The Libertine (DVD, 2006)

A lively adaptation the scandalous play by Stephen Jeffreys, the plot follows the drunken, ambisexual whoredom of Britain's Earl of Rochester (Johnny Depp). Depp delivers a remarkable performance as the drunkard, ambisexual, Earl who uses & abuses any gender or sex who falls for his dashing good looks.

The story is supposedly "historical" post-Renaissance 1678 in the Restoration Period during the reign of Monarch King Charles II (John Malkovich). Though Depp has a wife, he becomes obsessed by a talented prostitute, Elizabeth Barry (Samantha Morton). As the Earl has a lurid affair with her, he also shapes her into a famous stage actress. However, it's not all sex, drinks & acting roles for them when the Earl becomes overwhelmed with more than a touch of mental & physical infirmity.

Assuredly R to X rated, do not have the kidlets around during this Depp film. It's not one of Depp's "Pirates..." or "Edward Scissorhands" family treasures! Thankfully. Alas, there is an uncensored, made for adults only, film on mainstream DVD in the US 21st century! It's provocative, orgiastic & flat out beyond the sexual pale.

The beautifully sculpted face of Johnny Depp fits right in with this masterpiece of design. The Libertine--filmed in a grainy, color-muted chiaroscuro--captures the lush costumes, extravagant decor, and remarkable filth of Restoration England. John Wilmot, the Earl of Rochester (Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean, Ed Wood), warns the audience at the very beginning of the film that they will not like him. From there, he treats his wife cruelly, drinks to relentless excess, abuses his friendships, and generally wallows in dissipation, much to the dismay of King Charles II (John Malkovich, Dangerous Liaisons), who hopes that Rochester will write a play glorifying his reign. But Rochester finds his true inspiration (and the movie comes to life) when he sees a young actress named Lizzie Barry (Samantha Morton, Minority Report, Morvern Callar). Rochester sets out to make her the greatest actress of their time--and she, with some reluctance, submits to his teaching. The weakness of The Libertine is not that Rochester is unlikable; it's that he doesn't want to do anything. Barry galvanizes the movie because she burns with ambition, but Rochester's only apparent aim in life is an agonizingly slow self-destruction. Still, The Libertine has lurid Saturnalian visions, Morton is superb, Malkovich gives a typically insidious turn, and Depp, as always, finds moments of sad poetry in the bitterest of speeches.

I purchased "The Libertine" as I'm a great admirer of Johnny Depp's and Samantha Morton's work. As the Restoration Period is one of my historical favorites, and I was curious also to see how if cast and crew could bring it to the screen realistically.

I was not disappointed.

"The Libertine" tells the story the last 10 years or so of the life of the Earl of Rochester, a famous (or infamous, depending how you look at it) member of the Court of Charles II during the Restoration -- a period where excess was the norm, not the exception, and where vice was considered a virtue and virtue a vice.

If you're a fan of Johnny Depp, this film is a must-see. The real-life Rochester was a libertine, but he was also brilliant, talented, politically realistic, sensitive -- and tormented. Mr. Depp captures perfectly these many facets of the Earl of Rochester, whose lifestyle was considered excessive, even by his contemporaries, and who died from syphilis and alcoholism in his mid 30s. Mr Depp's portrayal of the libertine Earl is another example of his incredible acting range.

Mr. Depp isn't the only actor who shines. Samantha Morton is outstanding as the actress whose stage talents Rochester develops. The supporting cast --including John Malkovich (Charles II), Francesca Annais (Rochester's mother) and Rosamund Pike (Rochester's wife) -- is peerless. Even the extras look and sound like they belong to the era.

While "The Libertine" is first-rate, it might not be for everyone. The direction, screenplay, sets and costumes recreate Restoration London as it was. As such, "The Libertine" is not a sanitized, glamorized take on an historic period. Like the period in which it's set, "The Libertine" is forthright, upfront and non-apologetic: the dialogue is pungent and profane; the costumes show a very 17th century wear and tear; the sets are realistic --the interiors are not grand (as they would not have been) and the exteriors are complete with mud, muck and other assorted filth (as they really were).

If, however, you like superior acting within the context of a story line superbly developed and executed, then "The Libertine" will most definitely be your cup of tea.

Let me start by saying that this film was highly entertaining, and the screenwriter has earned my respect by making the tough choices, instead of pussyfooting around issues like most of the mindless Hollywood drones would have done. I really appreciate the fact that everything did not have to be tied up in a pretty little bow, and a moral did not necessarily follow from every right or wrong decision a character made.

That said, I would like to explain why this movie did not earn the fifth star (after all, it kept me enthralled the whole time). First, I am getting nearly as sick of Restoration (of Charles II in England) pieces as movies set in WWII concentration camps. It's been done ad nauseum, so let's find a new historical period to exploit!

Second, the film covered a lot of the ground that "Staged Beauty," a far and away superior film, blazed only a year ago. I felt like I had just been duped into voting for a sleazy politician who changed his name to Thomas Jefferson for purposes of name-recognition. I mean, it's fine to use the same characters in two pieces of historical fiction, but honestly! how many films can we watch with plots or subplots about teaching the first female actress on the English stage how to act? (A subplot in this case.)

Third, Johnny Depp plays the same character in every one of his films - the moody, sexy, eccentric loner that makes all the housewives giddy. I understand he's pretty, ladies, but he is in dire jeopardy of falling into the category of cute-but-can't-act with Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom.

Otherwise, and please take my earlier criticism with a grain of salt, this is a great film. It isn't the upbeat Lifetime Network B.S. you normally have to put up with from Hollywood, and, moreover, it is not filled to bursting with blood, sex, and pointless explosions. It is just a good story, simply told.

I highly recommend the film, but keep it in mind that it has its minor problems. Like I said earlier, though, despite its issues, the movie kept me glued to my seat the whole time. That's pretty rare these days.

This is not only an exellent but rather exeptionel outstanding piece of art. Especially Johnny Depp playing the main character with both body and soul, is doing an most impressive performance of that sort of acting which is rarely to be seen on screen or either on stage! I'm convinced this part should have gotten him the "OSKAR", he,until now, deserves for so many performances he's given; to me the character John Wilmot is Depp's most convincing and fascinating role, even after seeing "Sweeny Todd", for what he received -more than deserved- a nomination at least.
I ordered the dvd "The Libertine" from a seller in the UK because of Johnny Depp playing the main character in the first place and of John Malkowich performing Charles II in second - and did get an overwheming work of art, as if Depp never had done anything else besides acting on stage: it's most impressive to watch him doing it! It can be compared to Gründgens movie version of Goethe's "Faust",but sadly we dont have those performances any more. We are forced to buy the dvd outsides our own country: this dvd didn't reach the German dvd market...
Being bewitched by this coulorful "Libertine" forever my hole family, friends and I do not only like but do love him so strongly that we might never get out of the spell!
So: do look for it, buy it, enjoy it and come to favour it like we do!!!!
- We'll never give this dvd away any more-never!!!