The Libertine
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Movie Reviews of The Libertine
Movie Review: A unapoligetic film
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is raw, brass, dark, and extremely well done. In my opinion it is Johnny Depp's best acting performance. In this film Depp plays the Earl of Rochester, who is a very intresting historical figure. During the special features one of the writers commented that in most historical dramas writers have to add something to hollywoodize it and make it more exciting, in Rochester's case things needed to be cut. This film is not for the small or closed minded. Many parts of it can be found offensive, not surprisingly immoral or socially unacceptable - but it is an amazing and unique film addressing issues not often attempted in film. The opening and closing monologues done by Johnny Depp alone are worth seeing the film, they are phenomenal. At first Johnny Depp is leaned back in a chair all you see is black on the screen, he begins to talk and leans forward basically telling his audience that you will not like me, that men will envy me and women will want to be me (this is hard to argue with!). Johnny Depp's range as an actor is greatly tested, and he once again stretches and tests his limits as an artist. All of the supporting characters are very well chosen and perform beautifully. I was especially fond of John Malkavich and Rosmund Pike's performance. The film is done in many dark colors, mostly grays and browns. It does not try at all to romanticize the era or its character. This is a very honest piece. I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical drama, politics, literature, Johnny Depp, theatre or just wants to be intrigued.Movie Review: Johnny Depp is amazing!
Summary: 5 Stars
Johnny Depp delivers a very moving performance playing John Wilmot, who is a 17th century royal heir, second Earl of rochester, related to King Charles II (played brilliantly by John Malkovich). Depp falls in love with an actress whom he helps train (played by Samantha Morton). Depp is rejected from the royal family for creating and staging a controversial play (full of extreme sexual content) mocking King Charles II.
The ending is very shocking and sad. The movie shows Depp begin as a healthy and wealthy man fall from grace as his drinking begins to ravage his health. Basically, Depp is his own worst enemy in this compelling 17th century masterpiece.
The movie is a little long. However, the actors are so good that I rate The Libertine with 5 stars.
Be warned, you may not like John Wilmot (Depp's character) in this movie. Depp himself begins the movie with a very personal monologue in which he tells the viewing audience "I don't want you to like me". He ends the movie with another monolgue asking the challenging question "do you like me now". It is difficult to like this Depp's character in the movie because he is self absorbed and very rude. At the same time, he does have some redeeming good qualities which may make it difficult for some viewers to hate him. Emotions will run high.
Don't miss The Libertine!!
Movie Review: Depp is superlative
Summary: 5 Stars
I had no idea what to expect from this movie, not knowing anything about John Wilmot. About 15 seconds into the prologue, I was hooked. Throughout the movie, Johnny Depp is sexy and sinister at the same time. He proves that the smallest touch or gesture can be unbelievably erotic. By the end, he me feel that for all of Wilmot's debauchery, all he ever really wanted was to be loved. Depp commands every scene he is in, even if he's in the corner. His physical presence is much more palpable than in a lot of his movies, where quirkiness defines his characters. Many of his films are "different", but not really very risky emotionally. In the last half hour of this film, Depp takes risks he never has, and I daresay you would not recognize him if you didn't know who he was. I can only hope he will continue to take on roles of this depth. I found Samantha Morton annoying at times, and I didn't understand what Wilmot saw in her. The scene where they meet and he convinces her to let him coach her looks like it was cut about ten times, and is the only technical issue I have with the film. Malkovich and other supporting cast were perfect, cinematography and script were brilliant. I also really liked the music. It set a restless and edgy tone without being distracting. If Depp doesn't get under your skin, check your pulse.Movie Review: Hello. This is Great!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a college English professor but admittedly not above thinking that Johnny Depp is awesome looking and basically the thinking woman's actor. That said, I probably have watched "The Libertine" way over 6 times now and not because of Depp. I have studied this period and happened to have completed my masters thesis on Wilmot. Wilmot was a remarkable figure in literary history. Only Johnny Depp could have pulled off this character in such a remarkably moving manner. He was able to combine the debauchery of the time and with the sensitivty of Wilmot, after he finally found love. I can only salute Johnny Depp for his perormance. This should have had an Oscar nomination at the very least.
This guy (Depp) who dropped out of school at age 15, should be a lesson to all of us. C'mon, I agree, Jack Sparrow is cute but anyone who knows anything about Wilmot, Dryden, or Shakespeare has probably been moved to the depths by Depp's portrayal of Wilmot. Although this movie is not for the faint of heart, or for those who are only fans of Depp's looks and not literary hisory, it is a real tribute to the writers of an incredibly bawdy, yet remarkable era and to Depp as the greatest actor of our time. Just think "Finding Neverland".
Movie Review: My granddaughter and I
Summary: 5 Stars
My granddaughter, a college student, and I watched this film together and spent nearly 3 hours discussing many aspects of this film ... among them, the history of the period, the cultural climate of England, the larger meaning of Rochester's defense of the monarchy, the psychology of Rochester, and even the sanitary conditions of the day. We looked up some of the poetry of Rochester on the internet and found it to be sensitive and quite moving ... including the line ('Tis all that Heav'n allows.) that was probably the source of the title of a 1955 film All that Heaven Allows. A useful discussion indeed, one engendered by viewing this film.
I think it to be one of the best films I've ever seen. The cast is magnificent, especially Johnny Depp and John Malkovich. It is a dark film to be sure, but not a depressing one because Rochester was so much more than his death, with which the film ends. He was a subject that Shakespeare might have found to his liking ... a brilliant man who died early, never reached his full potential and brought about his own destruction, a wit, a prankster, a lover whose greatest love was his only briefly.