This film has much to recommend it: the performances are uniformly good, especially those of Depp and Morton; the script is wry and intelligent; the depiction of 17th century England is uncompromising; and the music by Michael Nyman is as rhythmically haunting as ever. Why then does this movie not quite work?

Perhaps because The Libertine fails to engage on an emotional level. The movie is concerned primarily with an intellectual, rather than a personal, analysis of morality, and thus leaves the viewer feeling cold and unmoved. It is difficult to sympathise with any of the characters, even those who clearly deserve our sympathy.

If the rating system allowed I would give four stars for the performances and the production design. But overall, due to the film's somewhat sterile heart, I can only give it three.

This film is incredibly dull and boring and not a very good buy at all. i give it a 2 star because as boring and terrible the film was there was no denying the performances were fantastic, mostly by Depp it's very oscar worth, abd not just Depp but everyone, i'm a huge Depp fan but i must admit this film was terrible and i have no interest in seeing it again, you might try thinking of the respect you have for the film but you can't, not worth it.

I avoided this film at the cinema because I couldn't find a decent synopsis of the film, all just claiming that the film was a "historical romp" not stating any real storyline at all. I watched it when it came on tv and the synopsis said exactly the same thing but I decided to watch it anyway. I couldn't believe how much better it was than I thought it would be; this film is a haunting tale of a deeply misunderstood individual who lived well before his time. I thought about this film for days after I watched it.

This is one of those slipped under the radar films by Depp that not a lot of people have seen. It is actually a very good film with Depp in fine acting fettle as the decadent and salacious Lord Rochester and it captures the period well. Oh yes, there's also lots of sex in it - one to hide from the children I think!