From Hell stars Johnny Depp and Heather Graham in a tale about Jack the Ripper. Depp plays Inspector Abberline, a brilliant, drug-addicted investigator who can "see" the victims when in a hallucinogenic state. His partner tells him they used to burn people like him alive. Graham is street-wise prostitute Mary Kelly. As we’ve seen in many other films, she has an uncanny ability to deliver a complicated character that blends sexuality, innocence, and toughness. Even dressed down like she is, her appeal shines through. It’s these two fine performances that are the centerpiece of the film.

Not much is known about Jack the Ripper, other than he’s purported to be a serial killer who murdered a number of prostitutes in shady parts of London. This film has explanations and conspiracies that extend right on up to the Royal Family. But don’t think that this is another JFK ordeal that will have historians and conspiracy theorists arguing until the end of the earth. This is simply a story and it’s delivered with a first-class presentation. It works surprisingly well, I believe, because of the Hughes Brothers experience in gangland-type films.

The Hughes Brothers have a gift for showing the gritty underbelly of society. Whether it’s a low-income neighborhood in Los Angeles in the late 1900s or in London in the 1800s, it doesn’t really matter. They capture the core and the essence of down-and-dirty street life, and it brings a sense of realism to this film that I couldn’t previously imagine. If they had been able to keep up the pace they started with throughout this film, it would have gotten at least a **** rating. However, after a blistering first half, the film does mellow just a little too much for my liking and it loses a touch of momentum. It is a minor quibble for a surprisingly good film.