Below please find a really great German article written after Terry Gilliam, Verne Troyer and The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus opened the Munich Film Festival last week. The first version shown here is written in it’s original German and below that is the English translation that was so kindly done for us by neverthesame, one of our contingent to the festival.

GERMAN VERSION

Filmfest München 2009
Festivalglanz dank Gilliam.

Am Freitag stellte Terry Gilliam auf dem Münchner Filmfest sein neuestes Werk vor: “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”. Die Deutschlandpremiere des Films kam gut an beim Publikum: Es gab langanhaltenden Applaus für den “Budgetverschwender” Gilliam.
Der Ruf Gilliams als “Budgetverschwender” gründet auf den opulenten Ausstattungen und Bildern, die er in seinen Filmen gerne verwendet. Für das “Kassengift” dürften eigenwillige Projekte wie “Tideland” oder “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” verantwortlich sein, die Kritiker und Publikum spalteten. Dagegen stehen Kassenerfolge wie “König der Fischer”, “Time Bandits” oder “Twelve Monkeys”. Auch sein neuester Film “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” kam beim Publikum an – nach der Deutschlandpremiere gab es Standing Ovations. Nach Cannes war München erst die zweite Stadt, in der er gezeigt wurde.

“Kinderfilm für Erwachsene”

Auf dem Filmfest war Gilliam persönlich anwesend. Das Premierenpublikum langweilte er nicht mit langen Reden, sondern beließ er es bei ein paar Scherzen. Festivalleiter Andreas Ströhl würdigte den Regisseur als “unerschrockensten Meister der entspannten Besessenheit” und lobte dessen “grenzenlos wuchernde Fantasie”. Gilliams neuer Film sei eine “überwältigende halluzinogene Bilderorgie”, ein “Kinderfilm für Erwachsene”. “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” ist der letzte Film mit Schauspieler Heath Ledger, der während der Dreharbeiten am 22. Januar 2008 gestorben war.

Legendäre Animationen

Studiert hat der gebürtige Amerikaner Gilliam nicht das Filmemachen, sondern Politikwissenschaft. Zugegeben mit dem Hintergedanken, dass er daneben so einige Kurse im Bereich Kunst belegen konnte. Nach dem Studium arbeitet er als Grafiker und Redakteur bei dem Magazin “Help!”, wo er 1962 John Cleese kennenlernt. 1967 übersiedelt Gilliam nach London, ein Jahr später beginnt er seine TV-Karriere: Er gestaltet die Zeichentrick-Sequenzen für diverse BBC-Serien. Animation bleibt auch während seiner Zeit bei Monty Python sein Spezialgebiet. Seine Zwischensequenzen in “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” sind heute legendär.

Ab 1980 kümmert Gilliam sich verstärkt um seine eigene Regiekarriere. “Time Bandits” wurde ein voller Erfolg, nicht nur beim Kinopublikum, sondern auch bei den Filmkritikern. Fünf Jahre später folgt der Film, der von vielen als sein Meisterwerk angesehen wird: In “Brazil” schwelgt er in surrealistischen Bilderwelten. Ähnlichkeiten mit Kafkas Werken und Orwells “1984″ sind durchaus gewollt. Für “Brazil” gibt’s eine Oscar-Nominierung als Bester Film.

Zurück nach La Mancha?

Golden Globe, Goldene Palme, Goldener Löwe – nominiert war Gilliam seitdem für viele renommierte Filmpreise. Fünfzehn Auszeichnungen kann er im Lauf der Jahre mit nach Hause nehmen, darunter 1991 den Silbernen Löwen für “Der König der Fischer”. Seinen Erfolg als Filmemacher misst Gilliam allerdings nach anderen Kriterien.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Festival shine thanks to Gilliam.

On Friday, Terry Gilliam presented at the Munich Film Festival his latest work: “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.” The German premiere of the film was well received among the audience: There was a prolonged applause for the “budget squanderer” Gilliam.

Gilliam’s reputation as a “budget squanderer” is based on the opulent trimmings and pictures that he likes in his films to use. For the “box office poison” should be responsible idiosyncratic projects like such as “Tideland” and “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, which divided critics and audiences. By contrast, there are box office hits such as “The Fisher King” “Time Bandits” or “Twelve Monkeys”. As well his latest film “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” got a positive feedback among the audience – after the German premiere, there were standing ovations. After Cannes Munich was only the second city in which it was shown.

“Children’s film for adults”

In the film Gilliam was personally present. The audience was not bored with long speeches, but he left it in a few jokes. Festival director Andreas Ströhl praised the director as a ” intrepidly master of relaxed obsession” and praised his “boundless rampant imagination.” Gilliam’s new film is an “overwhelming hallucinogenic orgy of pictures,” a “children’s film for adults.” “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” is the last movie with actor Heath Ledger, who, during the shooting on 22 January 2008, had died.

Legendary animations

The native American Gilliam has not studied film making, but political science. Admittedly, with the ulterior motive that he also alongside a few courses in the range of art could occupy. After graduating he worked as a graphic designer and editor at the magazine “Help!”, 1962 where he met John Cleese. 1967 Gilliam moved to London and a year later he began his TV career: he designed the animation sequences for various BBC series. Animation will also during his time with Monty Python his speciality. His sequences in “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” are now legendary.

From 1980 Gilliam will step up to his own directing career. “Time Bandits” was a resounding success, not only in the cinema audience, but also in the film critics. Five years later follows the film, seen by many as his masterpiece to be: In “Brazil”, he revels in surreal imagery. Similarities with works by Kafka and Orwell’s “1984″ are certainly wanted. For “Brazil” there’s an Oscar nomination as Best Film.

Back to La Mancha?

Golden Globe, Golden Palm, Golden Lion – Gilliam has been nominated for many prestigious film awards. Fifteen awards he can over the years take home, including 1991, the Silver Lion for “The Fisher King.” His success as a filmmaker attaches Gilliam, however, according to other criteria.

A contingent of 3 members of the Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus Support Site attended Saturday’s screening and Q&A of The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus for the site. Below is the wonderful article/account that they were kind enough to write for all of us. Frank, after much conversation with neverthesame and Umney, did the writing and did a beautiful job. I understand that there is more to come but our dear Frank is exhausted and getting a little rest before he writes more for us! The photo above was taken by our group while at the Q&A on Saturday. Thank you all so very much!

Exclusive

(Article Includes A Few Small Spoilers)

By Frank, Neverthesame & Umney

Three German forum members, Neverthesame5, Umney, and me, Franklin, had the chance to see The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus at the Munich International Film Festival. Not just the film, but also Terry Gilliam and Verne Troyer, who, together with Ray Cooper, musician and friend of Terry’s who worked with him since Time Bandits, made an Q&A after the screening. There Neverthesame5 conveyed the greetings and best wishes from our Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus Support Site, and Terry seemed to be genuinely happy about the site (and the fact that they even send a little group of German delegates to Munich). He obviously knows The Dr. Parnassus Support Site very well, and highly appreciates the work of “the lady from Los Angeles”, as he said. He recommended our website as the one you should go to, if you want to know everything about the Parnassus film. And he (that is: you! to us) and we got applause for these remarks.

The screening we attended – one of the few at the festival that were sold out – actually was the first “real” screening of the film ever, as Terry put it, that is: It was the very first for a general audience (as opposed to the press and professionals). Or, as Terry Gilliam also said in his typical manner (meaning that we were the first people who payed to see the movie): “You made a sacrifice, you suffered for our art.” – Well, I guess, Terry had no idea how much he was right: Umney had actually come all the way from the other end of Germany, from a small island in the North Sea, over 500 miles from Munich, just for this one evening, just to see this particular movie. She did it for Heath. We all did it for Heath.

Please, do not misconstrue the latter remark. There are of course a lot of reasons to see the movie other than Heath Ledger. The film has an overall wonderful cast of characters you can easily take to. It is very entertaining, and there is no dull second in the movie. (It’s not confusing and unfocused, as some early reviews from Cannes suggested, but has a rather comprehensible and straightforward plot.) It makes you think, feel, laugh, shudder. It draws you into a world of dreams and fantasies, and yet talks about our own world and our lives.

But, the main reason we three people were there was for Heath. And we sat there with throbbing hearts and very mixed feelings about the emotional ordeal that lay before us. I went into the film with the thought that this will be the moment when I say good-bye to Heath – once again, not the first time, not the last time, but it would be – and was – a very special moment, the moment when for me his work becomes complete. From now on, I would never again see a new acting performance by Heath Ledger, his work is completed (“consumentum est”). I thought it would probably leave me depressed and distressed. But that was not the case. Having the chance to see the movie (and doing so in the presence of other Heathens) rather left me euphoric and grateful. I was wonderful to see Heath once again. Although the movie also deals with serious issues and brings up existential questions, it does so in a playful, fantastic, colorful, fairy-tale-like and – I say it again: – very entertaining manner.
In short: The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus is unabashed pure Terry Gilliam. But, as one young female audience member whom I interviewed after the movie, put it: The Imaginarium is the “warmest” of all of Terry Gilliam’s movies. I think this is primarily due to the cast. It is a “small” film, inasmuch as it only had a limited budget and a limited cast. But that small cast is exactly what makes the film so warm and accessible. It’s a real ensemble film, and there is no single “leading” character, not even Dr. Parnassus or Tony. Rather it is the ensemble and the wonderful chemistry between them, that creates this warm feeling. Even the evil antagonist, Mr. Nick, somewhat becomes a part of that little likable troupe. It is the dreamlike visuals and the actors who make the special charm of The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. No wonder, it is a “labor of love” in more than just one sense.

This little troupe that drives it’s baroque coach through contemporary London, seems to have fallen out of time (early in the movie we see a broken watch in close-up), and yet (or rather because of that) holds a mirror to our time, obsessed with money and consumerism. There are also a lot of satirical and socially critical elements in the movie (including a warning against a particular British newspaper), although they are not played into the foreground.

Probably no other actor could have played Dr. Parnassus so well as Christopher Plummer. Let’s face it: An immortal, thousands-of-years-old magician who made a bet with the devil is not exactly a very realistic character you can easily relate to. And yet, thanks to Mr. Plummer, who manages to keep the delicate balance between irony, comedy and touching seriousness, he becomes a totally human and lovable character: the loving concerned father, the sage, the f*ed-up alcoholic. He has a wonderful chemistry especially with Lily Cole and Verne Troyer. There still is a lot of physical humor and slapstick involved with his (and other) character(s), but maybe for the first time here Mr. Troyer is treated as a real actor. Especially the moments when he doesn’t talk, at least not verbally, but his face reveals exactly what he is feeling and thinking are very touching.

Did you ever have the experience, when you see an actor or an actress for the very first time, and yet you have a feeling like you would know him or her all along? The last time I had that feeling was with Edward Norton in “Primal Fear”. This time I had it again with Andrew Garfield, who takes a rather “one-dimensionally written character” (as Terry Gilliam admitted himself) and, with his boyish charm, turns it into a complex personality.

Another first-timer for me was Lily Cole who fits perfectly into this reality-based fantastic fairytale: breathtakingly, even unearthly beautiful, delicate, and yet at the same time very down-to-earth, resolute and energetic.

Terry Gilliam used Heath Ledger’s charisma and comical talent to full measure. Although his character turns out to be rather, well, dubious (to put it mildly), he plays out the cute and likable aspect of it and the comedic and satiric potential in the role. Some of his facial expressions and gestures seemed like he still had the Joker in his bones, while his manner of speaking (not his accent, obviously, which is supposed to be Londoner, I guess), but his manner of speaking somewhat reminded me of Skip in Lords of Dogtown. Yet, he managed again to create a distinct, well-rounded character (although he didn’t get to act out all the different sides of the character, see below), clearly distinct from all the other memorable, unique characters he created during his all too brief career.

The transitions from Heath to the other Tonys are absolutely seamless. Especially because – at least in the first two passings through the mirror – Tony is wearing a mask which covers the upper part of his face, and even if you know, at first you simply cannot realize that now another actor is playing the part. Only when they take off the mask, you see that there ’s another face under it. But at this point of the movie – one of the few actual changes in the script after Heath’s death – the idea has already been established, that in the world behind the magic mirror faces sometimes do change.

In the Q&A after the movie I asked Terry Gilliam whether the other three Tonys had a chance to see Heath’s performance before they did theirs. They had seen only “bits and pieces” of it, Terry said, and had no time for rehearsals. Therefore it was very important, that they were personal friends to Heath, who could rather instinctively tie in with his style. This works especially well with Johnny Depp. It almost seems like Heath and Johnny were playing to each other, because Heath in a particular scene was “doing” Johnny Depp (as Terry realized, and Heath admitted), while Depp is doing Heath – and yet in the few minutes he is on screen, he spreads his own unmistakable Johnny Depp charm which manages to be naive and innocent and yet knowingly ironic and impish at the same time.

As you might know, the Tony character (and if you don’t know, and don’t want to know, I put a big SPOILER tag in here) – the Tony character is a deeply ambivalent one, a rather two-faced character. Unfortunately Hea th only got to play one side of the character, while the other is only fully revealed behind the magic mirror, and hence is played by Colin Farrell. And here lies the only major dramaturgical flaw that comes with the change of actors. Of course it was unavoidable, given the circumstances, and has nothing to do with Colin Farrell’s acting abilities. (Indeed, as Terry Gilliam reported after the film, Colin almost felt like he was “channeling” Heath, when he did his part.) The fact that Tony not only figuratively, but literally has two faces, in this case doesn’t enhance, but diminishes the ambivalence of the character, at least in my personal experience, because rather than have one Tony with two sides, you basically have two Tonys – the cute, charming, comical, though somewhat inscrutable one, played by Heath, and the other one, played by Colin. This is especially a pity at the end of the Tony plot strand, because it directly refers back to its beginning and should close the circle. However, as you have two actors playing it, the two ends do not meet exactly. (SPOILER END)

In these fantasy sequences behind the mirror Gilliam uses many different visual styles, so that they are always a fascinating treat for the eyes, some of them inspired by certain artists or styles, while others are harking back directly to Gilliam’s unmistakable and unique Monty Python artwork. The dancing choir of policemen (“We love violence”, lyrics and music by Terry Gilliam) seems to be right out of an early 1970s Monty Python skit.

All in all the fantasy sequences follow the logic of dreams, in which people, situations, moods suddenly change, and you can never be sure what comes next, where wishes come true and the unconscious interlopes, sometimes unwanted. These sequences just draw you in. They are like dreams you don’t want to awake from, although from time to time they turn into nightmares. Ffor Gilliam this world of imagination is very real, sometimes more so than the “real” world, and therefore it can also be dangerous – “We are not playing, what we do is deadly serious”, Parnassus says at one point – and so people can get lost or even die in this world.

At first, I was thinking that Tom Waits was overacting shamelessly. But soon I realized, that this was exactly how his part has to be done, because obviously it is a larger-than-live character, an eternal archetype. In a way, at the half tragic, half happy and half comical ending (oh, sorry, somehow I’ve got three “halves” now), Mr. Nick is the last remnant of the world of the imagination that is still left, while all the other characters have arrived ( or are stuck) in the “real world,” an ending which, as I said, is happy, tragic, and comical, all at the same time.

Given the tragic circumstances of its making, The Imaginarium works astonishingly, even eerily well. It’s not a perfect or flawless film, but it is a special film, maybe one-of-a-kind in movie history. Yes, it is a warm film, it is a true “labor of love.” – “There is no magic, there are only cheap tricks” is a line from the movie. And yet, although Terry had to use some cheap tricks, there seems to be a kind of magic that actually does work. The magic of love. “A film by Heath Ledger and Friends”

Copyright The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus Support Site

Mouse, a fan of the late Heath Ledger, Terry Gilliam and The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus joins the world wide campaign of fans to support the raising of global awarenewss of the new Terry Gilliam movie The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus.

Mouse joins his voice with others around the globe and tells The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus Support Site that he not only wants to see the movie in London, where it is being distributed by Lionsgate, he wants to make others around the world aware of Heath Ledger’s final performance as the movie is shown around the world. Mouse is an administrator of the Planet Heath Ledger website.

Mouse Supports Parnassus In London

The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus which also stars Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Lily Cole, Verne Troyer and Andrew Garfield, will open the Munich Film Festival today, June 26, 2009.

Trekfan who is a resident of Virginia, near Washington D.C., wants the world to know, she wants to see Terry Gilliam’s Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus Dr. Parnassus in her state!

The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus stars Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield and Verne Troyer.

Trekfan Wants Dr. Parnassus In Virginia & Washington

Fans around the world of Terry Gilliam’s movie, The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus want to be heard. They want to make people around the globe aware of a great new film. But they ran into a snag. How do you get the people to listen to you? They have decided that a picture is worth a thousand words. Keren, a fan from Israel has started a campaign of fans worldwide, to tell the world about this much anticipated new film. They are carrying out their campaign through the Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus Support site which will post each of their photos in the coming days on our homepage and start a thread of these photos on our forums. We applaud these fans for their standing up and being heard! Bravo ladies and gentlemen!

The much anticipated Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus stars Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Christopher Plummer, Verne Troyer, Lily Cole and Andrew Garfield.

Christopher Plummer As Dr. Parnassus

Exclusive
By Amy Rogers

Near the end of In Spite of Myself, the lively memoir by celebrated actor Christopher Plummer, there�s a photo of a Star Trek Klingon. With a nailed-on patch covering one eye and a piercing gaze emanating from the other, Colonel Chang looks startlingly out of place.

After all, Plummer is an acclaimed Shakespearean actor, renowned for his King Lear, his Caesar, his Cyrano, his Henry V (which in 1956 critics called �stunning�). The photos in the book showcase the actor�s matchless career and his remarkable friends: Orson Welles, Dame Edith Evans, Peter O�Toole and dozens more.

But a Klingon? What place could there be for a sci-fi warrior in a classical actor�s refined life? And then it dawns on readers�Plummer himself was the menacing Klingon Colonel Chang. He appeared in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country � alongside an old friend named William Shatner.

It�s surprising, not because the much-lauded actor looks out of place or foolish, but because the opposite is true: he�s dead-on perfect in the role.

The ability to seamlessly inhabit characters is one quality that distinguishes merely competent actors from great actors. So is longevity, especially in a world where trends come and go, and where new faces constantly flow into the pop-culture pipeline. The list of actors who possess both is a short one, but Christopher Plummer�s place on that list is assured.

The Canada native has appeared in more than 100 films, on TV, on stage in the U.S. and abroad, in concert, and most recently as the voice of adventurer Charles Muntz in Disney�s animated feature, Up. But anyone old enough to recall the Sound of Music will forever associate Plummer with his role as dashing Captain Von Trapp. He�s won multiple awards, including Emmys and Tonys, for his work. And with the 2008 release of his memoir, he�s produced a bracingly candid retrospective of his life, loves and travels.

Now nearly 80, Plummer will delve into a world of fantasy and magic as the title character in the long-awaited new release, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, directed by Terry Gilliam. While many news stories focused on the untimely death of co-star Heath Ledger during filming, the cast and crew rallied when Colin Farrell, Jude Law and Johnny Depp came onboard to help complete the project.

In still photos recently released from the film, Plummer sports ornate costumes in the fantastical settings that are the director�s trademark. With his long beard, steely stare and powerful countenance, Doctor Parnassus is already captivating fervent fans. For the role, Plummer may call upon facets of iconic characters from history, from mythology or his own illustrious career � or he may forge something unexpected and completely different.

Waiting to see a highly-anticipated film is like getting ready for a road trip. Travelers are eager to see where the trip will take us, but we can�t quite picture what we might see along the way. With Christopher Plummer leading film-goers through The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, we can be certain of one thing: it will be an astonishing and memorable journey.

The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus also stars Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Tom Waits, Lily Cole, Verne Troyer, Andrew Garfield and Paloma Faith

copyright � 2009 by Amy Rogers and The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus Support Site, all rights reserved

Source: Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus Facebook Fan Page

Verne Troyer has announced that he will be joining Terry Gilliam at the Munich Film Festival where Gilliam’s new movie, The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus, will open the festival at the Gala Opening night.

The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus stars, Verne Troyer, Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Tom Waits, Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole and Andrew Garfield.

Heath Ledger In Dr. Parnassus

It has been announced that Terry Gilliam will be heading to the Munich Film Festival to personally debut his new film, The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus will open the Munich Film Festival. The Imaginarium Of Dr. Parnassus, the final performance of the late Heath Ledger, also stars Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Lily Cole, Verne Troyer and Andrew Garfield.

As the Hollywood Reporter states, “The fantastic tale debuted to rave reviews in Cannes last month. “The Imaginarium” also stars Christopher Plummer and Tom Waits as well as the trio of Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell, all of whom stepped in to play Ledger’s character in unshot scenes following the Australian actor’s sudden death last year.”

The Munich Film Festival runs from June 26 � July 4, 2009.