PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END (2007) **1/2 Singapore isn't in the Caribbean. Grimy people of every race and nationality with bad teeth. For extended periods they forget that the franchise is supposed to be funny, which is ok, I guess, because they forgot how to be funny, too. Utterly disjointed, incoherent gobbledygook, those are among its primary characteristics. Johnny Depp's character was originally a tremendous cartoon of a pirate, now it's a lesser fabrication of itself. Even so, he's the second best thing about the film, and so it doesn't help that he doesn't show up for what's already seeming like hours. But isn't all the metaphysical, other-worldly desert of Davy Jones locker stuff ambitious? Maybe, but in a very lazy way. Bunch of plot twists that make you pay attention, even though they're not really worth it. What about the metaphorical asides at big business and capitalism? This is a Disney film, did you notice the merchandising? If the metaphors had been wittier, they might have at least been presentable as representations of ambivalent hypocrisy. You could probably travel the world far and near without finding a less appropriate actress for her role than Keira Knightley. Not that she doesn't try. She is, in fact, absolutely desperate to be tough. The real ones need not bother. Still though, Depp's life force and enthusiasm is such that you can tell that he's having a helluva great time, even though he knows what a dog the film should be. He just isn't quite enough to pull it off all by himself. Which brings us to Keith Richards. As to so many situations over the years, Keith brings integrity, unpredictability, and that buzz. Things do improve, they do elevate, they do get even higher than themselves. The unsalvageable and unworthy of salvation is actually sustained in something akin to genuine glory. "The world used to be a bigger place." "World's still the same. There's just less in it." Maybe, but never so little that there's nothing of interest...not enough...for Captain Jack Sparrow. Or Keith Richards. Or me. Or you, got live if ya want it! They close by experimenting with about 19 conclusions, but at least they do us the service of leaving after the one that works.
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