# Wilde (1997)

### reviewed by
Ted Prigge

    WILDE (1997)
    A Film Review by Ted Prigge
    Copyright 1998 Ted Prigge

Director: Brian Gilbert Writer: Julian Mitchell (based on the book by Richard Ellmann) Starring: Stephen Fry, Jude Law, Michael Sheen, Jennifer Ehle, Tom Wilkinson, Vanessa Redgrave, Gemma Jones, Judy Parfitt, Zoë Wanamaker, Ioan Gruffudd, Matthew Mills

I think that the greatness of a person can be judged in how much of a bullshit artist they are, the least being more commendable. In that respect, playwright/philosopher/world's most famous bisexual Oscar Wilde is definitely one of history's most commendable presences, right up there with Thomas More as people who stayed completely true to who they were, no matter what the consequences...and of course, there were consequences. This is just one of two things that the biopic on his life, "Wilde" is trying to say, the other being that no matter what the time period, a man like Oscar Wilde cannot exist on the world for a wide variety of reasons.

The film chronicles the latter years of his life, starting in 1882 during his one year trip to America, and then showing him in the prime of his life, when he wrote his only novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray," and numerous plays, such as "Lady Windermere's Fan" and "The Importance of Being Earnest." But unlike most authors and playwrights, Wilde was as dynamic and witty as the plays he wrote. As played to total perfection by Stephen Fry, a big fan of Wilde's work, Oscar is probably the most charming man to ever walk the earth, as well as the greatest conversationalist, at least of his time. He can charm anyone, even the most ignorant brutes, and has the ability to shoot out intelligent, aphoritic one-liners on cue, such as "It's appalling what people do in front of works of art," and "Alcohol, taken in large quantities, can bring about all the effects of drunkeness" (I'm paraphrasing here).

What some encyclopedias and various history books leave out, though, is that Oscar was one of the very first widely known open homosexuals. The film shows what may be his fictitious epiphany when a visitor to his house, Robbie Ross (Michael Sheen), seduces Oscar once his wife, Constance (Jennifer Ehle), is asleep, and ends up carrying on a short-lived affair with him. After a couple other suitors, Oscar falls deeply in love with Lord Alfred "Bosie" Douglas (Jude Law, the bitter, scene-stealing cripple from "Gattaca"), an incredibly selfish, sometimes ill-tempered young man who captures Oscar's heart because: a) he thinks he's so beautiful that he's a work of art, and Oscar is obsessed with beauty in art; and b) because he generally feels bad for what a hard life he's had so far.

The film plays two ways: as a literal lifeline of Oscar's life, showing his plays being written, and depicting his tragic downfall; and as every biopic should be told, as a parable for our own lives. Every great biopic finds some way of connecting the people they glamorize to our own lives, and the film views Oscar as the thing we all should be, and the thing we can never be. His life, at least the better part of it, is a wonderful dream, where we discover who we really are, and instead of doing things we never want to do, we be what we think we are. Oscar discovered who he was in the middle of his life, and from that point on, decided to live life to the fullest.

But the film depicts the reason why this is a fantasy-like fallacy, showing Oscar as one of the world's great selfish people. Characters pop up from time to time, are given a lot of attention, and then disappear for long amounts of time, reappearing for a brief scene of two, then disappearing again. Characters like his patient wife, who has had two kids with him, and wishes him to come home, hardly sees him, and the movie sometimes seems to forget her. The same goes for Robbie Ross, who, despite knowing that he was merely the man who opened up Oscar to homosexuality, remains totally loyal to him, and tries to help in the later years of his life.

Despite a few shortcomings, "Wilde" is a magnificently film, filled with a sometimes sensual feeling, and filled with the same way of looking at history as "A Man for All Seasons" did. The sets and costumes are beautifully lavish, the cinematography is utterly gorgeous, and even the numerous gay love scenes are tastefully handled, never seeming a bit like pornography. And we see a wonderful, loving portrait of Oscar Wilde, who's own time was not kind to him, but who's seen that history has seen him as almost a martyr for true self identity. Yes, you can easily point out that the way he lived was selfish, and that his downfall was not really Bosie's fault but really his, but you can't deny that you wish that you could discover yourself like Oscar did, and have the courage to act on it. This is why Oscar Wilde is viewed so favorly in history, and why someone lke Bosie, who was a homosexual more out of revenge against his tyrannical father (Tom Wilkinson from "The Full Monty") and society as well, is viewed as merely "at one time the object of Oscar Wilde's affections."

One more final note, actually more of a redundant note, in all actuality, should be made towards Stephen Fry, who plays Oscar Wilde (I can't believe that I almost forgot to praise him more). Fry's performance is probably the most natural and dead-on performance I have seen in a very long time, and I'm starting the campaign now to get him nominated for an Oscar. Folks, you will probably not see a better performance this year by an actor, because, for all intensive purposes, Stephen Fry IS Oscar Wilde, and every time I read Wilde's literature or hear one of his hilarious aphorisms, I will hear the voice of Fry. That is all.

    MY RATING (out of 4): ***1/2

Homepage at: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/8335/

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