The thirsting anticipation for the late Heath Ledger’s final performance on the silver screen has at last been quenched. “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus,” written and directed by Terry Gilliam, brings audiences into a new world.

The film revolves around a bet that Dr. Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) places with Mr. Nick/the devil (Tom Waits). When he loses the reckless gamble for youth and immortality, he must trade his unborn daughter, Valentina (Lily Cole), to Mr. Nick as soon as she turns 16. In order to save his daughter, Dr. Parnassus competes with the devil, searching for good souls as the devil seeks the bad.

The indebted Dr. Parnassus hosts a traveling theater, in which audience members individually step through a mirror into an alternate universe, created by their imaginations. Here Dr. Parnassus tests people’s morality by giving them a series of options.

His goal is to have each being make pure decisions. A few days before Valentina’s 16th birthday, the theater crew rescues the secretly troubled Tony/George (Heath Ledger). Using his handsome appearance and suave skills, Tony helps the theater lure more customers and charm them into making untainted decisions.

Shockingly enough, Tony’s character changes appearances as he steps into the Imaginarium. His true character and desires are revealed, and his alternate images, played by Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell, appear.

The physical shifting of Heath Ledger’s character is ineffective. It distracts from the focus of the story, because the audience is drawn back to the reality of Ledger’s death during the shooting of “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.”

The audience, however, remains unaware of the doctor’s purpose and intentions for the majority of the movie, sparking confusion and frustration for three-quarters of the film. Yet the plot ties together for a brilliant finish.

Despite the breaks in flow created by the multiple actors, twists and sharp turns and the incredible, visually satisfying settings create an unbelievable and captivating film. “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus” provides an enchanting final performance by Heath Ledger.