Stunning Visuals, Ominous Sets, and a Stark Reality make for a great film

Rating: 8/10 (9 August 2004)

Tim Burton creates a masterpiece of visual intrigue. A modern-day film-noir that pulls together every element of film-making in a manner that would make the
masters like Hitchcock and Welles jealous.
Every bit of this films masterwork exists in the set design, art direction, cinematography and the haunting original score by Danny Elfman. This is not to belittle the efforts of the director and the actors, but to reiterate the fact that Sleepy Hollow drives on the visuals that create the entire feel of the film.
The acting is worth note. The cast includes some of today's well known british actors. The villain, crafted by Christopher Walkin, is less than well acted but understandable as the character is limited which gave him little breadth to build more interest for the Hessian outside of him being headless. Christina Ricci and Johnny Depp deliver good performances that meld nicely
together. The rest of the cast plays nicely and offers the feel of a fully integrated village society. Beyond that, several of the characters were formulaic, which is the films biggest problem. Another 25 - 30 minutes would have added more
time for the characters to be played as deeper and with more interest.
Of particular note, are the ethereal and simultaneously stark scenes which are the flashbacks of a young Ichabod Craine. These offer further hint to the visual masterwork of Tim Burton. Clearly an Auteur and a master director, Tim Burton gives us what will likely be one of his greats.