|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Buy
this movie |
One of the characters in An Ideal Husband remarks,
“It takes great courage to see the world in all
its tainted glory and still love it.” Who can
argue? So what if nobody’s perfect. It just makes
things all the more interesting. And that goes for
this superb film adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s
classic play. Here is a movie whose few
imperfections never detract from its charming
characters and elegant plot.
Although slow moving in the beginning and
difficult to understand at times because of some
marbles-in-mouth British accents (Minnie Driver,
in particular), An Ideal Husband is a must-see
movie. It tells the story of a respected Member of
Parliament (Jeremy Northam), a man facing personal
and professional disaster at the close of the 19th
century in London. Northam (The Net )is happily
married to a beautiful woman of high principles (Cate
Blanchett) who greatly admires her husband’s
political success.
Everything begins to unravel when a seductive
blackmailer (Julianne Moore from End of the
Affair) threatens to reveal a secret from
Northam’s past that could ruin his reputation,
career, and marriage. His best friend (Rupert
Everett), the most idle man in London, offers to
help him. Everett just happens to be in love with
Northam’s spirited sister (Minnie Driver from Good
Will Hunting), so he is doubly eager to please
him. But his amusing efforts only make things
worse --- at least for awhile --- in scenes
reminiscent of those screwball comedies from the
40s and 50s.
Director/screenwriter Oliver Parker (Othello)
masterfully opens up the play for the big screen,
giving the film a My Fair Lady -like visual
appeal. But he wisely retains much of Oscar
Wilde’s original witty dialogue, most of it spoken
by the marvelous Everett as Lord Goring, a man who
believes, “To love oneself is the beginning of a
lifelong romance.“ While getting dressed for an
important party, Goring informs his butler,
“Fashionable is what one wears oneself and
unfashionable is what others wear.” He also
declares, “A well-made buttonhole is the only link
between nature and art.”
Everett and Blanchett deliver performances of
award-winning caliber in this period romantic
comedy. Both show enormous charisma and talent, a
sure-fire combination for stardom. When
Blanchett’s character realizes even she isn’t
perfect, this Oscar-nominee (for Elizabeth)
fascinated me with her astonishing emotional
changes. But it is Everett (My Best Friend's
Wedding) who carries most of the film with his
humorous sarcasm and blissful approach to
bachelorhood.
An Ideal Husband has an agelessness about it.
Director Parker states, “ I thought it had
terrific contemporary connections.” Everett
agrees. “The issues Wilde addresses, like moral
repression and political scandal, are quite
contemporary,” he observes. Driver adds, “ The
tolerance in Wilde’s work is extraordinary. . . he
comes out with this wonderful theme: we are none
of us perfect. There is grace, beauty and love in
imperfection.”
That same grace, beauty and love shine through in
An Ideal Husband.
(Released by Miramax Films and rated “PG-13” for
brief nudity and sensuality.)
|
Buy
this movie |
Biography | Bookshelf | Home | Newsletter | Betty Jo's Movie Reviews
AUTHORS
|
iTRC Radio! |
Listen today
|
|
To Play
a Show: click on "Play MP3"
To Download a Show:
right click, and "Save
Target As" to desktop! |
|
Sign up for our
FREE
NEWSLETTER!
|
|
|
|
BOOK TALK
RADIO
MOVIES
CLASSIC RADIO DRAMAS
|
NEWSLETTERS FOR
READERS
WRITERS
|
