The Libertine (2004)

Director:

Laurence Dunmore

Writers:

Stephen Jeffreys (screenplay)
Stephen Jeffreys (play)

Release Date:

10 March 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

He didn't resist temptation. He pursued it.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Charles II | Poet | Earl | Friend | Theater

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Johnny Depp	...	Rochester
Paul Ritter	...	Chiffinch
John Malkovich	...	Charles II
Stanley Townsend	...	Keown
Francesca Annis	...	Countess
Rosamund Pike	...	Elizabeth Malet
Tom Hollander	...	Etherege
Johnny Vegas	...	Sackville
Richard Coyle	...	Alcock
Tom Burke	...	Vaughan
Hugh Sachs	...	Ratcliffe
Rupert Friend	...	Downs
Kelly Reilly	...	Jane
Jack Davenport	...	Harris
Trudi Jackson	...	Rose

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality including dialogue, violence and language.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

UK | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:18 | Ireland:18 | USA:R | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Singapore:R21 | Portugal:M/16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Iceland:16 | Australia:MA | Netherlands:12 | Italy:VM14 | Sweden:11 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Argentina:16 | Brazil:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Spain:18 | South Korea:18 | Japan:R-15

Filming Locations:

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Weinstein Company, The

Trivia:

A scene was deleted that included a kiss between Johnny Depp and Rupert Friend.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Looks closely at the back of the person being prodded and whipped around 1:17:10 (in Dr. Bendo's room shortly after Alcock pees into a vial), you can faintly see quite a large tattoo in the small of the lady's back that hasn't completely been covered by the make-up.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Rochester: Allow me to be frank at the commencement. You will not like me. The gentlemen will be envious and the ladies will be repelled. You will not like me now and you will like me a good deal less as we go on. Ladies, an announcement: I am up for it, all the time...

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2006-01-07)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Rochester's Farewell

Powerful, repulsive, compelling, magnificent

This wasn't a glamorized period costume drama that Hollywood loves to overdo and it wasn't NC-17 for nothing! There was some technical roughness and lack of continuity but they were minor quibbles in what I considered a triumph. The mood, the sets and cinematography, the script and, most of all, the acting were all of the highest and most innovative caliber. Depp was in almost every scene and was fascinating beyond anything I'd ever experienced. His force and range of emotion and naturalness were exceptionally powerful and moving from first to last. You hated him and loved him, were repulsed by him and felt pity for him. You were drawn to him almost against your will, like a vortex pulling you in. All else paled in comparison. This was a Johnny Depp that I'd never seen before but so hope I have a chance to again. This performance is the crowning glory to date of his illustrious career and I see no limits to what he can accomplish in the future. Everyone else was uniformly excellent although Samantha Morton didn't portray the allure the Elizabeth Barry in the play had.

My primary recommendation for improving this work in progress before theatrical release center around clarifying motivations up front for why these people were the way they were. This could be done by a combination of edits and additions. I found I liked it even better and was more moved by it the second time I saw it when I wasn't concentrating as much on following the storyline.

This was a movie I loved and can't get it out of my mind. It was stunning and compelling beyond anything I've seen in a very long while.