Matt Damon and Heath Ledger are well cast as the eccentric Grimm brothers in this knockabout fairytale romp by Terry Gilliam. This is familiar territory for the ex-Python animator turned film-maker, having covered some of the same ground in the likes of Jabberwocky, Time Bandits, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and, in a more latter day setting, The Fisher King.
The plot set-up is quite inventive, with the Grimms, who may or may not be related to the fairytale writers of legend, portrayed as travelling con-men who set up sham supernatural events and charge locals to “exorcise” the evil spirits. Of course, they then happen upon a real curse that requires genuine bravery and skill to defeat (cue Monica Bellucci, relishing her role as the villainous Mirror Queen).
It’s not one of Gilliam’s best and it had its share of production problems and alleged producer interference (the maverick Gilliam famously had run-ins with money men before over Munchausen and his classic Brazil). Filming was even halted for a while, enabling the director to fill the time by shooting a quick low-budget movie, Tideland.
However, it came out in the end, unlike Gilliam’s truly disastrous attempt to make The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, which was never completed. The Brothers Grimm is close on two hours long but rarely lets up the pace for a moment and the story's blend of famous and less familiar legends is refreshing. While the visual effects occasionally show the strains of budgetary limitations, fantasy fans should definitely check it out.
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