Is it Fantasy? Is it Reality? From the far-out mind of Terry Gilliam, we get a truly serious whimsical tale. While a bit less serious than his previous light-hearted story Brazil, it still conveys a similar message. Dark themes of war, politics and aging versus beauty, optimism and the imagination, all here to amuse and amaze.
Late 18th Century. What is termed “The Age of Reason,” by some. And yes, here is a war Dictated by Logic & Reason, Science and Progress. But amidst a war-torn town, besieged by the Ottomans or somesuch, a small glimmer of light and respite as a local acting company puts on a production of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Unfortunately for the somewhat inept actors, the Actual Baron Munchausen shows up to scoff at their silly vagaries of the Truth! He proceeds to tell his true tale, and the Fantastical World that it can be.
While this certainly is a comedy, it’s told through the shroud of the darkness of fighting and death. But that’s Gilliam’s gift, to entwine the tragic and serious with the silly and absurd. Not saying this is absurd, though. Well, maybe a little silly, Robin Williams is a bit looney here. Maybe just the silver lining to the tragic, but entertainingly told. It really is an amalgamation of Time Bandits and Brazil in a lot of ways. While in itself it is actually from stories published back in 1785, it really is a new faery tale similar to those collected by the Brothers Grimm (which Gilliam actually takes on about 15 years later), dark tales with a message. Definitely appreciated this story more now than upon seeing it in the past. It’s fun surface belies the Brazilian core. And if you haven’t watched Gilliam’s Brazil, well, the filing cabinet tubes of the future await you. Great performances by John Neville in the main role, Eric Idle as one fast dude, Uma Thurman in part as Venus and Jonathon Pryce as the epitome of government cockeries.