Incredible!

Rating: Null/10 (24 October 1999)

I got to see an advanced, special screening of Sleepy Hollow. I was just checking out the new trailer online the other night, but the trailer doesn't show how good the movie is. According to the announcer just before the beginning of the movie, the version we saw was a "working production" meaning that the final touches weren't added (I beg to differ after seeing it) or if the questionnaires we filled at the end sufficiently trashed the movie or any part of it, they'd change it. Judging from the audience response (cheers and applause), I don't expect much or anything to be changed.
Within the first few minutes, I was stunned by the cinematography. The imagery is simply outstanding. Not only does it help set the tone and darkish foggy-like atmosphere of the movie, but it's also has great contrast and sharp, well defined images. Emmanuel Lubezki (Meet Joe Black) has outdone himself. It's right up there with the great look of movies like American Beauty, Fight Club, Three Kings and The Matrix. It's gonna be hard picking a winner come Oscar time. The music done by Danny Elfman is grand and creates an epic mood, like the movie is larger than life. The movie certainly doesn't disappoint in this respect. Do yourself a favor and not go to your local substandard theatre with 5 dollar speakers. Your cinematic experience will be lessened if you do.
Washington Irving wrote the story, while the screen adaptation was by Tom Stoppard, Kevin Yagher and the script written by Se7en's Andrew Kevin Walker. The part of Ichabod Crane is one of Johnny Depp's better roles. He doesn't take himself too seriously (he's not the Sherlock Holmes kind of investigator) and is funny in some parts. Christina Ricci plays her part well enough. Of course, there's a little love story thrown in between them, for all times sake that really isn't necessary. But it's so insignificant that we can overlook it and the movie doesn't suffer because of it. The real star of the movie is the headless horseman played by Christopher Walken, without his magnetic charm and charisma. The fight sequences are like something out of Conan The Barbarian but much, much better. One scene (the bridge scene) which pays some homage to Ben Kenobi's death scene, was so good that the audience gave a round of cheers and applause. The headless horseman kinda reminded me of Darth Vader, completely fearless and unstoppable. And he's not just killing people because they hurt his feelings or because he's just so evil or because he's got a chip on his shoulder. There's a solid reason why he's murderous and it's all revealed in good time. There really isn't anything to complain about this movie. It has a tightly written script, good performances all round, great story and action scenes, particularly the end, which was remotely reminded me of a scene in The Mask Of Zorro. I'll be very surprised if this movie doesn't do well when it comes out. It's one of the best movies I've seen this year, in all respects. I'll be seeing it again when it's in wide release. --e!