There is something beautifully refreshing about movies where you actually have to think while you watch. And to be honest, the ending takes so much figuring out, that the more people you ask, the more opinions you'll get.
The mood for the film is set right from the start. We first meet our hero, Dean Corso, an antique books dealer, as he swindles a hapless couples out of a priceless first edition of Cervantes' Don Quixote. Mr. Polanski is taking a bit of a chance by presenting his protagonist as a rather reprehensible creature, who's clearly in it for he money. But this portrayal is necessary, as it is important to understand that Corso does not believe in the supernatural in any way, nor is he especially fond of books. Again, it's all for the cash.
The ever evil Frank Langella may at first be mistaken for Satan himself. But his character, the driving force behind Corso's quest, and a dangerous man to displease, is merely a devout disciple, and, as such, a firm believer, thus representing the other end of the spectrum.
Minor spoilers.
In spite of our initial misgivings, our empathy with Johnny Depp's character is established after about the second time someone tries to kill him. It won't be the last time, either, so luckily he is assigned a guardian angel, who might also be something else. And he's not the only one in danger; as Corso progresses on his quest to secure the copies of the fabled book, the people who own them, die. Those deaths (did he have a hand in them?), the ever deepening mystery and his beautiful angel, work the necessary transformation. Having forgotten about the money, Corso now carries on out of his very own... curiosity? Obsession? He has long been turned into a believer when he undertakes a final journey.
Looking for the Devil, it seems, is like looking into the abyss; He might also be looking for you.
The mood for the film is set right from the start. We first meet our hero, Dean Corso, an antique books dealer, as he swindles a hapless couples out of a priceless first edition of Cervantes' Don Quixote. Mr. Polanski is taking a bit of a chance by presenting his protagonist as a rather reprehensible creature, who's clearly in it for he money. But this portrayal is necessary, as it is important to understand that Corso does not believe in the supernatural in any way, nor is he especially fond of books. Again, it's all for the cash.
The ever evil Frank Langella may at first be mistaken for Satan himself. But his character, the driving force behind Corso's quest, and a dangerous man to displease, is merely a devout disciple, and, as such, a firm believer, thus representing the other end of the spectrum.
Minor spoilers.
In spite of our initial misgivings, our empathy with Johnny Depp's character is established after about the second time someone tries to kill him. It won't be the last time, either, so luckily he is assigned a guardian angel, who might also be something else. And he's not the only one in danger; as Corso progresses on his quest to secure the copies of the fabled book, the people who own them, die. Those deaths (did he have a hand in them?), the ever deepening mystery and his beautiful angel, work the necessary transformation. Having forgotten about the money, Corso now carries on out of his very own... curiosity? Obsession? He has long been turned into a believer when he undertakes a final journey.
Looking for the Devil, it seems, is like looking into the abyss; He might also be looking for you.