The new millennium has not been kind to Terry Gilliam. As documented in “Lost in La Mancha,” the director’s attempt to film his version of “Don Quixote” was sidelined by, among other things, his horseback-riding star’s prostate infection and a flash flood. Critics rightfully lambasted the nonsense of both the box-office-baiting “The Brothers Grimm” and the artsy-fartsy “Tideland.” His production of “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” was just as plagued as “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote,” with the death of star Heath Ledger as the film’s most heartbreaking challenge. But even the game-changing passing of Ledger doesn’t excuse the poor quality of the finished product, which is set to be released on December 25.
Back in May, we shared the not-so-surprising news that the persistent Gilliam is set to tackle “Quixote” again. But Collider now has the big scoop: Robert Duvall is Gilliam’s pick to play the Man of La Mancha in his new attempt at the film. In an interview to promote Oscar-hopeful “Crazy Heart,” the veteran actor revealed that Gilliam wants him to don the conquistador’s helmet, but financing (those metal hats don’t come cheap) is the primary hurdle. Money is often a problem for Gilliam’s highly imaginative films that appeal to cultish fans, and his ‘Quixote’ has been no exception.
Gilliam and Co. likely need “Imaginarium” to perform well at the box office to secure the money for the upcoming production, though international financing may be a bit more lenient thanks to Gilliam’s genius (which we sorely miss). The director has had more misses than hits when it comes to ticket sales, and we wonder if the film’s status as Ledger’s final work and the subsequent, small presence of Johnny Depp will give it a boost.
If he does secure the financing, we’ve got our fingers crossed that “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” will be the film that gets Gilliam his moviemaking mojo back. The always brilliant Duvall is certainly a step in the right direction.