The real life story: young actor slipping away in the middle of the shoot, kind of overshadows the film.
Or maybe not overshadows, but actually affirms what the film is all about. The human imagination, the compulsion to tell stories is eternal, or at least as eternal as the human being, which may not be so eternal at all.
I mean, as long as there are people there will be stories. The human imagination sort of transcends time. Even as people come and go. No person is essential. Or again, there's a weird paradox. Each person is unique and beautiful in their own way, never to be duplicated. But at the same time, each person can in a sense be replaced.
So we see Heath Ledger so vital, so alive, so good. And then about two thirds into the film he disappears and then Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell take his place. It works. But even as it works, a deep sense of loss hangs over the whole thing.
By the way, Tom Waits plays the Devil. What a perfect role, perfect performance. It's worth seeing the movie just for Mr. Waits! Tom Waits for no man!
Another one of Gilliam's dreams. Which is also kind of a nightmare. And Pythonesque too.
