Opening remarks
Set to release in November 2015, the motion picture, Mortdecai – Der Teilzeitgauner, depicts the life of Charlie Mortdecai, a self obsessed art dealer, whose adventures take him around the globe. Charlie Mortdecai, who has an unusual personality, is the main character in the movie. Charlie is the main character in Mortdecai, a motion picture released in 2015, directed by David Koepp. This film attempts to combine action with comedy, as well as slapsatick humor, and true to the genre, has spawned a number of devilishly witty one-liners. The film attempts to incorporate a dash of murder and art mystery, and has received a bit of criticism for the plot. Other than the critics however, a significant portion of the population seems to enjoy the odd humor and unique portrayals, suggesting that the film has a cult following.
This paper attempts to delve into the entire film in regards to its unique comical genre, including its narrative, characters, art, and criticisms.
Character summary
The main character of the movie is a British aristocrat, Lord Charlie Mortdecai, who sports a flamboyant mustach and a unique talent for drama. This character, Mortdecai, is theatrically dramatic and is able to get into trouble very easily. While most people possess certain skills, including intelligence, Mortdecai is blessed with the ability to construct, and execute unique schemes that he believes are smarter than the average person would be. While he has a number of idiosyncrasies, Mortdecai seems to be overly charming in an odd manner, a very unique trait.
The quest commences when a valuable Goya painting goes missing under sertain, suspicious conditions and goes missing under sertain, suspicious conditions. The Inspector loos, catches the eye of law enforcement, and suspects the painting is more than art. Ewan McGregor plays Inspector Alistair Martland and reluctantly must recruit Mortdecai, and Mortdecai claims this is a chance to clear debts, restore his reputation, and maybe in the process. and perhaps sometimes even eclipse his rivals.
The practical and the even tempered Josck, played by Paul Bettany, and Mortdecai’s ever loyal manservant accompanies, and rescue Mortdecai from his blunders. Guess who is doing the tough work, keeping them alive, and moving forth, while Mortdecai through alive and moving forth? Negotitions, elaborate, lies. The couple’s subtle, humorous relations are filled Mortdecai exaggarates antics Jock’s calm- straight for ward.
Gwyneth Paltrow plays Mortdecai’s spouse Johanna, and she is also a character who adds depth to the plot. Unlike her husband, she is more poised, more classy, more brainy and for the most part more rational. The oversight Mortdecai provides, illustrates is the imperfect opposite the contradiction, understatement, and bare minimum Hernas, soft side more rational.
Through the search for the painting, Mortdecai is always in glamorous locations in London, Moscow, and Los Angeles, and all points in between. He meets dubious art dealers, sketchy spies, a gaggle of goofy crooks, and the like, whose involvement only adds to the humor of the escapades, not the painting, defines the journey. It became clear through the course of the film that the painting was not of greatest importance. Rather, he having constructed for Mortdecai the most utterly bonkers scenarios is what matters. Mortdecai, in his unique and quirky manner, learns how to balance the importance of loyalty, trust, and faith and how it all stays intertwined with a character like him.
To the height of his brilliance, Depp has Mortdecai execute each and every mannerism associated to his character. This performance involves every over the top mannerism along with weird body posture and even weird voice changes. The level of commitment he displays to this particular role regardless of the manner in which many viewers fail to acknowledge, is what truly defines the role to its maximum level.
With Mortdecai, serves his wife Johanna, who adds a level of chaos. She adds level of sophistication and intelligence, something that is sorely missing when juxtaposed with Mortdecai’s endless imagination.
Jock Strapp is the character who gives the most support and serves as the constant glue that holds everything else around him together, and the reason his universe does not fall to pieces. Depp’s excessive clowning is balanced and complemented beautifully through Bettany’s very straightforward acting in what most would like to call, the most entertaining dynamics of the film.Ewan McGregor as Inspector Alistair Martland
“Martland is a police officer strangled in Mortdecai’s web of tall tales who is part rival, part reluctant ‘frenemy.’ McGregor’s performance gives a new dimension of charm and seriousness to the role, which in turn serves to enrich the more funny moments of the characters’ interactions.”
“Olivia Munn as Georgina Krampf
Wealthy art collector Georgina adds even more humor and intrigue to Mortdecai’s already complicated escapades, with her glamorous persona.”
“Jeff Goldblum as Milton Krampf
Goldblum’s signature style of eccentric energy adds zest to the film, which also Goldblum’s style blends seamlessly with the film’s overall atmosphere and on the second-billed Krampf character, serves to add intrigue to the film’s secondary storylines.”
“Eric Aronson’s screenplay, an adaptation of the Mortdecai series of books by Kyril Bonfiglioli, is directed by David Koepp.”
“Production design was focused on style and elegance, and the locations and costumes were a revealing of classically sophisticated and comedically exaggerated attire.”
“Overall Mortdecai is not focused on solving murder mysteries in the conventional approach, rather, the humor in the entire film is based on the absurdity of the character’s attempts to maneuver and survive in his world which is more than the character is able to manage, slapstick humor… misunderstandings and absurd interactions, witty phrases, and Mortdecai dignified charm serve to enrich the film.”
The movie captures the visual splendor of Mortdecai with an ornately decorated set that suggests old-world luxury with an exotic twist. Mortdecai’s eccentric aristocratic British humor laced with intrigue garners attention the same way old-time comedy mysteries do.
Mortdecai’s Ratings and Reception
On IMDB, Mortdecai sits at a bare 5.5 out of 10. In comparison with other films, that rating suggests the movie was not very successful. When the movie was released, critics did not seem to have a very good opinion of it, claiming that the forced humor and overly exaggerated acting nearly ruined it. Many reviews claimed there were way too many exaggerated gags that were not funny sprinkled around a couple of clever comedic bits.
On the other hand, Mortdecai has acquired a type of audience that adores the offbeat humor, and Depp’s odd decision to play the role, and fully immerse himself in the characters, clearly entertain them. Depp’s performance was chaotic and wild, but Paul Bettany and Ewan McGregor’s calm portrayals in other characters seemed to counterbalance Depp’s chaos, and were well appreciated. In addition, the movie’s presentation which included International costumes and sets, was praised as very stylish and visually appealing.
If anything, Mortdecai – Der Teilzeitgauner is a true example of a film bursting at the seams with oddity. Perhaps, to some people, such fusion will make no sense, especially to those critical viewers waiting for a straightforward comedy, let alone a mystery. The film’s worth comes not from the sensibility of the plot, but in the perplexing ensemble of characters, the slapstick humor, and the wit. Depp’s Mortdecai is not a character you simply begin to love at the first instance. However, with the valuable supporting casts, Depp’s Mortdecai elicits the viewer’s appreciation in a rather unforgettable manner.
Mortdecai is not particularly the sort of movie to attain any sort of critical success, or success at the box office. Unto the contrary, for genre enthusiasts, Mortdecai is remembered as a cult classic. It is such a screen piece which goes to demonstrate the fact cinema is not about being too critical or serious to the plot. After all, how many times do you see a character, flamboyantly dressed with a mustache, whose humor is outlandish, and sense of adventure comes from dusty old books?
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