--- title: "The Libertine: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-libertine/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-libertine" critics_score: 52 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Libertine (2004): what the critics said Critics' score 52 from 14 reviews: 4 positive, 4 mixed, 6 negative. Most critics agree on one thing: Johnny Depp. His Earl of Rochester is praised in nearly every review, including the hostile ones, as charismatic, immersive and convincing even when what surrounds him is not. Samantha Morton draws nearly as much goodwill for her Lizzie Barry, and several reviews single out her scenes with Depp as the film’s centre. John Malkovich’s sardonic Charles II gets a kinder word than most supporting turns, and the grimy London is admired as a corrective to prettier period pictures. Beyond the cast the reviews split widely, from warm four-star notices to outright dismissals, and the negatives outnumber the positives. The complaints cluster on pace and purpose: a plot that fails to gather momentum, a protagonist whose cynicism leads nowhere, and photography that Empire finds foggy. Radio Times and Total Film are the warmest voices; The New Yorker finds the film unfinished and the Los Angeles Times finds it tiresome. ## Radio Times — Tom Hutchinson Rating 4/5. Hutchinson praises Johnny Depp’s remarkable performance and finds the film’s approach to the Restoration era refreshingly grounded. He also singles out Samantha Morton’s performance and John Malkovich’s intriguing portrayal of Charles II. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-4y1lag/the-libertine/) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 4/5. 18 November 2005. The review calls the film a murky delight, praising its decadent wit and vulgarity despite a plot that struggles to gather momentum. It singles out Johnny Depp’s outrageous, charismatic performance as the film’s greatest strength. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-libertine-review/) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 20 November 2005. French finds the film an intriguing and unusually strong character study, praising Johnny Depp’s powerful performance. He also singles out John Malkovich’s sardonic King Charles and Samantha Morton’s touching portrayal of Lizzie Barry. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2005/nov/20/features.review8) ## Variety — Steve Chagollan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 15 November 2005. The critic finds the film a fearless, engaging meditation, though its murky cinematography is a significant flaw. He especially praises the performances of Johnny Depp and Samantha Morton, whose scenes together give the film a strong center. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2005/film/awards/the-libertine-1117933012/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. No specific praise or complaint can be verified. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-libertine-2006) ## Time Out — TJ Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The available metadata frames the review around an audience-baiting opening monologue. The article text is unavailable, so its overall verdict and any further praise or complaint cannot be established. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-libertine-1) ## Slant Magazine — Jeremiah Kipp Rating 2/4. 11 November 2005. The review finds the film leaden and monotonous despite Depp’s entertaining performance. It singles out Samantha Morton for bringing bracing gravitas to the film. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-libertine/) ## The New York Times — A. O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 25 November 2005. Scott’s verdict is mixed, finding the film excessive in some ways and insufficient in others. The review centers on Johnny Depp’s portrayal of the Earl of Rochester as its chief draw. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/25/movies/a-noble-with-big-and-fatal-appetites.html) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Rating D+. 11 January 2006. Phipps finds the film dramatically directionless and its protagonist’s cynicism ultimately empty. He praises Johnny Depp’s immersive performance and Dunmore’s grimy London, but says neither gives the film a compelling purpose. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-libertine-1798201347) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 20 November 2005. Lane finds the film dour and ultimately unfinished, despite its flashes of promise. He singles out the scene where Rochester teaches Elizabeth Barry to perform, praising the chemistry between Depp and Morton. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2005/11/28/boy-wonders) ## IndieWire — Indiewire Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 21 November 2005. The critics find the film conventional and reductive, failing to convey the complexity of Rochester’s transgressions. They praise its grubby period atmosphere and Depp’s performance, while singling out the vivid depiction of Rochester’s physical decline. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/a-schlock-to-the-system-laurence-dunmores-the-libertine-77636/) ## Empire — Sam Toy Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Toy finds the film messy and dull, concluding that its story fails to hold interest. He praises Michael Nyman’s score but says the cinematography is foggy and the supporting performances are wasted. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/libertine-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 25 November 2005. Turan finds the film tiresome and emotionally unengaging despite Depp’s convincing performance. He praises Depp’s forceful opening scene but says the film fails to make the most of his interactions with Samantha Morton. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-nov-25-et-libertine25-story.html) ## Eye for Film — Josh Morrall Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 23 November 2005. Morrall finds the film slow, flawed and ultimately not worth watching, despite its cast. He singles out Johnny Depp’s performance for praise, while criticizing the screenplay and Johnny Vegas’s performance. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-libertine-film-review-by-josh-morrall) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-libertine.md