by Rhian Hibner
Daily Lobo
Johnny Depp is trying too hard.
This was made sufficiently clear after viewing "The Libertine."
While the film has its moments, for the most part it was a two-hour Oscar bid that managed to avoid any success with the Academy during its film festival runs.
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Depp's character, the second Earl of Rochester, is not particularly likeable. He seems to spend most of his time irritating everyone he knows, up to and including King Charles II - brilliantly played by John Malkovich, one of the bright points in this film.
It's pretty obvious the filmmakers intended Rochester to come off as a likeable rogue.
They failed.
The only time Rochester is likeable is when he succumbs to five years of constant drinking, not to mention a nice case of syphilis. By this point, the viewer knows he is near death and that, by extension, the film is almost over.
Ironically, for a film intended as Depp's Oscar vehicle, his performance in the film is by far the worst. Samantha Morton vastly outstrips Depp. Her performance was great, with the exception of a rather awkward sex scene. Of course, it's possible the only reason her performance is enjoyable is because her character spends so much of her time verbally wounding Depp's.
In addition to Depp's dismal performance, the cinematography of the film is jarring. The film accomplishs one impressive feat, though: it features less light than a "Batman" film. If this was done for a purpose, it might be forgivable. As is, it serves only to take a depressing film and drag it down even further. It also inexplicably manages to leave the viewer with an impression that mid-17th century London was the absolute rock-bottom of the human experience.
Considering the press releases for this film compare the setting of the film to the '60s and '70s of the 20th century, this is probably not the feel director Laurence Dunmore was shooting for.
The film has a few redeeming features, if the viewer is willing to look for them. Johnny Vegas and Tom Hollander play well as companion and foil, respectively, to Depp's Rochester.
First-time director Laurence Dunmore puts together some well-executed scenes over the course of the film, showing his experience with commercials and music videos. Expect good things from Dunmore in the future. It becomes quite clear by the end of the film that the only problem is Depp. In the end, the film suffers from the miscasting of its lead.
Nonetheless, the film has a galvanizing effect on its viewers, good or bad. Go see it for the performances of the supporting cast, but don't expect much from Depp this time around.
