THE BROTHERS GRIMM (2005) ** The thing that made the Grimm brothers stories so enduring-just in case you didn't already know-is great story telling. Here the idea seems to be to stuff as many elements as possible into one story, thereby making it even better than all of the other ones combined. Despite all that, it's very slow at times, several times, at least one painfully extended time. Oh well. Terry Gilliam dishes out his typical grit and grime, and it all looks quite in place here. It's a film that looks like it should, and a lot of people are going to get more excited about that than I am. There are also some wonderful visual jokes, nice effects, cool motion shots. It works better, for me, as a piece of technical wizardry than a movie. Some blame or credit belongs with the cast. Matt Damon gets the more heroic brother, and throws off a few good lines, which is the very least you'd expect from him. Heath Ledger gets the blander guy, but puffs some life into him. On several occasions Lena Headey appears on the verge of establisher her character as at least the best one, only to be thrust out of the script, or aside, or tied up or walked like a dog. Similarly, Monica Bellucci obviously has a lot more to offer as the mirror queen than she gets to strut. I can't say that I think the Grimm brothers would be impressed, but it's easy to see how film students would be.
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