The directorially intended aesthetics here are impressive in attempt to refine a period drama’s apparatus whilst mostly relying on Depp’s eccentric casualness taking on a grittier challenge with a lingering haunt, it eventually lost its overall reverent gravitas when obscenely confirming its genuinely muddled narrative that lacks a mutually grasped sense of discomfort. (B-)

Another outstanding performance by Johnny Depp. I didnt think I would go for this type of movie at first, but his acting drew me right in as usual. I couldn't even say that it was his best performance, he does too many types of movies and he gives 100% in all of them.

Wonderful performances by Depp, Pike, and Morton, despite a slight lull in the middle, the energy of the storyline kept me invested to the end.

Pretty interesting until about 60% of the way through, but stops tracking after that for me. As 8s customary of biopics.

This movie was great! Some of Johnny Depp's best acting!

this movie isn't for all but i liked it the plot interesting

Loved it. But definitely for fans of long and slow and dark period dramas. And syphilis. Definitely fans of watching a man's face rot off from syphilis will also love this film.

This film is so well-researched and written. Johnny Depp utterly transforms into an incredibly difficult and conflicted character. The scene where Wilmot breaks down completely is both timeless and precise. As a student of Restoration and early 18th-century British drama, this film is a dream come true. Outstanding.

I find this to be the greatest performance Johnny Depp ever gave. flawless

When people downgrade this film I fear they do not understand the time period in which it was set nor the society upheavals of the monarchy returning from the puritans. Consequently the country went 'mad' on the freedoms compared to the previous years under Cromwell and Lord Rochester embodied this new found decadent hedonism in bawdy pornagraphic humour - as many young men see the world today. It is a sad story of a man who was perhaps brilliant yet lacked understanding that life's pleasures are best taken in moderation. a concept embodied by the so-called '27 Club' of the 20th Century who also died of their own indulgences. A film with a great cast, well acted, lacking gloss on the reality of the times with great scenery, sets and costumes completed by an excellent script. An essence of the time that should serve as a revelation in a plastic world that enjoys revisionist history. Johnny Depp is excellent heading up the starry cast, my only complaint being that he hides his natural handsome face too often. A grossly misunderstood and underrated film.

Another perfect performance by the versitile and brilliant actor John Christopher Depp

Johnny Depp is sensational....a true actor. Samantha Morton fantastic. Director blew it. I am so sorry. They both deserved award nominations for this movie.

A boring sex addict's dream.

There are a handful of specifics I could critique, but it takes away from the fact that this film is fantastic and highly underrated. Johnny Depp's best performance.

Next to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, this is one of Johnny Depp's best performances. The rest of the film feels a tad muddled, but the power and presence of Depp's character is unforgettable.

A powerhouse performance by Johnny Depp as one of the most obsessively self-destructive men of genius ever. The script incorporates many of Rochester's witty verses. An absorbing film.

I like the way the movie is shot its like a renaissance painting but the film is disjointed it gets better in the second half of the film. The performances are very good especially Depp very spirited, it just more depth to the screen play

Johnny Depp does everything he can to produce a great film, but with horrible cinematography and lackluster support from the rest of the cast, The Libertine falls short of its high potential. Cinematography gets blurry at times of importance and produces an annoying inconsistency throughout.

Although its dour tone might put off a lot of viewers, Johnny Depp gives an awards-worthy performance as the 2nd Earl of Rochester, John Wilmot, one of the most controversial figures in British history. The film is based on a stage play by Stephen Jeffreys and focuses on the last years of Wilmot's life as goes from being one of Britain's most celebrated poets and playwrights to practically drinking himself to death, all while being one of the most unsavory and unlikeable people I've ever seen portrayed onscreen. I must give Johnny Depp credit because he turned in one of his finest performances. Even though his penchant for dressing up and putting on an accent in almost every movie he's done recently has reached the point of self-parody, it feels more natural and fresh here. However, the rest of the cast is no slouch either. John Malkovich gives a restrained performance as Charles II (reprising his stage role) and Samantha Morton also does well as Elizabeth Barry, an actress who Wilmot tutors then has an affair with. Also making appearances are Jack Davenport (Jack Sparrow's nemesis in Pirates of the Caribbean) as one of his friends, and Rosamund Pike as his wife, Elizabeth Malet. Obviously, now, Rosamund Pike has come into her own as an actress with GONE GIRL, but her supporting work here shows the chops she brought to that more recent role, even if she wasn't given a whole lot to do. Still, there will be some issues with this film for some. The big one is the cinematography. I've seen it described as murky or grainy, and while that might be true to an extent, I don't really see it as a serious problem. For one, this film was shot with mostly natural light, if not all, and the lack of vibrant color is appropriate to the overall tone of the film and Wilmot's character as portrayed therein (or at least how he views life). As a libertine, he saw life as banal and went out of his way to make things more interesting for himself by being an all-around jerk and debauching all of the time. Personally, I didn't mind this either, but I can see how others might not like him, especially when he goes out of his way to make this clear to others (and the audience, at the beginning and end) just how unlikeable and how much of a cynic he is. My way into the film and his character was an icy and sardonic sense of humor, which was employed often. Towards the end, it tries to be a little sentimental by showing his physical deterioration, and while this was still done effectively it undermined what came before it slightly. Despite my slight misgivings about the way things turn out in the final act, one of the best scenes in the entire film is in this section. Overall, this isn't a film I'd necessarily return to, but I don't regret having watched it given how depressing it is. The score which accompanied it was decent enough and, despite what you might feel about the look of the film, it meshes well with the overall tone and Depp's performance. Just don't go in expecting him to be as cheery, optimistic or likeable as he is in almost everything else he's done.

People didn't like this movie, but he played the character perfectly, he was an ass in real life.