Sleepy, and hollow

Rating: Null/10 (27 June 2000)

"Sleepy Hollow" is a pretty accurate moniker for this version of Washington Irving's classic tale--it can make you sleepy, and it is hollow.
Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane is way out of his depth here; whether by sheer inexperience, bad direction or bad writing, it is hard to tell. Likely one of the last two, as the accomplished actress Christina Ricci scarcely comes off any better and it is such a shame. There is too much melodrama, too much glowering and too much over-acting, all of which crushes any attempt at subtlety, if any was intended. Some of it is plain ridiculous, and none of it scary for anyone over age ten or with an I.Q. over 70. (Its good points: lavish scenery, and an impressive but-all-too-brief appearance by a very evil-looking Christopher Walken as the head-hungry Hessian Horseman.)
And that's just the first hour. I simply could not bother to watch the rest.