 The LibertineMPAA Rating:
 for strong sexuality including dialogue, violence and language_____
Moviemaking Quality:
_____
Primary Audience:
Adults
Genre:
Biography, Foreign, Comedy, Drama, Adaptation
Length:
2 hr. 10 min.
Year of Release:
2005
USA Release:
November 25, 2005 (LA/NY), January 13, 2006 (limited), March 10, 2006 (wide)
   Relevant Issues
Every time you buy a movie ticket or rent a video you are casting a vote telling Hollywood “That’s what I want.” Why does Hollywood continue to promote immoral programming? Are YOU part of the problem? Why is the world the way it is? (filled with oppression, suffering, death and cruelty?) If God is all-knowing, all-powerful and loving, would he really create a world like this? Answer How can I deal with temptations? Answer Should I save sex for marriage? Answer What are the consequences of sexual immorality? Answer 
“He didn’t resist temptation. He pursued it.” Producer’s Synopsis: “Story of the Earl of Rochester, friend and of Charles II and a Restoration era pornographer and poet. He was an anti-monarchist Royalist and an atheist who converted to Christianity. The story is about how the Earl’s cynicism is thrown for a loop when he falls in love with a struggling young actress. Johnny Depp stars in The Libertine as the scandalously decadent John Wilmot, the second Earl of Rochester. The film follows the Earl’s adventures in London, from his passionate romance with a young actress, Elizabeth Barry (Samantha Morton), to the writing of a scurrilous play which blisteringly and bawdily lampoons the very monarch who commissioned it, Charles II (John Malkovich), leading to the Earl’s banishment and eventual downfall.”
See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.  Negative - While it is true that Depp delivers an incredible performance in this film, The Libertine still managed to deliver a very painful 2 hours of viewing. The film’s intensely repulsive nature, with it’s violently crude dialogue, and raunchy visual content left me looking forward to it’s end. The Libertine provides a very long disturbing entourage of perversion that leaves the viewer with little more than a sickening feeling to walk away with. I could never recommend this movie to anyone, and, in fact, I strongly suggest that everyone should avoid this vile film. Negative - The Libertine is a film based loosely upon the life of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, England who lived during the 17th century. Wilmot (played by Johnny Depp) was a notorious cynic and philander who divulged himself fully with reckless abandonment in wine, women and words. On the big screen, Wilmot is vividly depicted as a lover of pleasure rather than a lover of God. Depp sinks his teeth into this pathetic and much maligned character, nailing down yet another fine performance into his already much celebrated acting career. However, I found the narrative of the story lacking and the film’s abrupt editing seemed to resemble a hatchet job. Negative - I just saw the movie last night and I am sorry to say it was a waste of my time and money to have seen it. I do admitt that Johnny Depp made a really good performance in it but the movie and the way it dragged was horrible. If you wish to see it be prepared to pay close attention to the diologue because you can easily get lost. There are some scenes that are very confusing and hard to follow. There are other scenes that didn’t even need to be in the movie such as an orgy scene. The synopsis was that he was an athiest turned Christian, but in the end that wasn’t very clear at all. The moral of the movie that I got out of it was pursuing your sinful desires will ultimately lead you away from God to die in agony but it was still unclear until I had to really really think about it. Do not see this movie. Negative - I'm a huge fan of Johnny Depp, so I decided to rent this movie to see his “brilliant performance.” I barely made it through the entire thing! I kept hoping that something good or right would come out of it, but I was severely disappointed. I cringed for nearly the entire film. I couldn't get it back to the rental place fast enough! The scenes are explicit. If ever there was a general movie that deserved a harsher rating, it's “Libertine”! I couldn't see any “brilliant performances,” because I could barely tolerate each and every scene! Completely disappointed in every way. I could never and would never recommend this movie to anyone. Positive - I am surprised not more of those who saw this film were not moved by this rebellious, angry, young man bent on self-destruction, and how he recklessly lived for his own hedonistic pursuits. Here is a man greatly blessed with a wonderfully loving wife and a Christian heritage of a God fearing mother. Despite his priveledged background and incredible intellectual ability, he uses his God-given resources in the pursuit of the vilest and most immoral ambitions. He has been given a place of authority as a advisor/friend to the king, and he squanders that, also. This man was driven by his illicit passions and had let them control his life. The scene where his wife refuses to give him a drink of wine and later is embracing him like a lost child is extremely moving and shows the unconditional love of God (inspite of his appearance or actions). This movie should sound a clarion call to anyone pursuing wordly desires; it all comes to an end sometime and then death. Elements of restitutuion, love, forgiveness, forbearance, doing what's right for another, discipling, repentance as well as all the obvious negative qualities are also present. It's interesting that he parallels his life to Jesus at the end. Even if there is a false Messiah theme in his words, this is a large shift in his thinking from the beginning. I rated this film positive because I believe it is a true picture of the human heart without all the prudish righteousness most Christians espouse. The material is highly offensive, as Christians, but then again, so is any sin to a Holy and Righteous God. In addition, the sexual scenes in the movie are not any more perverse than what is done in today's worldly culture and accepted as appropriate behavior. I would recommend this film wholeheartedly to anyone who says that man is intrinsically good. This movie should be seen by all Christians, for to some degree or another, this is the way many of us respond to God's love. Movie Critics
“…so over-the-top that it’s just not that entertaining…” “…a torturous mess …a totally horrid film…” “…'Libertine' squanders two hours …becomes more of a gothic horror movie than an arresting biographical drama…” |
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