Reviews (102)

The Importance of "Seeing" Earnest
Since I have not read the play by Oscar Wilde nor seen any previous performances of this work, I came into this movie completely unprejudiced, and left utterly delighted. I thought the film was hilarious; in particular the interplay between the two male leads, Colin Firth (Jack)and Rupert Everett (Algy). Judi Dench, as the austure Lady Bracknell, is of course perfection, and although less impressive, yet still quite good, are the two romantic interests of the gentlemen: Francis O'Connor (Gwendolyn) and Reese Witherspoon (Cecily). The tangled webs woven by our two heroes lead to some wonderful moments for Firth and Everett, especially when Algy shows up at Jack's manor to woo the fair Cecily. The scenes where Jack takes matters into his own hands had the audience roaring, and it was a treat to see Mr. Firth in a more playful role then is his usual.
There is also a sort of side plot involving the vicar (Tom Wilkinson)and Cecily's tutor (Anna Massey) which is also quite entertaining, and both actors display their humourous sides most credibly. All in all, a wonderful movie. I thought it was a shame, however, that the studio saw fit to release it only as a limited engagement. I, myself, had to drive nearly 200 miles to view this gem(well worth the trip, I might add), yet the lack of accessability disturbed me as it seemed to assume that only those in "larger metropolitan areas" would make the effort. Well, not only did I make the effort, I fully intend to purchase the DVD when it is released, and am looking forward to that date with relish, so that I may watch Firth and Everett over and over and over....

Run! (don't walk!) to see "The Importance of Being Earnest"!
This movie is a must-see and the epitome of a playful, feel-good comedy. Having never seen nor read the original play by Oscar Wilde I went to the theater with the expectation of merely staring at Colin Firth (whom i LOVED in P&P2!!) & Rupert Everett for an hour or so. I was pleasantly surprised and elated to discover that the movie was comedic, witty and filled with a cast of actors who played off each other wonderfully.

The movie is hysterical-i laughed throughout the entire thing-and it was not merely the verbal wit, but the physical comedy and dare I say again the chemistry of the actors that made the movie a true delight. Colin Firth and Rupert Everett are absolutely perfectly fitted to their roles, and "the muffin scene" (which those who have seen it must remember!) had me laughing so incredibly hard! Reese Witherspoon is grand, as is Frances O'Connor. Judi Dench's role was perfectly suited to her, and the twists of the story put the characters in such hilarious situtations. I must say, my only regrets after viewing this movie are:
1. It was only opened in limited release
and
2. I did not go and see it sooner.

I cannot wait for the DVD ~ the extra features *sigh* ~
...i can only imagine...

a treat
I haven't seen the 1952 version of Earnest, but I must say that I love this one. I laughed the whole way through. Purists might say that the dialogue goes too slowly, that the acting was underdone, or that Reese Witherspoon was miscast. My opinion: the dialogue is, of course, brilliant. It's Oscar Wilde. It is also delivered wonderfully, with perfect expressions that make the witty lines even more funny. Attention is, at times, required to catch these little expressions, but they are what help make the film so great. Also: I loved the casting. I loved it the first time I saw the film. I appreciate the casting even more now that I've read the actual play--the actors portray the characters exceptionally well, with all the quirks and nuances that I gleaned from the book. The add-ins (like the knight in Cecily's daydreams) make the movie, in my opinion, even more delightful. It should be quirky, and, thank goodness, it is. I highly recommend this film--it is a very well-done, lighthearted story full of wit. I definitely enjoyed it.

GOOD except some...
Brilliant, lovely, impeccable casting by the entire Oliver Parker's production team. Almost perfect performances by GORGEOUS actors and actresses upon beautiful costumes design, greenest of the countryside, and exquisite interior decorations. This Oscar Wilde adaption will no doubt remain timeless for the next three decades at least before another remake emerges in Hollywood.

Everything's so agreeable except Reese Witherspoon's cast here... Parker must have been mistaken for Christ sake! Witherspoon is so NOT right for the choice. Her indifferent beauty and bubbly profile are totally incompatible with the rest of the casts - who has got the lordly Englishness. She plays the "ward" of Jack Worthing (Colin Firth) who's kept and schooled in his country house, no wonder.

Superb
I must admit that I decided to watch this movie for just one reason. Colin Firth. And needless to say, I was not disappointed. The movie itself was very funny, not the slapstick stuff that has invaded the cinema screens in the recent past but hilarious dialogues and characters that are so rich in their stupidity that you can't help but laugh away. The concept of the play itself is lovely, the fact that so much importance is given to being christened with an appropriate name. However, I was quite upset with Witherspoon being cast as Cecily, there are a million wonderful British actresses for God's sake, why her ? I have this image of her in Legally Blonde, and then you see her faking this Brit accent and its sad, to say the least. Evert, Firth and Dench are superb in their roles, a must must watch movie. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Look to your wife
This is a dark version of a dark play. Not just in feel and drama, but in setting. I believe only a scene or two is filmed in the daylight. The bulk of this film takes place in the dank cellars, the dark of night and the closed bedrooms where intrigue and guile rule the day.

This is an unusual Shakespeare adaptation, in that nothing funky is being done with it. There is no twist in the time setting, no song and dance, no Italian wonderment. It is about as straight of an adaptation as I have seen. Being this, it lacks any distinction or special genius, but it is quite an able piece of film.

Laurence Fishburn is a great Othello, delivering the lines and slipping under Iago's silver spell. He lacks a certain aura of strength generally associated with Othello, but is otherwise excellent. Kenneth Branagh is a superior Iago, and this may be one of the best performances he has given. He plays an excellent villain, and his performance is the one bright flare in the the film. The dialog is well done, staying with Branagh's conversational style. The rest of the cast are all capable players, easily recognizable from the Shakespeare on film stable.

All in all, I really enjoy this film. It is not a work of genius. It is not amazing. But it is an excellent, workman like filmed version of a difficult play and a worthy edition to any Shakespeare on film collection.

this laurence is no olivier
the only thing this version has on olivier's version is its natural setting. otherwise, all - and i do mean ALL - of the performances are decidedly inferior to the 1965 film. first of all, laurence fishburne is NO olivier. not even close. he was pathetic. most of the time he sounded like he was reading the script, not speaking heartfelt words of a real flesh and blood man. and branagh, i don't know what happened to him but he was not convincing as a villain. he just looks too much like a goody-goody. compare him to the fellow who played iago in olivier's film and you'll see the problem right way. just no comparison. after these two, what do you have? desdemona, maggie smith much more convincing as the virtuous lady. even emilia, iago's abused wife, is better played in olivier's film.

so 3 stars for a nice try. but the 1965 performance is still the standard to measure this play by. it will be along time before another actor comes along who can play othello as well as olivier. i'm not holding my breath.

ps the orson welles version of this play is the best movie version, and his portrayal of othello is almost as good olivier's. also worth a watch.

Required to watch......
For school I was required to watch this since we read the play Othello. I didn't think the movie was that good because some of the acting when it was supposed to be sad I was laughing my head off. Only unless you understand the Shakespeare language well this movie isn't worth it. The movie lacks good acting in my opinon and could of done better especially with Dedsdemona and some of the love scenes which were absolutely pathetic.

Great Acting
I've always been a fan of Kenneth Branagh and both his acting and directing abilities. However, in the film interpretation of "Othello," I was blown away by how well he fit the role of Iago. In the play, Iago has to be two-faced all the time. He shows one side of him to one person, and another side to another. In the film, Iago works very hard to keep up his appearance with all the different characters. No character sees more than one side of him, and his plots are kept to himself. Iago is an actor, and Branagh had to perform his part and I think he did it incredibly. While talking to Othello, his facial reactions would visibly change when Othello looked the other way; the audience saw glimpses of Iago's true motives, but they were always hidden from Othello. It was incredible how quickly the transition from a sinister expression to a loving and loyal expression was made. In one scene, Iago and Othello are hugging, and Iago's face reflects contempt as soon as his face is beside Othello's face.

Iago's changes aren't simply when Othello is around, but the changes are the same for when Iago deals with Roderigo. In the scenes with Roderigo, Iago has to perform doubly hard because he's being partially truthful with Iago. He's showing part of his true motives, but he still has to hide them to some extent to convince Roderigo to do his bidding. The scenes between Branagh and Michael Maloney probably impressed me the most. Roderigo may have been gullible or easily convinced, but Iago was still convincing and persuasive enough to move Roderigo from absolute hatred and distrust to absolute loyalty and thankfulness. In one scene, Roderigo is threatening to kill Iago and by the end of the scene, they're hugging and Iago can barely convince Roderigo to leave his side.

The biggest change that Iago undergoes is when he is caught. In the end of the play, when Emilia finally recognizes what has happened, Iago's facial expressions finally become flat and unwavering. He puts on a stoic face and remains that way into his death. He no longer has to convince anyone of anything because they all know the truth, so he doesn't give anyone any idea of what he's thinking and doesn't talk or change his appearance. This scene left a lasting impression on me, even when he was telling Emilia to be wise or when he was killing her, there is no change in his facial expression.

Overall, I was impressed with the movie. I enjoyed the acting from all the characters (not just Branagh), and I'm sure I'd enjoy watching it repeatedly.

Laurence Fishburne's talent is wasted
Poor Laurence Fishburne. I felt so sorry for him watching this movie because he gives a passionate and multi-dimensional performance as Othello and yet, no one else in the cast matches or even comes close to his level of talent.

As the cover photo suggests, this is a more sexualized version of Shakespeare's tragedy, which doesn't make it bad, but definitely steals the focus from the other emotions that fuel the story. All of Othello's feelings were intense, not just those he had for Desdemona, and this fact is overlooked by the emphasis on his sexuality. Kenneth Braunagh is such a bad Iago that I actually found myself laughing at him. As for Irene Jacob's performance, it is really not worth mentioning here. She is pretty and exotic but she gives no depth to the wounded character of Desdemona. I truly wish that this movie could be redone by a different director with a different supporting cast, because it is a fascinating idea that just falls flat. ... Read more

Reviews (80)

That's Amore!!
I love LOVE this movie! I am sure I have seen it more than eight times since it's initial release...So, beware of it's addictive qualities! This is one of those movies I tell people at the local video store about. As soon as I spot a couple looking for a great flick, I ask if they have seen "An Ideal Husband". It's that good.

Minnie Driver, Cate Blanchett, Julianne Moore, and my new favorite guy, Rupert Everett are the main players in this scrumptious, scandalous tale set in London. It's a period film filled with fabulous homes and costumes.

This movie has everything...love, scandal, letter-chasing, intrigue, politics, affairs, and of course lies. Everybody is involved in gossip. Who was with who?, Who did what?...and the fabulous threads of lies and manipualtion that trickle through the ever twisting and changing plot.

The acting and cast are fabulous. I couldn't have asked for better. Julianne Moore plays a bewitching role as the scandalous visitor from Vienna who loves to start trouble.
The man caught in the middle of the whole mess is Aurthur (Everett), basically the main character that stands amidst of all tradgedies and intrigue that revolve around him and his friends and lovers. He keeps himself busy surrounded by so many catastrophies of the heart, while searching his own.

This movie is a must-own. Charming and fun, it's like a great game of Clue. Who did What, Where, and with Whom.

Charming film, beautifully filmed
The publicity for this film led me to expect quite a different story -- one where Rupert Everett is chased by women intent on marriage. Ho-hum. The film is nothing like it. Jeremy Northam is a man who in youth committed an error of judgement, on which his success and fortune is now based. He is being called to task by Julianne Moore, who does a superb job as the self-serving blackmailer. Cate Blanchette as Northam's wife is forced to choose between her hard-nosed ethics and her love (and she is deeply in love with her husband, he with her, in the sort of charming relationship one rarely sees in a Hollywood production). Then Everett hovers about, a lazy, highly opinionated, and amusingly narcissistic man who finds himself the hero and in love, all in the course of just a few days of his life. A big about-face for a man who seemed so strongly focused on his playboyish, trivial but apparently satisfying lifestyle. Minnie Driver is his love interest, although their whole relationship develops from bickering, to revelation, to romance, right before our eyes. All five main characters are well balanced throughout the film, and all actors play their roles exceedingly well. The men are human, not superheros; the women are tough and intelligent. Emotions play along healthily in each scene, as the story progresses to the will-he, won't-he scene, then beyond to the repercussions and finally the ending, when everyone good-humoredly discovers and accepts that they are all only human. Lovely, entertaining film.

"IT'S NOT THE PERFECT, BUT THE IMPERFECT WHO NEED LOVE"
Don't let the aristocratic costumes deceive you, this is not a story of stifling high-teas consumed in opulent drawing rooms! It's a deliriously enjoyable comedy with colorful dashes of shady plots and mischievous romances.

While a good deal of the wickedly whimsical adaptation of Oscar Wilde's play derives from antics that're suited to stage farces -- switched letters, mistaken identities, farcical blackmailing & ensuing intrigue -- it is ultimately a very, very witty and fast-paced comedy that you'll see more than once, quite likely back to back.

Rupert Everett is the heart and soul of the film, the screen positively crackles when he is on screen delivering his spate of one-liners. Julianne Moore is equally vibrant, if only in a more ascerbic skin. Cate Blanchett, Minnie Driver and Jeremy Northam round out the splendid cast that'll have you hooked.

Despite its maniacal exterior, the movie couches a virtuous message and a beautiful heart. An ingenious gem that your collection is incomplete without.

A Question of Nudity
"An Ideal Husband" is a wonderful drawing room farce. Nodbody does them better than Oscar Wilde and this is a great interpretation of Wilde's play. However, I've read over a hundred reviews here and elsewhere and most -- if not all -- of the reviewers appear to have 'missed the boat.'

That is, in the opening scene at Lord Goring's (Rupert Everett - who is wonderfully cast, by the way) bedroom, where a woman nude is 'glimpsed' sneaking away from the bed -- and the butler's eyes. I thought it was simply an establishing scene for Lord Goring's character (or lack of). HA! Did I drop the ball...

Instead my wife pointed out (after the movie) that the woman was not the prostitute most reviews identified but GERTRUDE. I was shocked and bet otherwise; then I played the DVD (using the pause function to pay it second by second) several times. Yes, it was Gertrude; the wavy hair is the give away since the distant figure is otherwise out of focus!!! I lost the best, but gained a whole new appreciation of the film.

With this in mind, watch "An Ideal Husband" again and everything is different! Gertrude's smug attitude and moral indignation take on an entirely new flavor; the ending, where her husband glosses over the 'revelation' about note suddenly makes sense.

It's a new film. I love it when a director can make a film work on so many levels. Bravo!!!

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance."
AN IDEAL HUSBAND, from Oscar Wilde's sparkling and witty play of the same name, was adapted for the screen by Oliver Parker, the same man who adapted Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. While I enjoyed THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, I think Parker did a much better job with AN IDEAL HUSBAND since the plot is more convoluted, the pacing faster and the characterization deeper.

AN IDEAL HUSBAND centers around two men, one all ready a husband, the other still looking (or being looked at). Sir Robert Chiltern (Jeremy Northam) appears to be the perfect husband, not only to his wife, Lady Gertrude (Cate Blanchett), but also to others in the high society circles in which Lord and Lady Chiltern move. Sir Robert is wealthy, respected and he is a fast-rising politician who hopes to gain a seat in Parliament when the next election rolls around. To that end, he is planning to address the House regarding a shady canal project in Argentina. Of course, being the fine, upstanding citizen that Robert is, he plans on condemning the project.

Enter Mrs. Laura Cheveley (Julianne Moore). Laura has her own reasons why she both wants and needs Parliament to approve the canal project and she is sure she has the means of forcing Sir Robert to comply with her wishes. As perfect, and perfectly impeccable, as Sir Robert looks, he does have a skeleton in his closet. His wealth wasn't obtained honorably and Laura has the proof in the form of a letter. Laura, a devious and sly woman who usually gets what she wants, certainly isn't above blackmail and she lets Sir Robert know it.

Robert turns to his best friend, Lord Arthur Goring (Rupert Everett), a man who can be charming and witty and kind, but more often than not, is drunk and arrogant and lazy. If anyone can charm that letter away from Laura, it's Arthur. This might sound rather like drama or even (horrors) melodrama, but this is Oscar Wilde...it's most definitely comedy, but comedy with plenty of complications. Some of the most hilarious moments occur when Sir Arthur is speaking to his manservant, Phipps (Peter Vaughan).

While Gertrude considers Robert an ideal husband, Laura begins to think that Arthur definitely has the makings of one. Arthur, though, has other ideas and his interests, and his heart, lie with Robert's sister, Mabel (Minnie Driver). While Arthur is trying to figure out if and how he would make an ideal husband for Mabel, his own father, the Earl of Caversham (John Wood) keeps telling him to "get on with it" and "do something with his life,"i.e., get married.

To his great credit, Oliver Parker has managed to translate almost all of Wilde's best witticisms from the play into his screenplay, and he's used a very light touch, something comedy like this needs. A film needs more than sparkling witticisms to keep it afloat, however, but this one, unlike THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, definitely has it all, though like THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, the dialogue is the standout. In fact, it's so sparkling and always fresh that it makes one wonder just how Wilde managed it.

Oliver Parker has assembled a perfect cast for AN IDEAL HUSBAND. The very underrated Rupert Everett is wonderful as he discovers just who and what he is, and Jeremy Northam is just as good as a man who must learn to live with the consequences of his actions. Julianne Moore, though not quite convincing as an upper crust Englishwoman, is so sly and devious that it didn't matter that her accent or mannerisms were a bit more American than British. Cate Blanchett is perfect in her role and seemed very comfortable with it and Minnie Driver is simply wonderful. She says volumes with her facial expressions alone. She and Everett were my favorites in this film.

The costumes and sets were gorgeous without being overdone and the cinematography was perfect.

AN IDEAL HUSBAND is a perfect period piece and it's too bad that it's been all but eclipsed by mindless action/adventure films and thrillers. Would be filmmakers and actors, as well as writers, can learn a lot with films like AN IDEAL HUSBAND.

AN IDEAL HUSBAND is one of my favorite DVDs and I think any fan of Oscar Wilde, period pieces or romantic comedies, once they see this film, is going to have to own it, just as I did. I can recommend it without hesitation or reservation of any kind. ... Read more