Sleepy Hollow
3/4
Starring: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Michael Gambon, Mark Pickering, Miranda Richardson
Rated R for Graphic Horror Violence and Gore, and for a Scene of Sexuality
Apologies to Washington Irving, but Tim Burton's movie (which butchers the story beyond recognition) is a lot of fun. The film is "based on the story" by Irving, although once the first half is over, the similarities end, and the imaginations of Andrew Kevin Walker (writer of "Seven") and Kevin Yagher take over.
I have not read Irving's tale; my previous knowledge of the Headless Horsemen is limited to the 1949 Disney short. It's a pretty simple story, one that would have trouble being extended into a film of feature length. In their adaptation, Burton and his screenwriters let their imaginations run wild. Conspiracies, witchcraft and buried secrets are at the heart of the story. Oh, and lots of lopped off heads.
Irving's famous hero, the oddly named Ichabod Crane (Depp), is a man ahead of his time. He's a geeky scientist and inventor who believes that reason and science rule everything. Because he's giving the police and the law no end of grief, the judge in New York City (Christopher Lee in a cameo) sends him to Sleepy Hollow, where three people have lots their heads...literally. Crane goes to solve the mystery and ends up fighting to keep his own head.
The acting is effective, but all the actors have been better elsewhere. Crane is pure Depp; he's geeky, odd and cowardly. It's a role that Depp was born to play (and has before). Crane is so similar to a number of roles that the actor has played that he lacks originality, and Depp is sometimes sloppy in his portrayal. That being said, we only see Ichabod and not Depp, so the actor does his job. Christina Ricci is also adequate, but there are times when she seems miscast. She also has zero chemistry with Depp (despite them being good friends in real life), although their romance is really a subplot. Michael Gambon can do no wrong and is always a welcome presence. Mark Pickering (in his debut role) is okay as Ichabod's young assistant, but he's not spectacular either.
This is Tim Burton's show through and through. It's a visually dazzling movie with so much atmosphere that it threatens to liquefy the screen. Sleepy Hollow is a grim and creepy place. Everyone is cold and dirty, and there never seems to be any daylight. The art and set design by Rick Heinrichs and Peter Young (who won an Oscar for their work) is particularly good, as is the cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki (who was nominated, but lost to Conrad L. Hall for "American Beauty").
If the story were as strong as the film's look, it would get an easy 4/4. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad. It is derivative, but it keeps things going and holds the attention. Also, some better performances would help too. But I liked it. It's good spooky fun.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Michael Gambon, Mark Pickering, Miranda Richardson
Rated R for Graphic Horror Violence and Gore, and for a Scene of Sexuality
Apologies to Washington Irving, but Tim Burton's movie (which butchers the story beyond recognition) is a lot of fun. The film is "based on the story" by Irving, although once the first half is over, the similarities end, and the imaginations of Andrew Kevin Walker (writer of "Seven") and Kevin Yagher take over.
I have not read Irving's tale; my previous knowledge of the Headless Horsemen is limited to the 1949 Disney short. It's a pretty simple story, one that would have trouble being extended into a film of feature length. In their adaptation, Burton and his screenwriters let their imaginations run wild. Conspiracies, witchcraft and buried secrets are at the heart of the story. Oh, and lots of lopped off heads.
Irving's famous hero, the oddly named Ichabod Crane (Depp), is a man ahead of his time. He's a geeky scientist and inventor who believes that reason and science rule everything. Because he's giving the police and the law no end of grief, the judge in New York City (Christopher Lee in a cameo) sends him to Sleepy Hollow, where three people have lots their heads...literally. Crane goes to solve the mystery and ends up fighting to keep his own head.
The acting is effective, but all the actors have been better elsewhere. Crane is pure Depp; he's geeky, odd and cowardly. It's a role that Depp was born to play (and has before). Crane is so similar to a number of roles that the actor has played that he lacks originality, and Depp is sometimes sloppy in his portrayal. That being said, we only see Ichabod and not Depp, so the actor does his job. Christina Ricci is also adequate, but there are times when she seems miscast. She also has zero chemistry with Depp (despite them being good friends in real life), although their romance is really a subplot. Michael Gambon can do no wrong and is always a welcome presence. Mark Pickering (in his debut role) is okay as Ichabod's young assistant, but he's not spectacular either.
This is Tim Burton's show through and through. It's a visually dazzling movie with so much atmosphere that it threatens to liquefy the screen. Sleepy Hollow is a grim and creepy place. Everyone is cold and dirty, and there never seems to be any daylight. The art and set design by Rick Heinrichs and Peter Young (who won an Oscar for their work) is particularly good, as is the cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki (who was nominated, but lost to Conrad L. Hall for "American Beauty").
If the story were as strong as the film's look, it would get an easy 4/4. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad. It is derivative, but it keeps things going and holds the attention. Also, some better performances would help too. But I liked it. It's good spooky fun.
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