The Libertine

I am currently working on a movie review section for my blog...people that know me, well, it just makes sense right? It won't be up until I understand programming some more so bear with me.

The Libertine: The film follows the second Earl of Rochester's adventures in London, from his passionate romance with a young actress, Elizabeth Barry, to the writing of a scurrilous play which blisteringly and bawdily lampoons the very monarch who commissioned it, Charles II, leading to the Earl's banishment and eventual downfall. (this summary was taken from Omaha.com's movie section)

Starring: Johnny Depp - if you don't know who this is you have never seen nor heard about movies/films in your entire life - the second Earl of Rochester John Malet

John Malkovich - starred many films including "Being John Malkovich," "Con Air," "Shadow of the Vampire," and - King Charles II

Samantha Morton - starred in "Minority Report" as Agatha, the psychic girl, and "In America" as Sarah, the wife - Elizabeth Barry

Rosamund Pike - starred in "Pride & Prejudice" as Jane Bennet, "Die Another Day" as Miranda Frost, and "Doom" as Samantha Grimm - Elizabeth Malet (Johnny's wife)

An unbelievable film. The film captures the rawness of the era. The wardrobe and make-up are absolutely superb. As is the lighting and the constant dingy/smoggy weather condition is in full effect throughout the entirety of the film (except at the end). The Earl is a mean man who proclaims himself to be "the cynic of our era." He thinks very little of others, not because he believes himself to be above them but because of his distain for life and quite possibly also for his envy of them in being so naive. He hired to commission a play for the King about his rein. He accepts. The play itself is rather offensive to the king and his monarchy, is chased out of the kingdom where he goes into hiding. This is the main plot of the story. The second plot is about his heart. A line from the film makes a fabulous remark about it (also foreshadowing). "A man has 3 loves in his life. The cock love (the love of lust); the love that he marries; and the love on his deathbed (the love that brings his ultimate demise). While watching the film I have come to surmise that these loves can be found in the embodiment of a woman and/or are symbolic of addictions/passions/desires. In addition, the film is so lacking of sound that the theater is serenely silently throughout. And finally, there is a scene that never have I identified with more than this one. The scene where John has come to teach Elizabeth on how to become a better actress, a beautiful scene where they discuss a speech from a play but at the same time there discussions feel like lines in a play themselves (a little weird but very cool); towards the end of the scene John give a speech about why he just merely here to teach her how to be a better actress and is love for the theater instead of he sole purpose of trying to get into her knickers (which his reputation adheres to the latter rather than the former). Again never have I felt like I was giving a speech through the performer, which held so true for me, than here.

I give it a 1 out 5 raptors

Let me explain the raptor rating. Since raptors were very devastating creatures the more raptors, the worst the rating. The less the raptors the better chance of survival.

I did not give it a perfect score because after the scene that I was so moved by, another scene followed. A scene that I didn't understand and was hard to follow what it meant. The scene is John walking in a park with extremely dense fog all around him. In addition to the density of the fog, there is also a dense amount of people having sex everywhere; on horse back, on benches, up against tress, in trees, and at the end of his walk he comes upon a massive orgy. All the while he is giving a long internal monologue.

Over all a great film on a terrible man.