Johnny Depp plays a drunk, skirt-chasing, yet brilliant and charismatic, 17th-century poet and the second Earl of Rochester John Wilmot, in the film The Libertine. Depp is clearly aiming for great recognition (aka Oscar) with this character, and he just might have hit the bull's eye.
The Libertine, Laurence Dunmore's film adaptation of the 1994 play by Stephen Jeffreys, lures us in with a teasing opening monologue with Depp in shadows, sneering at the camera, "Ladies, an announcement: I'm up for it. All the time." Too bad this is where the film becomes a little shaky. Not because the movie executives inaccurately lead (then disappoint) you into thinking that it's going to be two full hours of Depp going on a sex crazed rampage -- well, maybe that is there-- but more because who Rochester is, his character, is completely left out.
We know Rochester as a Casanova type, deeply addicted to sex as well as alcohol and theater. King Charles II, played by John Malkovich, banishes him sometimes because of Rochester's ridicule, but then invites him back, partly because he owes Rochester's father who helped young Charles in his days of exile and partly because he hopes that Rochester will be his personal Shakespeare.
But there is a feeling of disconnect from our anti-hero. The film, probably hoping to allow the audience to empathize with Rochester, leaves the details of the real character out. It becomes a formulated series of events in Rochester's life, and does not bother to delve into the person himself.
Malkovich, on the other hand, portrays Charles flawlessly. The king's patience and self-deprecating humor in inviting Rochester back again and again is admirable and hilarious. Another note-worthy performance is given by Samantha Morton who plays Elizabeth Barry. The struggling actress and prostitute is turned leading lady of the London theater with Rochester's stage training. The two become lovers, and the scene in which Rochester first coaches Barry on the stage is captivating, if you can pay attention.
The entire film, in fact, demands you to be alert and to think. It refuses to be dismissed as just another mindless flick, and pays off for those who give it the attention it deserves.
Adding to its dour cinematographic depiction of the grime of London, The Libertine is not so much about the rise and fall of the earl. It's about his fall -- a great, big one at that. He eventually dies of syphilis and alcohol abuse at the age of 33, and the film doesn't hesitate to bring out the stark, disturbing images of its effects on Rochester. And despite the bleakness of the scenes, this is where Depp's performance shines. He shines, despite the warts on his face, one blind eye and limping body.
It's not a date movie, but for those who enjoy that occasional disturbing tragedy, this one delivers. It's refreshing to see Depp out of those man-boy roles, anyway.
Rochester warns us, though, "You will not like me. You will not like me now, and you will like me a good deal less as we go on," in his opening monologue. But of course you'll like him. You wouldn't want to fall into two categories: "the stupid, and the envious."
