The Flipcritic

Not many people know who the Hughes Brothers are (Albert and Allen), but they should. They're a pair of 30-year old twins who just happen to be two of the most talented young filmmakers to come along in years. They crafted MENACE TO SOCIETY, the most powerful movie I have ever seen about the desperate lives of young African-Americans living in the slums of urban America (based on their real-life experiences). They also made the jazzy DEAD PRESIDENTS, which was more of an artistic exercise than anything else. They seem to be more skilled with stories about the 'hood than anyone else (other than John Singleton), and now they have come out with another 'hood story in FROM HELL, that just happens to be set in 19th century London.

The movie is advertised as a slasher-flick concentrating on probably the first recorded slasher (or serial killer if you like) in history in Jack the Ripper. There have been many Jack the Ripper movies, all of concentrating on who he was or who would collar him (he never was caught). Countless TV specials have been made about him, some of them claiming to have solved the mystery of who he was. But just like the interest in the late Princess Diana, interest in the Ripper may never die. And it is surprising that a big Hollywood production has been made about Jack after many years of disinterest.

The movie presents the events surrounding the murders of 5 prostitutes in Whitechapel, London in autumn of 1888. Inspector Fred Abberline (Johnny Depp of DONNIE BRASCO), apparently a 19th century junkie with a psychic third eye (induced by his hallucinations), is deemed to be best man suited to solve the killings. He is partnered with Peter Godley (Robbie Coltrane of HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE) and as one prostitute is slain after the other, he comes into contact with one of them, Mary Kelly (Heather Graham of BOOGIE NIGHTS). Together they hold the keys to solution of the case.

While viewing the movie I was amazed how often the movie surprised me despite its familiar storyline. It is remarkably well-researched, and all of its characters are well-drawn. I liked how they portrayed Abberline as a drug-addict and the terms they used to describe getting high ('Chasing the dragon' they call it). Though he seems to be a clairvoyant, his abilities are not portrayed supernaturally, but artistically. His visions are very much at home with the film's gothic air. The film also has Sherlockian elements with the duo of Abberline and Godley (Sherlock and Watson), and their verbal sparring is somewhat entertaining. Film buffs will notice the Hughes Brothers' homage to THE ELEPHANT MAN with their reference to John Merrick. I especially liked the hypothesis of who Jack the Ripper was and what his motives were. It's certainly the most complicated one I've ever heard of, involving the medical community, the local government, freemasons, and even the royal family.

When it comes to the characters, very few stand out. Heather Graham gives a brave try at an English prostitute. There's nothing spectacular about her performance, but she seems so one-dimensional and distant. We don't feel she's in danger, slutty, or even pitiful. We don't believe for one minute that she is a whore. She just seems like... well... Heather Graham with a British accent (she's the nicest prostitute I've seen since Julia Roberts in PRETTY WOMAN). Robbie Coltrane is a very likable actor, but his role is underwhelming. Not much is asked of him, yet his charm is as noticeable as his girth. I loved Ian Holm's (THE SWEET HEREAFTER) performance as a doctor who assists Abberline in his investigation. When people think of English actors, they immediately think of Anthony Hopkins, yet there are several British thespians who may be just as good as he is, and Mr. Holm is one of them. The mainstream moviegoing public will probably remember him for THE LORD OF THE RINGS (as Bilbo Baggins), but he is an acting giant despite his physical stature, and he shows it here, making one huge shift from one personality to another.

Nobody... and I mean nobody plays eccentric characters better than Johnny Depp. Just when I thought I had seen it all with EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS, SLEEPY HOLLOW, THE NINTH GATE, and ED WOOD, he creates another off-center character unlike any other I've seen. He puts a droll yet cynical spin on Sherlock Holmes with his performance as Inspector Abberline, and it is almost impossible to take his eyes off him. He has always been one of Hollywood's overlooked actors whose talent is much more potent than it seems (for his best performance, see DONNIE BRASCO, where he is on par with his co-star Al Pacino).

Despite the film's good points, it is still a very hard movie to watch. It has a grisly quality about it that doesn't come so much from its violence but from its environment. It's like being in a sewer, the reality is hard-hitting, but it doesn't mean you want to be there. It doesn't help when the film is intense (more psychologically than physical). A lot of people may feel drained after seeing this film. The violence may make some people cringe, but they exist in quick cuts and are often hidden just beyond the camera's view adding to more tension. It's very well done and nowhere near as grotesque as the carnage in BLACK HAWK DOWN.

Many good films rely on atmosphere to lure an audience's interest into its story, but sometimes relying on too much ambiance can be a movie's disadvantage. There is such a thing as atmosphere overkill, and FROM HELL has just a bit of it. It's also not an easy film to categorize. It has an investigative duo, but it's not a whodunit mystery. It has a slasher, but it's not a slasher film. Think of it as a very artistic period piece with some thrilling moments. I like to view it as a five-finger exercise where the Hughes Brothers show how skilled they are becoming in filmmaking. It has good performances, an intriguing conspiracy theory, and flashes of stylistic brilliance, but its milieu is heavy. The context of its events are rich in murkiness, and all of its characters have sparse characteristics to be desired (if any at all). Here is a movie with little hope and devoid of joy.

Posted by FLIPCRITIC at February 21, 2002 12:00 AM