Striking and Irreverent!

Rating: 9/10 (1 February 2005)

Even if the Jack the Ripper scenario scares you or bores you, this film (sorely under-appreciated) throws ANOTHER door open on possibilities ..beside all the "Jack" theories in books or legend. The Hughes Brothers (filming in Warsaw) create that dark, dank, and badly-lit with smells that would curl your hair WORLD that inhabits the future..mostly.
J. Depp (great actor) is a marvel as Inspector Abbeline (loner, sensitive, addict, idealist/skeptic/hunter) and I'm surprised the bashing some people gave Heather Graham (not a great actress, but fine in this..and others) for her performance and ACCENT. Are you kidding me? Her accent was actually truer, but her white teeth made people uncomfortable as an 1880's street girl, ..plus MOST people think she can't act. Spare me the details. Ian Holm (one of the great "Supporting English Actors" since the 60's and they're) is sublime as a doctor. Throw in John Merrick (famous East End character - also under-appreciated) and Caitlyn who recently died as one of Graham's street family and what have you got? A politically incorrect, somewhat "old" theory about JACK and the 21st century is too hip and modern to buy SOME of these grievous tale of woe and horror.
The best film (in my opinion) of a decent year that doesn't sell soap. Robby Coltrane is also believable as a Depp cohort. Great sets, cinematography a bit TOO dark (lighting-wise), and a compelling guessing game that the mystery will never solve. Check out this film!