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Rating:  - A Grotesque Tour de Force
Johnny Depp delivers a mesmerizing performance as the debauched John Wilmot, the Second Earl of Rochester in 17th-century England - easily the best thing about this unfortunate, unpleasant adaptation of Stephen Jeffrey's play. Director Laurence Dunmore's irritating music-video technique doesn't help. Standout portrayals by Samantha Morton and John Malkovich prove the ideal match for Depp's inventiveness during this two-hour wallow in the mire.
Rating:  - A dark and self-serving view of self and the world
This film captures the atmosphere of 17th Century London during the Restoration of Charles II. Filmed in mist and candle light and fog, the film transports you to the 1680s. John Wilmot, the Earl of Rochester, played wonderfully by Johnny Depp, is the subject of a dark play driven by the Nihilism and atheism of the poet and playwright. Wilmot demonstrates his skills in a wild orgy satire equating the sexual appetite of Charles II with political power. We are also treated to his sarcastic and sadistic iconoclastic personality that provides the entertainment in this bleak world-view of a highly self-destructive and talented man. With his exceptional intelligence, wit, and verbal skills, Wilmot can cut through any joy or inspiration to find the base and futile.
John Wilmot, as a young man, abducts a beautiful and rich 18 year old heiress as his wife. He is pardoned and their life together becomes one of extreme frustration for his wife. Nothing she can do will impact his actions and nothing she can say will penetrate his thoughts. This part of the film is very good and his elegant and caring wife is in many ways the moral compass or anchor for the film by which we can see the pain Wilmot brings to him and to others. His Nihilism is insightfully self centered and egotistical, which may be a subtle commentary on those who adopt this philosophy of existence and social order (or lack thereof). To some degree Wilmot acts as a spoiled child trying to find the limits of his own behavior. He writes an outlandish and obscene play for the court of Charles II and whereas Charles II could have inflicted great punishment on Wilmot, he doesn't and notes that he is condemning Wilmot to be Wilmot.
Wilmot has around him artists of a wild streak who are his fair weather and back-stabbing literary companions. Into this group comes a handsome young 18 year old man who is drawn to this dark group and especially to John Wilmot. Gradually during the film you see that Wilmot is bi-sexual and this young man becomes a boy-toy who pays a tragic price for being a handsome moth circling a heartless flame.
However it is Wilmot's relationship to a young ambitious actress that provides wonderful dialogue around the theme of artifice and reality as Wilmot becomes her acting coach. Samantha Morton plays actress Lizzy Barry, who becomes a great actress through her emotional encounters with John Wilmot. It is Wilmot's gift to cut to the quick whenever he sees vulnerability or false illusions, a skill that an acting coach could put to great use. He cuts through Lizzy's self protective veneer which she uses when acting to spear her pain and vulnerability. It is to her credit that she allows the veil to fall and for her vulnerability to emerge, and yet to have the strength of the artist to use this insight to apply to her art. As he gradually disintegrates and self destructs, she emerges triumphant through her self-control and burning ambition to succeed. He has chosen to mock success and she has chosen to embrace it. He sees worldly success as a joke at best and an illusion. She sees his cynicism as fruitless and self-defeating.
The film is full of beautifully designed scenes such as the Earl and Countess having a portrait painted in her palatial home and the mad-house atmosphere of the London theater crowd.
Wilmot's wild life catches up with him as the symptoms of syphilis begin to destroy his features and his nose begins to rot off. He loses control of his legs and must walk on crutches. In this sorry state he enters the house of Parliament and argues for the right for Charles II to name his brother, James, as the future king. Yet history tells us that James II was a disastrous king, forced to abdicate to his son-in-law and daughter, William and Mary. Maybe this support for the king in the eleventh hour was a last effort to instill chaos and create a legacy of confusion, something that Wilmot would have greatly enjoyed.
Rating:  - Brilliant Performances
Laurence Dunmore's The Libertine features award worthy performances by all three of its principal players. Johnny Depp gives an incredible performance as Rochester as do Samantha Morton as Elizabeth Barry and John Malkovich as Charles II.
The story of the John Wilmot,Second Earl of Rochester ,is not the story of a likable character. Wilmot was a man of great talent who persisted in throwing it all away. His drunken binges are perhaps more well known than the body of literary work he produced before dying at the age of thirty-three. The film takes multiple viewings to follow its plot structure for those not familiar with the historical characters. Based on Stephen Jeffrey's play the film comes off as more theatrical than realistic.
There is much to like about the film but also much to dislike. The production design by Ben Van Os and costume design by Dien Van Straalen evoke the Restoration period quite well. The cinematography by Alexander Melman is unique in that it is mostly handheld and is lit with natural and candlelight rather than more modern source lighting.
The story is more suited to those who know something of the period and its characters. Wilmot was not a very likable character but was one that was fascinating all the same. This is one that you may have missed and is well worth a rental.
Rating: - All Style. No Substance.
Because I love Johnny so much I'm going to forgive him for this one. For all of it's fantastic costumes, seedy lighting and controversial subject matter this film was suprisingly bland and painfully slow. I would say it's about 40 minutes too long. I give two stars. One for Johnny and one for Malkovich. Both are fantastic actors and I think they did the best they could with this. It's a shame it's so poorly written because there's so much potential. Great actors and a fascinating subject matter. There's absolutely no chemistry between any of the characters and it's a completely forgettable film. About as interesting as listening to Uncle Ed relive tales of his wild college days.
Rating:  - My wife's favorite movie
I got the movie for my wife. It is one of favorite movies. It definitely is a must see movie.
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