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From Hell
(Reviewed October 12, 2001, by James Dawson)
-
Johnny Depp sleepwalks through his role as an opium-addicted police inspector on the trail of Jack the Ripper. Heather Graham is a pale, Whitechapel district whore with an unconvincing accent. Ian Holm is excellent as a doctor to the royal family, except when he is required by the script to completely subvert that performance by acting completely and unbelievably out of character. It all adds up to...not much.
Writer Alan Moore was behind the original "From Hell" comic book series from which this movie was adapted. He offered an intriguing theory about "Jack"'s identity, one which he apparently took great pains to ensure did not contradict known facts about the case or its principals. But this poorly directed movie version offers a ridiculous "Hollywood" ending that is at odds with known facts of the case. Stupid.
One of the most incredibly annoying and amateurish flaws in the movie is the near-constant background score. I would be surprised if there are 15 continuous seconds anywhere in the film that are not fouled by that omnipresent music.
The movie is directed as if by a third-rate reject for a Nine Inch Nails video assignment.
Avoid.
Back Row Grade: D
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