The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{work}}
{{quote box|[[File:DoctorParnassusPoster_6801.jpg|frame]]}}
[[File:DoctorParnassusPoster_6801.jpg|thumb|350px]]
{{quote|"Can you put a price on your dreams?"|'''Tony'''}}
{{quote|"Can you put a price on your dreams?"|'''Tony'''}}


''The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus'' is a 2009 film directed and co-written by [[Terry Gilliam (Creator)|Terry Gilliam]], starring [[Heath Ledger]] in his final film role ([[Bob Dylan|for real]] [[The Dark Knight|this time]]), along with Christopher Plummer as the eponymous Doctor.
''[[The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus]]'' is a 2009 film directed and co-written by [[Terry Gilliam]], starring [[Heath Ledger]] in his final film role ([[Bob Dylan|for real]] [[The Dark Knight|this time]]), along with Christopher Plummer as the eponymous Doctor.


Thousands of years ago, Doctor Parnassus made a [[Deal With the Devil|wager with ]][[Satan|the Devil]] ([[Tom Waits]]) to see if he could save more souls through the Power of Imagination than the Devil could take through fear and corruption. In modern times, a now immortal Parnassus is owner of a traveling theater troupe, the Imaginarium. Its prized possession is a magic mirror that transports customers into a fantasy land shaped by the Doctor's imagination. Parnassus is proud and the Devil is persuasive, and the stakes keep getting higher until Parnussus bets the soul of his own daughter to be claimed on her 16th birthday. When the Devil comes to collect, the only hope to save Valentina lies in a mysterious rogue named Tony.
Thousands of years ago, Doctor Parnassus made a [[Deal with the Devil|wager with ]][[Satan|the Devil]] ([[Tom Waits]]) to see if he could save more souls through the Power of Imagination than the Devil could take through fear and corruption. In modern times, a now immortal Parnassus is owner of a traveling theater troupe, the Imaginarium. Its prized possession is a magic mirror that transports customers into a fantasy land shaped by the Doctor's imagination. Parnassus is proud and the Devil is persuasive, and the stakes keep getting higher until Parnussus bets the soul of his own daughter to be claimed on her 16th birthday. When the Devil comes to collect, the only hope to save Valentina lies in a mysterious rogue named Tony.


Also stars (deep breath) [[Lily Cole]], [[Andrew Garfield]], Verne Troyer, [[Johnny Depp]], Jude Law and Colin Farrell.
Also stars (deep breath) [[Lily Cole]], [[Andrew Garfield]], Verne Troyer, [[Johnny Depp]], Jude Law and Colin Farrell.


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{{tropelist}}
=== This film features examples of: ===

* [[Affably Evil]]: The Devil has never been this likable; {{spoiler|there's also Tony}}.
* [[Affably Evil]]: The Devil has never been this likable; {{spoiler|there's also Tony}}.
** It helps that he's played by [[Tom Waits]] and gets his own jazzy music whenever he's onscreen.
** It helps that he's played by [[Tom Waits]] and gets his own jazzy music whenever he's onscreen.
** Hell, he tries to keep {{spoiler|Valentina from willingly choosing Hell to spite her father}}, saying "[Dr. Parnassus] would never forgive me".
** Hell, he tries to keep {{spoiler|Valentina from willingly choosing Hell to spite her father}}, saying "[Dr. Parnassus] would never forgive me".
* [[The Alcoholic]]: Dr. Parnassus is perpetually blotto.
* [[The Alcoholic]]: Dr. Parnassus is perpetually blotto.
* [[All Star Cast]]: One of the most notable recent examples
* [[All-Star Cast]]: One of the most notable recent examples
* [[All Women Are Prudes]]: Averted, in that Valentina is the one who brings the subject up.
* [[All Women Are Prudes]]: Averted, in that Valentina is the one who brings the subject up.
* [[Asshole Victim]]: That drunk idiot from the first 10 minutes.
* [[Asshole Victim]]: That drunk idiot from the first 10 minutes.
* [[Author Avatar]]: [[Terry Gilliam (Creator)|Terry Gilliam]] reportedly based parts of the plot on his life, with Parnassus as his alter ego.
* [[Author Avatar]]: [[Terry Gilliam]] reportedly based parts of the plot on his life, with Parnassus as his alter ego.
* [[Award Bait Song]]: "We Are The Children Of The World" complete with [[Lyrical Dissonance]]
* [[Award Bait Song]]: "We Are The Children Of The World" complete with [[Lyrical Dissonance]]
* [[Bad Samaritan]]: {{spoiler|Tony.}}
* [[Bad Samaritan]]: {{spoiler|Tony.}}
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* [[The Cameo]]: [[Peter Stormare]] is the President! Look carefully.
* [[The Cameo]]: [[Peter Stormare]] is the President! Look carefully.
* [[Creative Closing Credits]]: The camera pushes into the paper puppet "set" at the end of the film.
* [[Creative Closing Credits]]: The camera pushes into the paper puppet "set" at the end of the film.
* [[Dark Messiah]]: Doctor Parnassus, a bitter alcoholic who puts unsuspecting people through a [[Journey to The Center of The Mind]], which will end in either their enlightenment or their destruction.
* [[Dark Messiah]]: Doctor Parnassus, a bitter alcoholic who puts unsuspecting people through a [[Journey to the Center of the Mind]], which will end in either their enlightenment or their destruction.
* [[Dawson Casting]]: [[Lily Cole]] was in her twenties during filming, but her character is 15 for most of it. She even spends some time masquerading as a 12 year old, which she says is obviously not true. It's inverted when Cole plays Valentina's mother as well as Valentina when she's older and has a child.
* [[Dawson Casting]]: [[Lily Cole]] was in her twenties during filming, but her character is 15 for most of it. She even spends some time masquerading as a 12 year old, which she says is obviously not true. It's inverted when Cole plays Valentina's mother as well as Valentina when she's older and has a child.
* [[Dead Artists Are Better]]: Explored a bit more thoroughly than they had originally intended.
* [[Dead Artists Are Better]]: Explored a bit more thoroughly than they had originally intended.
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Percy.
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Percy.
* [[Deal With the Devil]]:
* [[Deal with the Devil]]:
** Parnassus makes bets with Mr. Nick, but the Devil enjoys the game more than the reward.
** Parnassus makes bets with Mr. Nick, but the Devil enjoys the game more than the reward.
** {{spoiler|Tony accepted a loan from Russian mobsters, which ruined his reputation.}}
** {{spoiler|Tony accepted a loan from Russian mobsters, which ruined his reputation.}}
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* [[The Gambling Addict]]: Certainly Doctor Parnassus; depending on your interpretation, also Mr. Nick.
* [[The Gambling Addict]]: Certainly Doctor Parnassus; depending on your interpretation, also Mr. Nick.
* [[Godiva Hair]]: Valentina, in one scene.
* [[Godiva Hair]]: Valentina, in one scene.
* [[Good Smoking Evil Smoking]]: Mr. Nick has a standard issue evil cigarette holder.
* [[Good Smoking, Evil Smoking]]: Mr. Nick has a standard issue evil cigarette holder.
* [[Green Eyed Monster]]: Anton, from the moment Tony wakes up, starts treating him like a leper because of how much more talented he is with the crowd and Valentina's attraction to him. And that was all {{spoiler|before he actually got proof of Tony's [[Complete Monster]] status}}. He is so jealous he [[Not What It Looks Like|acts like a rapist]] to get a client Tony had already convinced and nearly destroys the show and get them arrested for it, then uses [[The Reveal]] of {{spoiler|Tony getting a loan from the Russians}} immediately as "ultimate proof" of how Tony "tainted" the show, even though Tony had no obligation helping them. Heck, he even tries stealing Tony's cell phone when it started ringing, for no good reason!
* [[Green-Eyed Monster]]: Anton, from the moment Tony wakes up, starts treating him like a leper because of how much more talented he is with the crowd and Valentina's attraction to him. And that was all {{spoiler|before he actually got proof of Tony's [[Complete Monster]] status}}. He is so jealous he [[Not What It Looks Like|acts like a rapist]] to get a client Tony had already convinced and nearly destroys the show and get them arrested for it, then uses [[The Reveal]] of {{spoiler|Tony getting a loan from the Russians}} immediately as "ultimate proof" of how Tony "tainted" the show, even though Tony had no obligation helping them. Heck, he even tries stealing Tony's cell phone when it started ringing, for no good reason!
* [[Hopeless Suitor]]: Anton, though not ''so'' hopeless.
* [[Hopeless Suitor]]: Anton, though not ''so'' hopeless.
* [[Heroes Want Redheads]]: Colin Farrell and [[Lily Cole]]
* [[Heroes Want Redheads]]: Colin Farrell and [[Lily Cole]]
* [[Identical Grandson]]: [[Lily Cole]] plays both Valentina and Valentina's mother.
* [[Identical Grandson]]: [[Lily Cole]] plays both Valentina and Valentina's mother.
* [[Infant Immortality]]: Played with in the deleted sequence where the boy who wandered into the mirror has to make a choice of either going into Mr. Nick's shooting gallery or the mountain of pianos which shows millions of children being instructed to play.
* [[Infant Immortality]]: Played with in the deleted sequence where the boy who wandered into the mirror has to make a choice of either going into Mr. Nick's shooting gallery or the mountain of pianos which shows millions of children being instructed to play.
* [[Jerk With a Heart of Gold]] {{spoiler|The Devil, but not Tony.}}
* [[Jerk with a Heart of Gold]] {{spoiler|The Devil, but not Tony.}}
* [[Journey to The Center of The Mind]]
* [[Journey to the Center of the Mind]]
* [[Killed Off for Real]]: {{spoiler|Tony, killed off by some [[Mind Screw|very real figments of his imagination]].}}
* [[Killed Off for Real]]: {{spoiler|Tony, killed off by some [[Mind Screw|very real figments of his imagination]].}}
* [[Limited Wardrobe]]: Mr. Nick always wears the same three-piece suit, overcoat, and bowler hat, even in a flashback taking place a thousand or more years in the past.
* [[Limited Wardrobe]]: Mr. Nick always wears the same three-piece suit, overcoat, and bowler hat, even in a flashback taking place a thousand or more years in the past.
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** (See [[Running Gag]] and [[Throw It In]].)
** (See [[Running Gag]] and [[Throw It In]].)
* [[Mind Screw]]: If you don't read the summary, this movie will pass right over your head.
* [[Mind Screw]]: If you don't read the summary, this movie will pass right over your head.
* [[Ms. Fanservice]]: Valentina. She plays the [[Roma|Rom Girl]], the [[Stage Magician|Magician]]'s Assistant, the [[Mad Scientists Beautiful Daughter|Wizard's Daughter]] who wants to [[Rebellious Princess|run away]]... any of these workin' for ya?
* [[Ms. Fanservice]]: Valentina. She plays the [[Roma|Rom Girl]], the [[Stage Magician|Magician]]'s Assistant, the [[Mad Scientist's Beautiful Daughter|Wizard's Daughter]] who wants to [[Rebellious Princess|run away]]... any of these workin' for ya?
* [[Names the Same|Name's Kind-Of The Same]]: Anthony and Anton
* [[Name's the Same|Name's Kind-Of The Same]]: Anthony and Anton
* [[The Nth Doctor]]: After Heath Ledger's death, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law were hired to replace him with the explanation that Tony can change shape when traveling beyond the mirror.
* [[The Nth Doctor]]: After Heath Ledger's death, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law were hired to replace him with the explanation that Tony can change shape when traveling beyond the mirror.
* [[Oh Crap]]: {{spoiler|Tony, just before he's hanged, when he realizes that Dr. Parnassus has his real flute (which he used as a breathing apparatus to save himself).}}
* [[Oh Crap]]: {{spoiler|Tony, just before he's hanged, when he realizes that Dr. Parnassus has his real flute (which he used as a breathing apparatus to save himself).}}
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* [[Rule of Three]]: According to Doctor Parnassus, there are three cardinal rules. The first is, {{spoiler|"There is no such thing as [[Black Magic]], only cheap tricks."}} [[Subverted Trope|He can't remember what the other two are, though.]]
* [[Rule of Three]]: According to Doctor Parnassus, there are three cardinal rules. The first is, {{spoiler|"There is no such thing as [[Black Magic]], only cheap tricks."}} [[Subverted Trope|He can't remember what the other two are, though.]]
* [[Running Gag]]:
* [[Running Gag]]:
{{quote| '''Dr. Parnassus''': What would I do without you Percy?<br />
{{quote|'''Dr. Parnassus''': What would I do without you Percy?
'''Percy''': Get a midget. }}
'''Percy''': Get a midget. }}
* [[Scenery Gorn]]: When Mr. Nick manipulates the Imaginarium, the landscape is always barren, foreboding and, at times, downright disturbing.
* [[Scenery Gorn]]: When Mr. Nick manipulates the Imaginarium, the landscape is always barren, foreboding and, at times, downright disturbing.
* [[Scenery Porn]]: [[The Movie]].
* [[Scenery Porn]]: [[The Movie]].
* [[The Sixth Ranger]]: Tony, though there are only four members in the first place.
* [[The Sixth Ranger]]: Tony, though there are only four members in the first place.
* [[Shout Out]]: There are a lot of references to Egyptian culture within the film, most likely reflecting upon the theme of death throughout the movie. Also, in the mall, Valentina is [http://www.sbac.edu/~palmergw/botticelli.venus.jpg sitting on a clam shell, naked, with a long wig to cover herself.]
* [[Shout-Out]]: There are a lot of references to Egyptian culture within the film, most likely reflecting upon the theme of death throughout the movie. Also, in the mall, Valentina is [https://web.archive.org/web/20060813170009/http://www.sbac.edu/~palmergw/botticelli.venus.jpg sitting on a clam shell, naked, with a long wig to cover herself.]
** It may also be one to ''The Adventures of Baron von Munchausen'' which has Uma Thurman in a similar scene.
** It may also be one to ''The Adventures of Baron von Munchausen'' which has Uma Thurman in a similar scene.
** Of the Three Tonies, [[Johnny Depp]] gets [[Pirates of the Caribbean|to pontificate a lot, seem very suave doing it, and sweep women off their feet]], Jude Law gets to [[Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow|get chased around by bad guys in a make-believe world]], and Colin Farrell {{spoiler|gets to sleep with [[Lily Cole]]}}.
** Of the Three Tonies, [[Johnny Depp]] gets [[Pirates of the Caribbean|to pontificate a lot, seem very suave doing it, and sweep women off their feet]], Jude Law gets to [[Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow|get chased around by bad guys in a make-believe world]], and Colin Farrell {{spoiler|gets to sleep with [[Lily Cole]]}}.
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* [[Take That]]:
* [[Take That]]:
** Essentially the purpose of the little boy entering the Imaginarium. Gilliam is annoyed by how most games are about destroying things in some fashion, and the player isn't really creating anything.
** Essentially the purpose of the little boy entering the Imaginarium. Gilliam is annoyed by how most games are about destroying things in some fashion, and the player isn't really creating anything.
** Tony's self-deluding lies are based on Gilliam's perception of [[Tony Blair]]. Early in the film, he's also called [[George W Bush|George]].
** Tony's self-deluding lies are based on Gilliam's perception of [[Tony Blair]]. Early in the film, he's also called [[George W. Bush|George]].
* [[Tarot Motifs]]: Doctor Parnassus foretells Tony's appearance by drawing "The Hanged Man" from his tarot deck.
* [[Tarot Motifs]]: Doctor Parnassus foretells Tony's appearance by drawing "The Hanged Man" from his tarot deck.
* [[Developing Doomed Characters|Ten Minutes With Jerks]]: [[Asshole Victim|And]] [[What an Idiot|what]] [[Scenery Porn|lovely]] [[Too Dumb to Live|minutes]] [[Karmic Death|they]] [[Tropes Are Not Bad|were]].
* [[Developing Doomed Characters|Ten Minutes With Jerks]]: [[Asshole Victim|And]] [[What an Idiot!|what]] [[Scenery Porn|lovely]] [[Too Dumb to Live|minutes]] [[Karmic Death|they]] [[Tropes Are Not Bad|were]].
* [[Theory of Narrative Causality]]: Dr. Parnassus follows a religious doctrine that more or less references this. Perhaps as a [[Shout Out]], the monastery where he was taught this doctrine looks like someone crossed a Buddhist temple with the [[Discworld]].
* [[Theory of Narrative Causality]]: Dr. Parnassus follows a religious doctrine that more or less references this. Perhaps as a [[Shout-Out]], the monastery where he was taught this doctrine looks like someone crossed a Buddhist temple with the [[Discworld]].
** In the DVD commentary, Gilliam says it was Judaism-meets-Buddhism.
** In the DVD commentary, Gilliam says it was Judaism-meets-Buddhism.
* [[Trailers Always Lie]]: At least on my cable info (Verizon FiOs if you're interested): All the plot descriptions on it sound as if Tony is [[The Atoner]] who finds redemption after going on a [[Journey to The Center of The Mind]], which isn't quite true.
* [[Trailers Always Lie]]: At least on my cable info (Verizon FiOs if you're interested): All the plot descriptions on it sound as if Tony is [[The Atoner]] who finds redemption after going on a [[Journey to the Center of the Mind]], which isn't quite true.
* [[Throw It In]]: According to director Gilliam, Heath Ledger frequently went off-script, which inspired Andrew Garfield to do the same.
* [[Throw It In]]: According to director Gilliam, Heath Ledger frequently went off-script, which inspired Andrew Garfield to do the same.
** Apparently Verne Troyer came up with all the talk about midgets by himself. Considering his stature, it was considered okay for him to say it.
** Apparently Verne Troyer came up with all the talk about midgets by himself. Considering his stature, it was considered okay for him to say it.
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** Tony very much is when they go into his imagination.
** Tony very much is when they go into his imagination.
* [[Victory Is Boring]]: Mr. Nick discovers that he enjoys the game more than victory.
* [[Victory Is Boring]]: Mr. Nick discovers that he enjoys the game more than victory.
* [[Well Done Son Guy]]: {{spoiler|In Tony's dream-world, the wheelchair-bound President (Delano?) tells him "Well done, Tony!"}} Also inverted, in that Anton longs for Parnassus' approval... but the old man prefers Tony.
* [["Well Done, Son" Guy]]: {{spoiler|In Tony's dream-world, the wheelchair-bound President (Delano?) tells him "Well done, Tony!"}} Also inverted, in that Anton longs for Parnassus' approval... but the old man prefers Tony.
* [[Wipe That Smile Off Your Face]]: Mr. Nick does something like this to the people while making a deal for Dr. Parnassus.
* [[Wipe That Smile Off Your Face]]: Mr. Nick does something like this to the people while making a deal for Dr. Parnassus.
* [[Who Wants to Live Forever]]: Parnassus realizes this when his immortality contract only stated [[Age Without Youth|eternal life, not eternal youth]]. There was a similar stipulation in another Gilliam film with Heath Ledger in it, ''[[The Brothers Grimm (Film)|The Brothers Grimm]]''.
* [[Who Wants to Live Forever?]]: Parnassus realizes this when his immortality contract only stated [[Age Without Youth|eternal life, not eternal youth]]. There was a similar stipulation in another Gilliam film with Heath Ledger in it, ''[[The Brothers Grimm (film)|The Brothers Grimm]]''.
* [[Your Mind Makes It Real]]
* [[Your Mind Makes It Real]]


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[[Category:Moving Picture Company]]
[[Category:Moving Picture Company]]
[[Category:Films of the 2000s]]
[[Category:Films of the 2000s]]
[[Category:The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus]]
[[Category:The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus]]
[[Category:Trope]]
[[Category:Pages with working Wikipedia tabs]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, The}}
[[Category:Film]]

Latest revision as of 02:58, 17 June 2023

"Can you put a price on your dreams?"
Tony

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a 2009 film directed and co-written by Terry Gilliam, starring Heath Ledger in his final film role (for real this time), along with Christopher Plummer as the eponymous Doctor.

Thousands of years ago, Doctor Parnassus made a wager with the Devil (Tom Waits) to see if he could save more souls through the Power of Imagination than the Devil could take through fear and corruption. In modern times, a now immortal Parnassus is owner of a traveling theater troupe, the Imaginarium. Its prized possession is a magic mirror that transports customers into a fantasy land shaped by the Doctor's imagination. Parnassus is proud and the Devil is persuasive, and the stakes keep getting higher until Parnussus bets the soul of his own daughter to be claimed on her 16th birthday. When the Devil comes to collect, the only hope to save Valentina lies in a mysterious rogue named Tony.

Also stars (deep breath) Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield, Verne Troyer, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell.


Tropes used in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus include:

Dr. Parnassus: What would I do without you Percy?
Percy: Get a midget.