Film Interview Terry Gilliam To giddy heights hen Heath Ledger died, mid-production, it looked like curtains for The Imaginarium Of Dr Parnassus, until pals Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law stepped in to finish his job. I didnt want anyone but close friends of Heath stepping into his shoes, explains maverick director Terry Gilliam, even if it was Tom Cruise. (Take that, Tom). That much we know. But what has shocked audiences is the first creepily prophetic shot of Ledger, hanging dead, under London Bridge. Its those moments that began to really spook me, admits Gilliam, who loved Ledger like a son according to co-star Christopher Plummer. Says the director: OK, heres an exclusive: whats the last shot of Heath as The Joker? The scene where hes talking to Batman, hanging upside down by his feet. Whats the tarot card for Death? A hanged man, upside down. Chilling. Given that producer Bill Vince also died last year, and Gilliam was run over and hospitalised with a broken back, did he ever feel Dr Parnassus was fated never to be made? When Heath died, I was lying on the floor groaning: Thats it its over, recalls Gilliam. And Amy [Gilliams daughter/producer] said, No its not. I said, Shut up. You dont know what youre talking about. Youve got no W experience of these things. Its finished. She just kept kicking me until I got up. With all too much experience of these things, Gilliam already known as a cursed director after The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, where floods washed away the sets and his lead actor (Jean Rochefort) was hospitalised is generally not a chap to take adversity lying down. Twelve Monkeys and The Fisher King may have been successes, and Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas won the 1998 Cannes Palme DOr, but its not been plain sailing. The script of Time Bandits? Nobody in America wanted it. The finished film? Nobody wanted it. Thankfully, George Harrison guaranteed the prints and funded the advertising and this film that no US studio wanted was No.1 for five weeks. Its still made more money in America than any other film Ive made, says Gilliam. So when Brazil, his 1985 masterpiece, was shelved by confused studio execs, Gilliam took out a full page ad in Variety demanding they release it. When Tideland (2005) was dumped, Gilliam took to the streets of New York with a sign around his neck saying studioless filmmaker. Will direct for food. And nothings changed with Parnassus. With Heath, I thought it was going to be a piece of cake, but weve only just got US distribution. A loose cannon, particularly when it comes to budgets (his 1988 turkey The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen spiralled from $23million to $47million), Gilliam is seemingly forever dogged by strife. And, you sneakily suspect, he thrives on it. Sporting a permanent giggle and rainbow socks, at 68 hes still the enfant terrible who takes impish delight in the fact his company is called Poo Poo Pictures. Its hard not to see shades of Gilliam in his creation Dr Parnassus, the Prospero- esque magician out of step with time who finds that modern audiences dont want to hear his fairytales or be wowed by his fantastical bag of tricks. For his next trick, hes considering doing an opera because I might as well try something new and see how far I can fall. Thats what I did as a kid. In winter Id jump off my tree house into the snow, trying to catch the electrical wires. I could never reach them. He giggles: Jumping off things? Its all I ever do. The Imaginarium Of Dr Parnassus is in cinemas from tomorrow With Heath, I thought it was going to be a piece of cake. But weve only just got US distribution The maverick director shares his movie-making peaks and troughs with Larushka Ivan-Zadeh Me, Me, Me: Inside the minds of celebrities Julie Feeney In Town Tonight The surprise winner of 2005s inaugural Choice music prize for her LP 13 Songs, the classically trained musician is renowned for lyrical weirdness and proved no less engaging on this years follow-up, Pages Tonight, The Sugar Club, 8 Lower Leeson Street D2, 8pm, 12. Tel: (01) 678 7188. www.juliefeeney.com Docklands Walking Tour If you havent yet had the good fortune to go on one of Pat Liddys legendary walking tours of the city, join the historian for this informative wander through the Docklands. Part of Innovation Dublin Week Tonight, Connolly Luas stop, Amiens Street D1, 6pm (& Sun 11am), free. Tel: (01) 831 1109. www.innovationdublin.ie Gabriel Rosenstock Poetry Ireland in association with Salmon Poetry presents the launch of Uttering Her Name by Gabriel Rosenstock and the late Dorothy Molloys Long- Distance Swimmer. To be launched by Alan Titley Tonight, Unitarian Church, 112 St Stephens Green West D2, 6.30pm, free. Tel: (01) 478 9974. www.poetryireland.ie metro Arts & Entertainment life Book Now Bryan Adams Love him or loathe him, the Canadian crooner certainly knows a thing or two about shifting albums, having sold more than 65million albums and notched up an impressive 21 Top Tens. His latest tour, fittingly titled Bare Bones, is a solo-acoustic offering guaranteed to set the female contingent a quiver. Expect (Everything I Do) I Do It For You to be rattling around your head for some months to come Jan 14 & 15, Olympia Theatre, 72 Dame Street D2, 7.30pm from 65.70. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.bryanadams.com 16 metrolife Thursday, October 15, 2009 The hoTTesT TickeTs in Town 20% dont call me a teen idol 60% Nobody puts my wife in the corner 20% sore knees Today: Patrick Swayze from his recent autobiography On the first time he met future wife Lisa in his mums dance studio: Unlike the other girls, she usually acted like I wasnt even in the room... so one day, when she walked by close enough, I decided it was time to get her attention. I reached down, pinched her rear end, and said, Hey there cutie! She turned and glared at me like Id just farted in church. On losing the lead in Urban Cowboy to John Travolta: Country dancing was in my DNA, and as much as I liked John, I hated giving someone else tips on how to play a role I was born for. But really, what I hated was that he was so good at it. John was an absolute natural he just picked everything up. On Ghost: I always felt extra pressure, since I was supposed to be Mr Sexy, if you believed all the magazines. Of all the scenes I ever shot, I probably felt least confident about the love scenes. So its ironic that the clip of Demi and me at the pottery wheel is one of the best known of my whole career. On Dirty Dancing: We did a lot of rewriting for the big final scene, but one line that I absolutely hated ended up staying in. I could hardly even bring myself to say Nobody puts Baby in the corner in front of the cameras, it just sounded so corny. But later, seeing the finished film, I had to admit it worked. Sharon Lougher The Time Of My Life by Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi (Simon & Schuster, 20) Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, its the Virgin Mary disguised as, er, the Sun. Yes, if rumours are to be believed the Mother of Christ appeared to the 5,000- strong faithful who thronged to Knock last Sunday following a clairvoyants claims that the Virgin would make a 3pm photocall. Did the heavens break, divine trumpets roar and Our Lady descend to Earth to greet die-hard fans, kiss babies and pose for paparazzi? No, she chose to mobilise the sun. Those who stared long enough claimed the golden orb began to change colour and even dance in the sky. One spectator referred to the event as heavenly intervention but were putting it down to mass hysteria and possible retina damage. Another reported: Sometimes the sun emitted a clean, bright light, then it would darken again. Eh, thatll be the clouds love. Daragh Reddin We have two pairs of tickets to see JULIE FEENEY tonight at The Sugar Club, 8pm For a chance to win, e-mail your answer to the question below to life@metroireland.ie by noon today with Hot Tickets in the subject line. With your answer please include your name, address and a number where you can be contacted between 1pm and 3pm. Strictly one entry per person; entrants must be age 18 or over. Q. In 2005, Feeneys debut record 13 Songs won which award for Best Album? A. Choice Music Prize B. Mercury Prize 30 SECOND RANT Apparitions index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html28.html29.html30.html31.html