Directed by Laurence Dunmore, The Libertine (2004) provides a cinematic presentation of the debaucherous life of John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (1647-1680). In 17th Century Restoration-period court of King Charles II of England, John Wilmot stands out as a gifted poet with a dangerous propensity towards drink and loose women… when offered a promising commission by the King, Wilmot offends the monarch with his lewd artistic expression and faces exile and a painful death by syphilis. Great attention is offered to historic period detail in both sets and costumes. The cast does a great job, including Johnny Depp as John Wilmot, Rosamund Pike as the Countess of Rochester, Samantha Morton as the actress Elizabeth Barry and John Malkovich as King Charles II.
Directed by Tim Burton, based on the Gothic soap opera that ran from 1966-1971, Dark Shadows (2012) is one of the most entertaining (and brilliantly marketed) Horror/Comedy films in recent memory. Full of Burton's characteristic style, the film is pure cinematic splendor. The story concerns Barnabas Collins, a vampire cursed and buried by a witch in the 18th Century, who gets dug up 200 years later in 1972 to find both the world and his family's once prominent status has changed. Johhny Depp is great, as always, as Barnabas Collins. Eva Green is sexy as the witch (she and Depp have a memorable, violent sex scene). Chloe Grace Moretz is cute and lovely as a sexy adolescent werewolf (who likes to touch herself and make weird noises, according to her young cousin). Bella Heathcote is stunning as the governess. Michelle Pfeiffer holds down the home as the matriarch. Alice Cooper appears as himself. Jackie Earl Haley, Helena Bonham Carter and Jonny Lee Miller co-star.
