Dorian Gray Review
Dorian Gray (2009)
Cast: Ben Barnes, Colin Firth, Rebecca Hall, Ben Chaplin.
Based On: 'The Picture Of Dorian Gray' By Oscar Wilde (1890).
Screenplay By: Toby Finlay.
Directed By: Oliver Parker.
Dorian Gray is a British fantasy thriller based on the well known novel 'The Picture Of Dorian Gray' written by Oscar Wilde. Dorian Gray (Ben Barnes) is a handsome, wealthy man who arrives in Victorian London to live in the mansion he inherits from his Grandfather and like most old wealthy Victorian civilians he has his portrait painted to be mounted in the main room of the house. This portrait portrays him beautiful and young which he does not want to change and without realising he sells his soul to his portrait. He never scars, never ages, never dies, any pain or such that he inflicts on his body comes up on his portrait rather than himself, his portrait ages while he doesn't. Dorian Gray shows the highest to lowest points of a beautiful, ironic immortality, but how long can one man live for before he does not understand the world, or himself anymore.
Dorian Gray is a beautifully dark movie, with authentic sets and costumes, you are taken back in time to a darker story and your taken there very successfully. Based in Victorian time London, you see the contrast between the rich and the poor and the way the characters find refuge and consumption within those dark corners. The camerawork in this movie almost makes you feel like your consuming what Gray consumes, feeling drug induced highs and experiencing his pleasure. This film is made very gothic and very well.
This movie was Toby Finlay's first screenplay and he wrote the movie in a way that I felt almost captured Wilde's image, I say almost as like many sequels in films, things based on a first published project can be great but never quite like the original. However the way it is written, when not comparing it to the book, it's an original in itself. With sexual scenes and murders that in 2009 were a great risk to show, but the blood, the orgasms and the heartache are the veins of this movie.
Making a movie with talent such as Colin Firth is brilliant, Firth has never portrayed an unsuccessful character and in this film he is almost like a subtle devil. It is great for me personally, to see Firth with that knifes edge to him and doing it like a first class actor. This is the role that made people begin to see Ben Barnes, that made people realise he is ranged within his talent and gave justice to the character, going from almost pure innocence to mirroring Firths devil tendencies all in one movie.
The negatives I find in this movie is some CGI towards the end, with an emotional climax, I believe they should of only shown different angles and leave it to the audiences imagination, as they have shown us everything else and sometimes the fun of watching a movie is creating shots yourself.
This film was risk and was a thrilling one at that, this sad movie of a mans life, we always want immortality but you see one man go from a god to a broken mirror image of himself. I've said it a few times in this review but it is beautifully done, it is scary at some points and you do find yourself questioning what would you do? Well I can answer that and say you would watch this movie again if you haven't already, it's raw and very enjoyable.
My Rating: 8.5/10
VF
Cast: Ben Barnes, Colin Firth, Rebecca Hall, Ben Chaplin.
Based On: 'The Picture Of Dorian Gray' By Oscar Wilde (1890).
Screenplay By: Toby Finlay.
Directed By: Oliver Parker.
Dorian Gray is a British fantasy thriller based on the well known novel 'The Picture Of Dorian Gray' written by Oscar Wilde. Dorian Gray (Ben Barnes) is a handsome, wealthy man who arrives in Victorian London to live in the mansion he inherits from his Grandfather and like most old wealthy Victorian civilians he has his portrait painted to be mounted in the main room of the house. This portrait portrays him beautiful and young which he does not want to change and without realising he sells his soul to his portrait. He never scars, never ages, never dies, any pain or such that he inflicts on his body comes up on his portrait rather than himself, his portrait ages while he doesn't. Dorian Gray shows the highest to lowest points of a beautiful, ironic immortality, but how long can one man live for before he does not understand the world, or himself anymore.
Dorian Gray is a beautifully dark movie, with authentic sets and costumes, you are taken back in time to a darker story and your taken there very successfully. Based in Victorian time London, you see the contrast between the rich and the poor and the way the characters find refuge and consumption within those dark corners. The camerawork in this movie almost makes you feel like your consuming what Gray consumes, feeling drug induced highs and experiencing his pleasure. This film is made very gothic and very well.
This movie was Toby Finlay's first screenplay and he wrote the movie in a way that I felt almost captured Wilde's image, I say almost as like many sequels in films, things based on a first published project can be great but never quite like the original. However the way it is written, when not comparing it to the book, it's an original in itself. With sexual scenes and murders that in 2009 were a great risk to show, but the blood, the orgasms and the heartache are the veins of this movie.
Making a movie with talent such as Colin Firth is brilliant, Firth has never portrayed an unsuccessful character and in this film he is almost like a subtle devil. It is great for me personally, to see Firth with that knifes edge to him and doing it like a first class actor. This is the role that made people begin to see Ben Barnes, that made people realise he is ranged within his talent and gave justice to the character, going from almost pure innocence to mirroring Firths devil tendencies all in one movie.
The negatives I find in this movie is some CGI towards the end, with an emotional climax, I believe they should of only shown different angles and leave it to the audiences imagination, as they have shown us everything else and sometimes the fun of watching a movie is creating shots yourself.
This film was risk and was a thrilling one at that, this sad movie of a mans life, we always want immortality but you see one man go from a god to a broken mirror image of himself. I've said it a few times in this review but it is beautifully done, it is scary at some points and you do find yourself questioning what would you do? Well I can answer that and say you would watch this movie again if you haven't already, it's raw and very enjoyable.
My Rating: 8.5/10
VF
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