Wilde Movie Review (1997)
A movie about a famous playwright that we barely remember the life of, Wilde is the exceedingly charming and engaging story of Oscar Wilde’s marriage, male lovers, and downfall in society. A really great film.
When I was in school, I fell in love with the play The Importance of Being Earnest. It is so clever and funny with beautiful pacing and entertaining characters. I just loved it. I knew that it was written by Oscar Wilde in the late 1800s, but I never thought about anything further than that. I never knew a thing about the author’s life or what his inspiration might be for this fantastic piece.
Wilde is a film about the life of Oscar Wilde. It quickly covers the years in which he meets his wife, the births of his two children, and mentions of his early writing. It also covers his various homosexual dalliances, and later, the relationship with beautiful lover, Alfred Bruce “Bosie” Douglas, for whom he ultimately gave up his standing, reputation, and freedom.
I really enjoyed this movie and I’m not sure I can tell you why, but I’m going to do my best. Some films just have an innate charm, which I absolutely found here. You are never bored, you are always intrigued, and Oscar Wilde is such a character that you never quite know what he will choose to do next.
Wilde is somewhat childlike in his approaches to the world and his art, saying “The young are the only ones with enough experience to judge my work.” He is tender and gentle with his children and kind and loving to his wife, but also neglects who she is and what she needs in almost every way. He loves her as much as he can, but, not only is he gay and drawn to the love of other men, but he is selfish and doesn’t realize what he is doing to her.
With societal norms being what they were at the time, there is much discussion and allusion to the fact that it doesn’t matter if things are actually okay at home, they just need to look good. And over time, with Wilde carrying on his double life – which becomes less and less hidden over the years – his relationship with Bosie becomes the thing he clings to as well as his undoing.
Stephen Fry is Oscar Wilde and portrays him well, as he is kind of an oddity peeking out from a world of societal order. The rest of the fantastic cast includes actors like Michael Sheen, Jude Law, Vanessa Redgrave, Tom Wilkinson, and Jennifer Ehle.
There is a charm to Wilde, both the man and the movie. It is as if it holds a little sparkle in its figurative eye and keeps you entranced, wanting to know what happens next. The pacing works well and it’s a fascinating story. I now realize that while The Importance of Being Earnest is about society and living a double life, Wilde was truly coming through in his art. I’m glad that we remember him and his plays now, because there was a time that might have been entirely impossible. Watch this, it’s very enjoyable.
Runtime: 117 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: R
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Available: Free on PlutoTv, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
