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							The Tale and My Review: Everyone has heard of Washington Irving's story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, about a Headless Horseman that terrorizes a small upstate village. Director Tim Burton has made a good film out of that tale, combining small-town conspiracy, hidden motives, and the supernatural. Sleepy Hollow is the same basic story as Irving's classic, with a few differences which serve to add depth. It didn't surprise me to learn the film was shot almost entirely in England, as Sleepy Hollow's real woods (there is really a town of Sleepy Hollow in upstate New York) look nothing like those in this film; I've been there myself, and while upstate New York's forests are beautiful, they're not quite as intense and creepy as those depicted here. The film has the typical Burton look: dark, surreal, eerie yet visually stunning, with a black and white grainy texture to it; almost the only color involved seems to be blood red, which runs fairly often, as the heads roll and the death count rises. Johnny Depp plays Ichabod Crane, a detective from 1799 New York City (in the classic story he was a teacher) with a mysterious past. He is sent to Sleepy Hollow by a burgomaster who is fed up with Crane's insistence on actually investigating crime instead of plowing over it. Christopher Lee plays the burgomaster (or judge), in a cameo that recalls why he was so intense as Dracula - those amazing eyes! The village 'squire' is Baltus Van Tassel (Michael Gambon), whose daughter Katrina (Christina Ricci) quickly has Ichabod under her spell. Miranda Richardson also stars as Lady Van Tassel, Baltus' second wife, and Christopher Walken as The Hessian Soldier, aka the Headless Horseman; he does what he always does best - menace the world, snarling and snapping all the way! The cast does well, particularly Depp. I definitely recommend Sleepy Hollow to anyone who has an appreciation for something slightly different, ala Tim Burton. In way of a warning, blood spurts, quite graphically, and there are a couple of sudden shocks (as well there should be!) so be prepared to be spooked! Noteworthy l Sleepy Hollow recieved Academy Award nominations in the following categories: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration Best Cinematography Best Costume Design and won an Oscar for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration [Rick Heinrichs | art director || Peter Young | set decorator] l Ray Park, Toad from X-Men and Darth Maul from Star Wars, acts as the 'fight double' for the Headless Horseman [for example, he's the one fighting with Casper Van Dien [Brom Van Brunt)]. Links l Text of Washington Irving's classic story online
Sleepy Hollow 1999 || Rated R Directed by Tim Burton   Written by Washington Irving [wrote original novelThe Legend of Sleepy Hollow] Kevin Yagher Andrew Kevin Walker Andrew Kevin Walker Cast Johnny Depp || Constable Ichabod Crane Christina Ricci || Katrina Anne Van Tassel Miranda Richardson || Lady Mary Van Tassel/The Western Woods Crone Michael Gambon || Baltus Van Tassel Casper Van Dien || Brom Van Brunt Jeffrey Jones || Reverend Steenwyck Christopher Lee || The Burgomeister Richard Griffiths || Magistrate Samuel Philipse Ian McDiarmid || Dr. Thomas Lancaster Michael Gough || Notary James Hardenbrook Marc Pickering || Young Masbath Lisa Marie || Ichabod's Mother Steven Waddington || Mr. Killian Christopher Walken || The Hessian Horseman Claire Skinner || Midwife Elizabeth 'Beth' Killian Produced by Francis Ford Coppola || executive producer  Larry Franco || executive producer Scott Rudin || producer  Adam Schroeder || producer  Mark Roybal || associate producer  Kevin Yagher || co-producer  Celia Costas || line producer: New York Produced for American Zoetrope Mandalay Pictures Paramount Pictures
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