and locations, and superb direction from Laurence Dunmore, The Libertine is one of the best period movies of the year. Layers upon layers upon layers, this film is smart, interesting, and powerful. I enjoyed it from beginning to end.
Now Available for Purchase on DVD
The Libertine [DVD](2005) DVD
Johnny Depp Movies • John Malkovich Movies • Rupert Friend Movies
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