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Last Updated: Sunday, 4 September 2005, 14:42 GMT 15:42 UK
Gilliam defends his Grimm reviews
By Victoria Lindrea
BBC News entertainment reporter in Venice

Director Terry Gilliam has defended negative reviews in the US of his new film The Brothers Grimm at a press conference at the Venice Film Festival, where the film is showing in competition.

Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam is not bothered by poor reviews
Gilliam, best known for films like Twelve Monkeys, Brazil and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, joined forces with producers Miramax to make his first film in seven years.

It is a fantasy about a pair of con-merchants in 18th Century Germany which incorporates many of the famous Grimm fairytales.

"I like the fact that my films have always encouraged bad and good reviews. The most depressing thing would be a review that was just mediocre. That would kill me," said Gilliam, 64.


"Everybody has their opinion - and some people are wrong."

Matt Damon and Heath Ledger
Heath and I were both surprised and felt pretty lucky there was a Terry Gilliam movie available to us
Matt Damon (left)
His unique vision was also defended by Grimm stars Matt Damon, Heath Ledger and Italian actress Monica Bellucci, who flanked Gilliam at the press conference.

"The fact that Terry was directing the movie sold it to me," said 34-year-old actor Damon.



For her part, Monica Bellucci, who plays a wicked queen seeking eternal life in the film, called the director "a genius", adding "he has taught me many things."

Monica Belluci
Monica Belluci has called the director a "genius"
Gilliam, who is still searching for funding for his abortive Don Quixote project which was called off in 2001 following a string of on-set catastrophes, has called The Brothers Grimm "his commercial film".

But it remains a film of fantastic and surreal proportions.

"I hate being dragged into genres. I like movies that are full of a lot of conflicting and interesting things," says Gilliam.

The film-maker, the only US-born member of the famous Monty Python troupe, said he wants to make films "that inspire people to explore their imagination".


"I think we need both of those things in our lives, to make life worth living."



Terry Gilliam, Lena Headey, Matt Damon, Monica Belucci, Heath Ledger
Gilliam with his all-star cast: He calls Grimm his "commercial film"
The director, who admits his favourite fairytale is not a Grimms tale but Hans Christian Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes, has sought to recreate the world of fairytales on screen.





Terry Gilliam describes the appeal of the Grimm fairy tales

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