Movie Review: The Libertine

By Maura Reilly Nov 25, 2005, 0:25 GMT

Johnny Depp portrays the 17th-century poet John Wilmot, aka the Earl of Rochester, in The Libertine. The poet was famous for his drinking and shocking immoral exploits which led to an early death at the age of 33. John Malkovich plays King Charles II, an intimate friend of Wilmot, while Samantha Morton plays an actress whom Wilmot falls in love with. Ironically, Wilmot earned posthumous critical acclaim for his life\'s work. ...more

"Ladies, an announcement:  I am up for it, all the time."  This is the opening to The Libertine.  If that doesn't keep you glued to your seat, nothing will.  Not only is he up for it, he's encouraging it and writing about it.  Who is he?  He is John Wilmot, the second Earl of Rochester, played to perfection by the ever astounding Johnny Depp.

Wilmot was a poet and thinker and favorite of Charles the Second of England.  His work was frank in it's discussions of human sexuality. He's commissioned by the King to write a play encapsulating Charles’s triumphant reign and ends up incurring his wrath.  The two Elizabeth's in his life are Samantha Morton, a young actress that catches Rochester's eye and Rosamund Pike as his wife, always waiting for him to return to her at their country estate when he has no other choice.  Wilmot's slow decline into madness and sickness makes the powerful point that excess, even in living life to its fullest and continuously seeking the truth can lead to your ultimate downfall.
 
By far this was Johnny's strongest performance I've seen so far, and that's saying something.  He's sexy as hell in this one.  The long hair blowing in the wind, those amazing cheek-bones and that voice give appeal to a genuinely un-likable character.  His portrayal is unapologetic.  It has shades of other movie libertines: Valmont (the character producer and co-star Malkovitch played in Dangerous Liaisons), Quills' Marquis de Sade and even a little of Jack Sparrow here and there.   Morton's performance is astonishing: strong, determined, and fiercely independent.  Rosamund's Elizabeth is no shrinking violet.  Oh no!  She meets Rochester head-on (no naughty pun intended) and matches him in passion and in intelligence.  Hers is another compelling performance.  Tom Hollander, Jack Davenport, Johnny Vegas, and Rupert Friend round out Wilton's debauched circle.  Is it me, or is the same small troupe of British actors seemingly in every movie this year?
 
My one criticism is the camera work.  It was shot on hand-held cameras which was distracting at times.  In fact in a pivotal scene as Rochester is addressing the House of Lords regarding a Bill to prevent the King's brother, a Catholic, from claiming the throne the camera suddenly moves back and re-focuses.  It took me completely out of the moment and broke the rhythm of the speech that was being given.  A great deal of smoke was employed to give atmosphere to the scenes but to me it mucked up the shots too much.  All the colors are muted and the light sparse to make 17th Century London feel drab, muddy, and realistic.  In the end though, it's not about how the film looks, it's about these amazing actors and the characters they present on the stage.