Nice mixing between history and romance

Rating: 7/10 (15 April 2003)

Notwithstanding Johnny Depp is one of my favourite actors, I think he might not be the best character for this part. He has not the"physique du role" for playing an addicted middle age inspector in the 19th century. How could I say, he looks too healthy !! Also Heather Graham is definitively too pretty to play a 19th century street whore. The best thing in this movie is the atmosphere that only a city like Prague can give for a 19th century large city reconstruction. It really looks like you're living for a couple of hours in those days. The mixing between history and romance is very well crafted and acting is quite good. The bitter ending, so uncommon in an american movie, is unexpected and therefore appreciated. The impression is that the story would have deserved a longer time to describe it better in all its many shadow points. However a 7 is well deserved.