Fairy tale strife

Iconoclastic filmmaker Terry Gilliam has been called many names over the years, but "hack" isn’t one of them. Whether or not you’re a fan, it’s hard not to admire a man who insists on making the films he wants. When his approach works, the result is a minor classic like Brazil or an edgy thriller like Twelve Monkeys. Unfortunately, although The Brothers Grimm is interesting in spots, Gilliam’s approach doesn’t work too well this time around.

The Brothers Grimm is based on a neat premise: What if Jacob (Heath Ledger) and Wilhelm Grimm (Matt Damon) started out, not as storytellers, but as charlatans who travel from town to town in early 19th century Germany extorting money to purge demons of their own design? And, what if, after hearing of their so-called abilities, an occupying French general (Brazil star Jonathan Pryce) orders them to help a village find out what’s been happening to its disappearing children? What if, in the nearby woods, there lurks an evil far greater than what the brothers have ever concocted?

On paper, the idea of the Time Bandits and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen director doing a film about the Grimm brothers would seem like a slam dunk. What better opportunity to showcase Gilliam’s storied visual flair, imagination and madcap humor, honed as the only American member of Monty Python? And, to be sure, there are numerous moments where Gilliam seems more than up to the task.

The relationship between Jacob and Wilhelm is handled nicely, courtesy of quirky, likable performances by Damon and Ledger and a witty script by Ehren Kruger (The Ring, The Skeleton Key). There is also a nice little device showing the genesis of now-familiar fairy tales. For instance, one of the disappearing girls has a red riding cape and tries to escape a wolf. There are certainly engaging, even magical, set pieces where Gilliam seems to really "get" how fairy tales effect the human psyche.

When it stays within the fantasy realm, the film does fine.

Unfortunately, it takes delight in reminding us even in fantasy there is Grimm reality. The film’s gore and gross-out quotient are far beyond what is necessary for the story and severely hurts its effectiveness. Gilliam may argue the real Grimm fairy tales were full of disturbing imagery, but his approach just seems overindulgent.

Gilliam is known for his public power struggles with the Hollywood types who greenlight his projects. Maybe he should have listened to them this time. The Brothers Grimm is imaginative, but too disturbing and even annoying to truly work its magic.

The Brothers Grimm
PG-13
In area theatres Thursday
Two and a half out of four

Recommended Rental

Crash
R
Available Tuesday

So far, Crash is easily one of the best movies released this year and should not be overlooked by the Academy when the holiday films arrive. Written, directed and produced by Paul Haggis, who wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for Million Dollar Baby, the film centers on a disparate group of Los Angeles residents as they go through an ordinary day. A beautifully realized ensemble piece, the story focuses on such topics as racism and fate with clarity, power, wit and intelligence. The wonderful cast includes Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon and Terrence Howard.