Dorian Gray (2009)

Plot: A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty eternally, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqKJij-QsX0

Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdldbClOGGY&feature=related

Starring: Oscar nominee Colin Firth (A Single Man & St. Trinian's II: The Legend of Fritton's Gold), Caroline Goodall (Pulse (TV) & "Alias"), Ben Barnes (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian & Stardust), Ben Chaplin (Me and Orson Welles & Murder By Numbers), Emilia Fox ("Silent Witness" & "Merlin"), Rebecca Hall (The Town & Frost/Nixon).

Written by: Toby Finlay based on the novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde

Directed by: Oliver Parker (St.Trinian's II: The Legend of Fritton's Gold & The Importance of Being Earnest)

Review: A picture is worth a thousand words in this morality take that seems to have translated well from page to screen. The imagery is quite frightening and all the actors, especially Firth, are great. An effective cautionary tale about the perils of moral ambiguity. Some of the character development, however, seemed a bit lacking in explanation in regards to the time jump when Dorian goes away. A few of the characters, particularly Lord Henry Wotton, had changed with no explanation. Another issue was the immodesty portrayed, or rather, how it was portrayed. I understand that moral depravity has to be explained in some way in order to show the consequences for that behavior, but I felt like I was watching a peep show that didn't serve the plot whatsoever. The director could've made his point more artistically. I wrote those scenes off as a cheap, pornographic ploy to fill theater seats. That being said, the rest of the film was eerie, beautifully shot, well-acted, and well-written. I would still highly recommend this film as a viewer who has never read the book.

Rating:

Writing-B

Acting-A

Directing-B

Music-A- "Sadness Waltz" by Hans Christian Lumbye is used beautifully.

Cinematography-A

Editing-A

Hair-A

Makeup-A

Costumes-A

Art Direction-A

Visual Effects-A

"Noteworthy"-good solid film