I guess I'm getting in my film fix before I get sick with the latest cancer battle because I went right out and caught "Libertine" this afternoon, couldn't even wait 24 hours after taking in "Night Watch." The latter had a good attendance, but "Libertine" saw only me and one other guy who sat back a few rows. Given the subject matter I was somewhat nervous to be in a darkened theatre with only one other person and a guy at that, but he didn't bother me.
I said about "Casanova" that I'd be disappointed if there wasn't any slap 'n tickle and "Casanova" was a gentle R. This was don't-spare-the-gravy R and would probably offend a goodly portion of Johnny's fan following. It was certainly a whiplash to see him as Willy Wonka a few days ago, and then see this, a 17th Century English nobleman in various stages of advancing syphillis.
The movie's about the life and adventures of one Earl of Rochester, a near-incorrigible and feckless profligate. First scene after the prologue, which features Johnny glaring out of the darkness and delivering a soliloquoy, we're INTO IT. It's a scene in the carriage with the Earl and his wife, and yes, it's softcore porn.
Later in the film, King Charles II asks him to put on a production for the benefit of the French ambassador and thespian Rochester puts together a crazy, Rococo pornographic display that morphs into a calling-out of the royal court.
Fortunately, no, it's not all sex sex sex. There's acting, and the troupe are brilliant. The main arc of the plotline sees the Earl giving acting lessons to an aspiring actress; sure, we get a bi' o' crumpet into the bargain, but it doesn't happen instantly and the scenes with the Earl coaching the actress, finding and polishing her modest talent into a gem and drawing it out, without the prospect of reward by his own admission, are brilliant. Think about this: it's a filming of an actor coaching an actress, acting the roles of an actor coaching an actress. The chemistry, quite simply, is riveting.
And despite all this, Depp brings his brand of vulnerability to the character. They thought Captain Jack Sparrow was worthy of an Oscar nomination? Yeah, that was good, but Johnny outdid himself with this role.
Obviously, with "Libertine" being a hard R rating, there probably isn't a lot of people on this board that can go see it unless they sneak out behind their parents' back and use a fake ID. And I have to admit, there were a couple aspects to Johnny's performance that I could have happily lived out my life without witnessing. But I felt my fiver was well-spent and if Mr. Depp dings your doorbell, as it were, yeah. Catch it
Even if he doesn't ding your doorbell, catch it anyway, for the acting.
