Johnny Depp in a Tim Burton film ? You're kidding !

Rating: Null/10 (26 January 2000)

There are few directors in Hollywood that exist entirely(and can translate to the screen)their own private world.Terry Gilliam can do it,and Tim Burton can do't.For ten years burton has been delivering some of the most visually outstanding movies ever created.The majority of them appeal to a darker sensitivity,(Batman,Edward Scissorhands)and while he has never made a truly adults-only film,only Pee-wee Hermans Big Adventure is one specifically "for the kids". Sleepy Hollow is Burtons most beautiful film,and the best looking horror film ever made.Burtons palette is restricted to greyscales and earth tones,and the village of Sleepy Hollow seems to be in perpetual darkness,no matter what the time of day.This dreary creation gives maximum effect to the only harsh colour Burton allows himself--blood red.The death scenes are incredibly extravagant(with Darth Maul standing in for a brilliantly growly,pointy-toothed Christopher Walken in the fight scenes)and while the blood looks very real,and the violence is at times repulsive(see the nasty old witch slicing off a bats head)but it is never really scary,the violence and gore is not explicit,its more cartoon horror than anything else. The casting of Sleepy Hollow is indeed genius.While the background is mostly fleshed out by British stalwarts(Richard Griffiths,Ian McDiarmid,Miranda Richardson)who show little depth,portraying their characters as cariacatures,18th century stereotypes,the two leads are exemplary.Tim Burtons joined-at-the-hip alter ego Johnny Depp brilliantly portrays himself as the cop with inner conflicts,slowly becoming more aware of himself(through a series of misty flashbacks)and his past,and seemingly growing in his obsession to defeat the headless horseman as a way of exorcising his personal demons.Christina Ricci is the scariest looking starlet in America,and perfectly plays what is essentially a dual role-the love interest spilling out of her corset,and the mysterious young girl with a hint of witch to her.A fleeting appearance from one Christopher Lee reinforces the feel that this is a modern day Hammer film(albeit one with a whopping Hollywood budget)and one that despite the rolling heads and the sight of Casper Van Dien donating a little more blood than can be healthy for him(Its no more than he deserves-have you seen Starship Troopers ?)its one that kids shouldnt be denied.Spending a couple of hours on Tim Burtons planet can not be bad for anyone.