Johnny Depp vs. Jack the Ripper

Rating: 7/10 (22 October 2001)

A police inspector (Johnny Depp) in 1888 London tries to capture Jack the Ripper. Unfortunately, he falls in love with one of his intended victims (Heather Graham). Very loud (WAY too many shots and sounds of stairs coming down from carriages--the sound is ear-splitting!), dark and confusing. The movie looks fantastic--there are some breath-taking shots of Victorian London. But, plotwise, it's a mess. It moves quickly but is very confusing at the beginning, way too plot heavy (the film is almost 150 minutes) for its own good and throws in hallucinatory images ad nauseum (Depp has too many drug-induced "visions").
The acting helps--Depp is excellent in his role--he looks very handsome and nicely underplays it. Graham is good but looks terrible--way too pale and drab (but then, she IS playing a prostitute). The film doesn't skimp on blood and gore--there's not a lot of violence, but when there is it's not pretty. Ultimately, the film is too long, too grim and too depressing to really enjoy. Still the producers/directors the Hughes Brothers are talented men. Let's see more of them.