Gothic Splendor

Rating: 8/10 (19 November 1999)

Event movies are hyped and promoted regularly, and, when the film is finally released it often proves to be a big disapointment. Sleepy Hollow is not such a case.
The film is going to be enjoyed greater by those who are Burton fans, like myself, but there is plenty here for even the layman to enjoy.
Sleepy Hollow is aboslutely gorgeous, and should definately win an Oscar for cinematography. The setting is dark and wonderfully Gothic, with that wonderful Burton skewed view we've come to know and love. The fighting scenes are exciting and well done. The Headless Horsemen is an imposing figure, and Burton continously adds new ways for the ghost to claim his victims.
Danny Elfman again provides a remarkable score that is appropriately brooding and moody. Hardly the bombastic fair of Batman or etheral complacence of Edward Scissorhands, though moments of the score do recall those.
The real draw to the film is Johnny Depp's portrayal of Ichabod Crane. Crane is refreshingly wimpy and not the gung-ho type so common to today's genre films. Crane is funny and touching and will instantly become an audience favorite. Christina Ricci is also good in the film, and some of the best moments are she and Depp's romantic scenes which are peppered with some wonderfully (intentionally) over the top dialogue.
To paraphrase Ichabod, I believe there is a bit of witch in this film, for it has bewitched me. ***1/2