This is an extremely charming, fun, and romantic film about a psychiatrist who is given ten days (his final ten days before his retirement as it turns out) to treat a young patient who believes with all of his being that he is Don Juan, the world's greatest lover. Problems arise when the doc, and some of the hospital
staff, all start to fall under his magical spell and get swept away by his cham, passion, and presence. This film is mostly light, but tons of fun and very charming. Johhny Depp is excellent, and he has a field day playing Don Juan. Marlon Brando is decent, and it's fun seeing him go toe to toe with Depp, but this isn't one of his better performances. It's not terrible, but he looks like he's mostly coasting through it. Dunaway is okay, but I would have liked her role to have maybe been a little more substantial. The music and cinematography are both great, and, though this film feels maybe a little undercooked, it's still satisfying enough.
August 3, 2006
