The Brothers Grimm (2005) Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Monica Bellucci, Lena Headey Movie Review

The Brothers Grimm (2005)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Matt Damon in The Brothers Grimm (2005)

A Grimm Grind

Brothers Will (Matt Damon) and Jake (Heath Ledger) Grimm are travelling conmen, preying on people's fear of monsters and demons to line their pockets as with their team they make out they are demon busters. But their fake antics have come to the attention of the authorities who force them in to doing what they say they do when they are sent in to deal with a real witch who seems involved in the mysterious disappearance of young girls. But as Will and Jake try to deal with the witch they find themselves put to the test by the power of their own imagination as what they think becomes reality.

I either move in the wrong circles or am just different because when I see the name Terry Gilliam attached to a movie it doesn't fill me with hope or excitement. In fairness it doesn't fill me with dread either but it does make me aware to the fact that I am likely to be the odd one out with many triumphing the movie whilst I will be less enthusiastic. And that brings me to "The Brothers Grimm" a Terry Gilliam movie which if I took my feelings out of the equation would tick one box after another.

Heath Ledger in The Brothers Grimm (2005)

To start with the casting with Matt Damon and Heath Ledger as the brothers Grimm is a huge tick as they have a charm and appeal which makes them likeable in various ways be it charming or quirky. And the ticks for the acting continue with the likes of Jonathan Pryce and Monica Bellucci in supporting roles. Part of the casts appeal is in their looks and there is no denying that Gilliam has crafted an interesting looking movie with layers of detail in every single shot be it the mind whirring evilness of a torture device which looks like a giant mixer to just how the wooden fame of a building being constructed looms in the background. It is old fashioned creative and so are all the quirkier elements of the movie which make you smile.

But whilst "The Brother Grimm" ticks all those boxes I just don't find it draws me in to what is going on and quite simply it struggles to keep me entertained the whole time. It is one of those movies where every now and then something visual comes along to grab your attention but when the scene is over you begin to lose focus until the next impact scene comes along rather than the storyline actually being what keeps you entertained.

What this all boils down to is that "The Brothers Grimm" is a nice looking movie and there isn't a great deal wrong with it unless you want more than visual detail and fairytale escapism because sadly the storyline is not quite up there to keep you interested when you tire of the visual nature of the movie.


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