Amazing!

This is a terrible, terrible, terrible movie. The last movie I can remember that had a good pedigree but was this terrible was Enigma. I cannot understand how talented people could have made something this ridicucously absurd. Please don't waste your money!

Ok, apart from Depp's strong performance, purely as an actor, this film sucked big time. I love dark, contentious, bizarre films but this was really boring.

An amazing performance by Depp. But I wish the direction had been better. Really a thought provoking film if you take the time to think about what you've seen.

The painful choices of two women, wife and mistress, were as sensitively portrayed as was Johnny Depp’s once gain brilliant lead in the Libertine. Given the number and nature of negative reviews, I conclude that many people simply do NOT want to have this level of truth shoved in their faces. Many, though certainly not all, substance addicts are similar to the Johnny Depp portrayal of the Libertine in being hyper sensitive to life’s uglier truths and the extent of society’s denial of them. Denial is much more comfortable. The bully speak ‘power of positive thinking’ philosophy, which is based on denial of individual and societal “doo-doo”, is rampant in North America. The ‘powers-that-be’ are presenting themselves as superior when, in fact, the society in which they are positional leaders is deeply sick given both the true percentages of substance addicted individuals AND the rulers’ own ‘pomp and circumstance’ behaviours. Now, that’s scary!… Expand

A bizarre and completely intoxicating experience unlike anything I have ever seen.

Extraordinary performance from Depp, Malkovich Morton and Pike. The restoration was not a pretty venue. History is history. And these performances are outstanding. The film may have some flaws. But overall it is a rivieting story and I am proud that Johnny did the movie.

I dunno, it wasn't the worst movie I ever saw. It just wasn't very good. Suffered from very poor editing. When Depp is cast asunder by his dad, and he's playing a charlatan who has some potion that will cure the public's ills, he then has a bad eye. You figure it's something done to be 'in character' for the charlatan role. it's not - he's really sick, and he's gotten sick in the 6 months his father (the King) banished him. I could give you 10 other examples of that. Just really bad editing.… Expand

All the reviews have missed the salient point. Wilmot is bi-polar. The camera work, the music, it's all mirrors of his moods. Because he's brilliant he does thing purely because he can. When the actress finally sees he for who ge really is, her scenes on camera are transformed. When Wilmot addresses Lords, it's because he can -- and he knows James' faye as king will be. It's bi-polar all the way. Gripping.… Expand

Absolutely the most boring worthless movie I've seen in a long time!

What a great surprise. I expected a big production movie full of moral lessons and naked wenches, but what I saw was a tale about the darkness of the human soul, and the impulse of self destruction in the face of hypocrisy and boredom.

Good actors, really foul script. Even this Depp lover couldn't stay awake for the entirety of this snorefest.

This is where you need a minus section, just a long drawn out ramblings out of all context,vwaste of money.

Beautifully directed and costumed, but tedious. Depp plays a petulant teenager in a grown man's body spectacularly - sadly the plot, and indeed characters, do not do justice to the rich species of acting talent cast.

I don't think its the greatest movie of all time but it is a great movie and it offers something original as well. Funny, bizarre and sad in places, Depp is brillent throughout.

A decadent, satirical and devishly entertaining confection with a superior performance by Depp and the greatest score in Michael Nyman's career. Stunning monologues. Those who call it trash are not bright enough to negotiate it.

Superb! This is Johnny Depp at his best, stunning and compelling to watch. This movie is based on a play, so do not expect swashbuckling action (although there is a very short sword fight scene). If you love to see great actors performing you will love this movie.

If I could vote -50 I would...this movie is that bad!

Fascinating for the first hour, especially the direct confrontation of the audience by the Earl, but then it gets confused and drops into incoherence. But the excellence of its premise, its quest of what life and love and art is, the uniformly interesting performances and mis-en-scene, makes me wish they could have pulled it off.

Nearly every performance in this film is a showstopper. I am completely unsure where to even begin--Depp is masterful, but even his performance is overshadowed by the willowy earnestness of Rosamund Pike, the sheer brilliance of John Malkovich, or, perhaps most of all, the fierce determination and brio of Samantha Morton. Period pieces that play up the squalor of 17th century London are becoming the norm, but this film has an authentic vulgarity that is absent nearly all other films so set. The plot itself is gripping, taut as a bowstring. And it works so well for the virtuosity of the cast to find themselves in its development that it becomes absolutely seamless, a perfect narrative acted by performers at the very peak of their powers.… Expand