The Libertine
About the Film
In Restoration England, John Wilmot, the second Earl of Rochester, is the most brilliant and most scandalous wit at the court of King Charles II — a poet of genius and a drunkard of legend who lives entirely for pleasure and provocation. Recalled from banishment by the king, he is charged with writing a play to glorify the reign, but his contempt for hypocrisy proves impossible to suppress.
Rochester takes the struggling actress Elizabeth Barry as his protégée and lover, moulding her into a great performer, even as he squanders his talent and health. When the play he delivers turns out to be a filthy, treasonous satire of the king, he is disgraced and cast out once more. Ravaged by syphilis and drink, the once-dazzling earl declines into ruin, returning home to his long-suffering wife to face his own mortality.
Plot synopsis by johnny-depp.org.
Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp plays John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, in one of his most fearless performances — a self-destructive genius who dares the audience to despise him from his very first words. Depp charts Rochester’s descent from magnetic, razor-tongued rake to a body and face destroyed by disease, refusing any vanity in the harrowing final scenes. Roger Ebert singled out Depp’s “zealous” commitment as the heart of the film.
Cast & Crew
Cast
John Wilmot, Earl of RochesterJohnny Depp
King Charles IIJohn Malkovich
Elizabeth BarrySamantha Morton
Elizabeth MaletRosamund Pike
Sir George EtheregeTom Hollander
Billy DownsRupert Friend
JaneKelly Reilly
Crew
DirectorLaurence Dunmore
ScreenplayStephen Jeffreys (from his play)
MusicMichael Nyman
CinematographyAlexander Melman
ProducersJohn Malkovich, Lianne Halfon, Russell Smith
StudioWeinstein Company / Odyssey Entertainment
“Allow me to be frank at the commencement: you will not like me.”
— John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, The Libertine
Filming Locations
- Isle of Man
- Wales
- Montacute House, Somerset, England
- Charlecote Park, Warwickshire, England
More about this film
Trivia
- The film was substantially re-edited after a work-in-progress screening at the 2004 Toronto Film Festival.
- John Malkovich, who plays King Charles II, also produced the film — and had earlier played Rochester himself on stage.
- It features Michael Nyman’s last major original film score to date.
- Rosamund Pike won the British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role.
Awards
- 2005 British Independent Film Award — Best Supporting Actress (Rosamund Pike) Won
