If there are two things that are undisputed concerning director Terry Gilliam, it is he has a bizzare imagination and that when he clashes with whatever studio or producer he works with at the time, the final result of the picture is only half what it could have been. That rings true with his latest picture “The Brothers Grimm”, which is a film I really tried to enjoy, but ultimately, I felt let down. Gilliam can blame the Weinstiens all he wants, but what remains on screen is Gilliam fighting Gilliam.

The story opens up establishing Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm (Matt Damon, Heath Ledger) as a pair of misfit con men who go through various German villiages in 1796, recieving money to rid the towns of witches, demons and trolls. In reality, the monsters do not exist. With the help of two bumbling street magicians, they stage fights, witnessed by one of the townsfolk who tag along, and will ‘live’ to tell the tale of such bravery. We find out that one of the brothers, Jacob, can’t hold his liquor but can hold memories of various myths and tall tales, some of which he believes. I thought in starting things out this way was interesting, even if the liberties taken with the authors Grimm were a bit much. My main problem here wasn’t that but that the effects were CGI.

What’s wrong with that? Well, the problem with a CGI ghost roaring around in a barn is fine, but only if it serves the story, Since it is established moments after the curtians have been pulled back to reveal a Scooby Doo-like hoax in the story, and the time is 1796 before modern day invention, why is it all CG until the lights come on? Well, the French aren’t fooled, as the Brothers are taken into custody by “Napoleon’s second in command” Delatombe (Jonathan Pryce) and his henchman, Cavaldi (Peter Stromare). In order to spare thier lives, they agree to expose another group of frauds in the neighboring village of Marbaden, but this other group is not above kidnapping Little Red Riding Hood and one half of Hansel and Gretel, among other children. What the Grimms don’t know, but soon find out, is that the threat is real, and one of the strengths of this film comes out to the front, as we find out what’s really going on. Sadly, it is also one of the film’s weaknesses.

The way I understand it (or think I understand it) is that the witch (a “former Queen of the forest” played by Monica Bellucci) wants to be freed from a tower and chase away the French legions out of her land, restoring order. So the evil trees attack the French garrison that follows the Brothers Grimm and Grimm love intrest-huntress- frog licking Angelika (Lena Heady) in the forest. But the mean trees pretty much leave the Grimm brothers alone to fight another day. The Brothers Grimm cowboy up to confront the witch, whose plan is more sinister than first implied, as a werewolf hunts Angelika, and more children are taken, one by a Tar Baby type who turns uncredibly into the CGI Gingerbread Man. The latter is a real highlight, though, as it blinds and ‘erases’ the face of the child it comes after. But odd sights such as this never comes up again. Give me more of that, Mr. Gilliam, and less of the nasty trees, which is less original.

The biggest problem area of the film wasn’t the twisted inspirations of the fairly tales and folklore that the Grimm brothers document and explore, or the light lack therof; rather it is the characters of Delatombe and Cavaldi that keep this film down. There’s this really strange setup where Delatombe has dinner guests in a big extravagant hall. Gilliam and director of photography Newton Thomas Sigel pull back to reveal that we are in just a small room, with mirrors used to make it look like there are more guests and more candles and chandeliers. It’s an interesting shot, but what is it doing here? I suppose it could be said that these characters are really into themselves, but other than that and a possible (and uneeded) forshadowing of the use of mirrors, it doesn’t make any sense. But what bothered me about these characters is that they are protrayed less like French soldiers and generals, but more like they were stuck up fops, or, a better description would be have all these actors playing the French watch “Rob Roy” and the memo comes down to use your best Tim Roth/Cunningham impression.

Yes, I know it’s more than obvious Gilliam was invoking his Monty Python days- but this isn’t MP and The Holy Grail. The film would have been great if that was the tone from start to finish, the things and sights Gilliam would have gotten away with. No fights with the studio, no thumbing the nose at the Wienstiens and the Miramax-Dimension remains. Or just make the film without all the wierdo torture devices and omitting the sadist pleasures and just make a dark fantasy fim.

That would have worked too.
 

The Brothers Grimm
Directed by: Terry Gilliam
Starring: Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Monica Bellucci, Jonathan Pryce, Lena Heady