MANEH

A good Johnny Depp movie... it’s not like he could have made a bad movie… but I may be mistaken, as I am a fan since I was small

Actually since watching the movie Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Anyway… let us get to the point The movie I am going to talk about is “The Libertine“.

The movie was made in 2004 and it is a history – drama kind of movie.

It presents the story of John Wilmot, a.k.a. the Earl of Rochester, a 17th century poet who famously drank and debauched his way to an early grave, only to earn posthumous critical acclaim for his life’s work.

As you might have suspected, the role – that fits like a glove – of the Earl of Rochester was “gifted” to Mr. Depp. A role  that he portraits most beautifully. The drunkenness that he portraits is one of the best and the act of wooing and seducing Samantha Morton (who portraits Elizabeth Barry, he’s latest and ultimate crush) is simply marvelous to watch.

Another wonderful actor joins the scene occasionally: John Malkovich YES! I admit it! I am his fan also He plays Charles the 2nd, and the Earl is his protegee Although he appears not very often in this movie, he is hard to miss

Kelly Reilly – an actress that we do not hear as often as we should, as she does have great potential in her – also played in this movie. She is the Earls favorite prostitute (I know… weird notion…) – Jane. Jane seems very much in love with the Earl and the Earl seems to have a great deal of sympathy towards her. She is not a stupid, silly little woman. She is very down to earth and there is a great deal to be learned from her (not from her trade!!!). At a certain point, in the movie, Jane states that men have 3 types of love during their lifetime: the one when you are young and it is just a fling of passion, the one that you marry and the one that you long for with all your heart…

Rosamund Pike – the lovely lady that is shown in the next picture along with Johnny Depp – portraits the benevolent, lovely and caring wife of the Earl. She is ever loving and ever caring for the Earl, until his last breath…

Anyway… the movie is very good, with a circular image: starting with the narration of the Earl, trying to convince us of his evilness and the way that we will not like him after the story will be over and finishing again with the Earl, asking us what we make of him now… and now?… and NOW?… (fading into darkness)

At the start I started with the idea that I shall not like him. I shall not like him at all. And the truth is that I should not! Not at all! But his frailty and vulnerability in certain aspects – the same frailty and vulnerability that us, as humans, we all possess – makes him very much likable.

I do abhor drunkenness and brothels and I very much dislike certain aspects of this movie, but overall Depp is a great actor and the Earl is… after all… human! And I would say that he is much more human than Elizabeth, who is his last and most true love.

Anyway… do take care with whom you watch it, as it is rated as: R for strong sexuality including dialogue, violence and language. This movie indeed is not for the faint-hearted. Nor for those who are offended easily.

I wish you would all see it and see how mid 17th century England looked like… with all its riches and glories, with all its passion and – excuse my language here – uplifting of skirts, with all the arts dashing through – the theater is much portrait here, as Elizabeth plays there… – and with all the monstrosities that the syphilis brings… as… you shall know… the Earl died of this disease.

Anyway… that’s for it now

Hope you will have the courage to watch this movie and admire it, as you should.

Yours truly,

The LadyBug In Love With Period Movies And Good Old England!