5/5 Wickedly Clever Humor With a Moral
  by Cara Holman (Portland, OR)
An excellent adaptation of Oscar Wilde's play of the same name, this film is peppered with memorable one-liners that only Oscar Wilde could have penned. Just a smattering:

Lord Arthur Goring: To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.
___________
Lord Caversham: I don't know how you stand society. A lot of damned nobodies talking about nothing.
Lord Arthur Goring: I love talking about nothing, Father. It's the only thing I know anything about.
___________
Laura: Do you know, Gertrude, I don't mind your talking morality a bit. Morality is simply the attitude we adopt towards people whom we personally dislike. You dislike me, I am quite aware of that, and I have always detested you.
___________
Lord Arthur Goring: My dear Mrs. Cheveley, I should make you a very bad husband.
Laura: I don't mind bad husbands. I've had two. They amused me immensely.
___________
Laura: Wonderful woman, Lady Markby, isn't she? Talks more and says less than anybody I ever met.
___________

But what makes this film so compelling is that behind the humor lies a thoughtful story of a man forced to choose between his honor and his reputation. Highly recommended.


5/5 The more things change, the more they stay the same.
  by Miles D. Moore (Alexandria, VA USA)
Oliver Parker's film of Oscar Wilde's "An Ideal Husband" demonstrates that Wilde's epigrams have lost none of their witty sting, and that his observations on society remain as profound and sagacious as they were more than a hundred years ago. Societal customs and mores may have changed enormously, but human nature has not. Wilde's themes of political skulduggery and financial swindling at the highest levels of society are all the more pertinent today, and the theme of dark secrets between men and women is as old as Aristophanes and as new as the latest rap song. All of this roils beneath the elegant, creamy surface of Wilde's story, brought to life in this film by a sterling cast amid the most sumptuous photography, costumes and set design imaginable.

Unfortunately, the themes of dark secrets and societal hypocrisy had enormous echoes in Wilde's own life. Parker creates a deep poignancy in the film in a scene portraying Wilde himself taking a bow after a rapturously received performance of "The Importance of Being Earnest." A caption at the beginning of the film tells us the action takes place during the London social season of 1895, which in real life was the exact time Wilde was sent to Reading Gaol. Wilde's appearance in the film can only be seen as a lament for what might have been, if Wilde had never met Bosie or read Queensberry's card.

The video transfer on the DVD is crisp and beautiful; however, there is very little in the way of extras, except for a short featurette about the making of the film. In the featurette, however, there is an amusing glimpse of Rupert Everett filming a scene in which his feet apparently would not be visible in the finished film. He is wearing impeccable white tie...and running shoes.

5/5 An Ideal Movie
  by C. Fuehr (California)
Much funnier than "The Importance of Being Earnest". Great cast. Fantastic plot twists and writing. I pull it out about once a year and laugh each time.

3/5 lovely and flawed
  by Furio (Genova - Italy)
Others have reviewed this film accurately stating a lot which was well said.

Vaguely inspired by Wilde -some quotations feel contrived indeed- this is a good film as long as you disregard its main theme, that of everybody's being imperfect and that real love and maturity are achieved by accepting one's partner and oneself for what they really are, flaws and all.

In fact, when dealing with the matter, the rhythm skips some beats, acting become less convincing and the script even more so.

Much is to be enjoyed instead: the accurate rendition of a specific time, with fabulous costumes and settings, the good acting and the continuos, spotless bantering of the different characters that, when forgetting about Wilde, sounds sharp and cutting and convincing on the actor's mouths.
Poor Everett has to deal with more Wildean lines than everyone else and that he can survive them tells us volumes about how good an actor he is.

Do not misunderstand me, I love Wilde and I am sure each of these actors would be perfectly capable of doing one of his plays: unfortunately this is not one of his plays and the script, elsewhere sparkling, suddenly loses gloss when Wilde is being imitated. Or when the attempt is made at conveying the deep theme mentioned above.

Therefore enjoy this choral comedy, for whatever good it has to offer but forget Wilde and be merciful on the more profound moments.

5/5 Update version
  by Richard R. Hays (Indiana, USA)
An updated version of Oscar Wilde story. Very well done. I must dig it out and watch it again.