The former Python animator has made such superb, personal fantasy films as Brazil and 12 Monkeys and begins his new one brilliantly.

A Victorian travelling sideshow trundles through the streets of London. It halts, its antiquated show begins, and it transpires that we're not in the past, but the present, with the stage just feet away from a noisy nightclub.

Drunk revellers tumble into the night and the imaginarium's audience grows from none to one, as an inebriated Geordie climbs onto the stage, punches out two of the players and stumbles through Parnassus' mirror into a dream world.

It's a bravura opening sequence, but once the movie introduces its premise - that Parnassus (the excellent Christopher Plummer) must recruit souls to save the 16-year-old daughter (Lily Cole) he has promised to the Devil - it spirals out of control.

Mugging

In his final part, Ledger plays a mystery man found hanging from a bridge who may hold the key to Parnassus' quest. He's quite good, but his character makes little sense, while the actor's untimely demise sees his role beyond the mirror filled by Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell, all mugging in the absence of strong material.

Happily, Tom Waits offers some solace as the Devil, his presence, theatricality and sly humour providing ample comic relief and even a touch of pathos.

Ultimately the film entertains for two hours without amounting to very much, as Gilliam laces his movie with unexpected, hamfisted sentimentality, while relying on a central actress whose self-conscious, flat performance isn't up to the challenge.

The visuals, including some inspired sight gags, are typically ambitious, but the sprawling narrative suggests no-one has tried to rein in the director's excesses.

Ironically a film that represents Gilliam at his purest doesn't show him at his best.

(3/5)

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