John Corda I've seen Oscar Wilde portrayed on film before. I remember Robert Morley and also Peter Finch. They both provided inklings into the heart and mind of of one of the literary giants of the 19th Century. But one aspect of the tragedy, because, let's face it, it is a tragedy. His relationship with Alfred Douglas that in a very direct way, will mark his destiny. It was so difficult to believe that Peter Finch's Wilde will go to war for someone like John Frazer's Bosie. Good looking yes but devoid of the most important element, if you are going to believe in the power that Bosie had over Wilde. Finch and Frazer have the sexual chemistry of two slices of white bread but here, in this 1997 Wilde with Stephen Fry in the title role the mystery is revealed, Jude Law makes the whole thing totally believable. The desire he inspires we see in Oscar Wilde's eyes. Stephen Fry is another Humbert Humbert to Jude Law's Lolita. Amazing when the most incomprehensible action becomes totally understandable in the face of an actor. That alone, makes this Wilde my favorite.

Boudoirbunny As an incredible Oscar Wilde fan I have to give credit where it's due. And in my opinion this movie definitely deserves a lot of it ! My expectations of this movie were rather high before watching it and it has not disappointed me in the slightest. The acting was absolutely wonderful, the directing superb and the setting just beautiful. The cast were amazingly well chosen and suited to their characters. From the very beginning I was enthralled by the performance of the cast. Most notably the magnificent Mr. Fry !The movie gave a remarkable insight into the impassioned and tumultuous life of Oscar Wilde. Him as a budding writer, him getting married to Constance, his realisation of his homosexuality and eventually his demise as the most famous and renowned writer of late Victorian society. It shows everything and covers the most important details of his life as a famed writer without becoming boring or slow. It is an extremely flowing, fast and easy movie to watch ! The majority of the movie centres around his furious relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas. The movie gives you the impression that from the very moment Oscar met "Bosie " he fell for him straight away, which by all accounts is very true. Even though he loved his wife dearly he could not deny his over powering and all consuming love for "Bosie". And yes. I believe it was love. Oscar was sincerely devoted to "Bosie " and that comes across in the movie. He fell for him like no other ! But in the strict, conventional and Victorian London their relationship and fumble's with other men were to be ostracised and deemed disgraceful. This movie shows the sheer outrage Oscar's affair with Lord Douglas and his dealings with other "men ". Who were known to be lower class rent boy's. It shows an outstandingly talented yet somewhat self destructive genius persecuted for his lifestyle. When Oscar Wilde (Stephen Fry)is facing small number of years in prison his great friend Robbie Ross gives him the chance up to go abroad and escape the harsh sentencing and public abuse. But no, Oscar refused to go and decided to stay and face the music, so to speak. Not only does this reflect a man of astonishing courage it reflects a man of truth, honesty and nobleness. Another thing I adored about this movie was the significance the makers of the movie put of the conventionality, snobbery and close-mindedness of that time. And they way Oscar Wilde was destined to not only be an individual who wasn't afraid to push boundaries and be daring. But to be a man of exceptional excellence ! Stephen Fry captivated the endearingly flamboyant, bold and imaginative Oscar. Michael Sheen seems to have Robbie Ross down to a "T" as the more kind, caring and likable of Oscar's lovers and as the movie progresses- friends. They become great friends and it is clearly obvious that Robbie Ross had Oscar's best interests at heart. Of course, he does not approve of the treacherous "Bosie" ! And neither did any of Oscar Wilde's acquaintances, family and friends. Stephen Fry couldn't have possibly been more convincing as Oscar Wilde. He embodied the very essence of the genius that was Mr Wilde himself. Seeing Stepen Fry play the lovable, vulnerable and affectionate Oscar was spectacular. The best thing I've seen Stepen Fry in yet ! Jude Law was also the perfect choice for the part of the spoilt, devious and manipulative Lord Alfred Douglas. Aka "Bosie". Who in certain parts of the film who can't help but feel an ounce of sympathy for. I know, I must be a very empathetic person ! But the fact is that he comes from a rather unstable family with a brutal father who over the years has viciously tormented and verbally abused his son. Oscar Wilde wants to love "Bossie " and show him that the beauty of love. Only Mr Douglass is not the most loving individual. The fact that he encouraged Oscar to be indulge in a depraved love life shows that he was a man out for himself. I'm not saying he didn't love Oscar, I'm sure he did but in a very selfish, inconsiderate and mercenary way. As for Oscar he appears to be the complete opposite. He is enchanted and enticed by the youth of Lord Alfred Douglas. It was a pleasant surprise to see how brilliantly Stephen Fry and Jude Law complimented each other's performances. The is a sparkling energy between them both that is delightful to watch and observe. Stephen Fry rained supreme as the loving, gentle and tender Oscar and Jude Law was marvellous as the not so loving or forgiving Lord Alfred Douglas. Micheal Sheen was perfectly suited playing Oscar's great friend Robbie Ross. Tom Wilkinson was fabulous as the spiteful Marquess Of Queensbury. Jennifer Ehle was marvellous at playing Constance Loyld. She captured her introverted, shy and quiet personality wonderfully well. Vanessa Redgrave did the most stunning Irish accent. Her acting was also pretty sharp too as the proud Mother of Oscar. Last but not least- Zoe Wannamaker was grand at playing the honest and interesting Ava Lerverson. I found this movie to be an absolute must see for any literature fan. It's dialogue is terrific and the acting tremendous. Director Brian Gilbert and screen writers did a magnificent job.

sol (Some Spoilers) Even though the Irish born Oscar Wilde, Stephen Fry, was one of the most celebrated men of letters, in his poetry short stories as well as a playwright, during the British Victorian Age it was the extremely prudish and restrictive ideas of that era in European History that in the end destroyed him.In the film "Wilde" we see a vibrant and full of life Oscar Wilde" brought down not really by his own in your face sexual conduct, in his homosexuality, but by those young men that he was sexually involved with. It all started out so innocently in Oscar getting involved with young and gay Alfred "Bosie" Douglas, Jude Law, who was anything but discreet about his relationship with Oscar. It's when Bosie's father the ultra macho and "fists of fury" the Marquess of Queensberry, Tom Wilkinson, found out that his son was both gay-as if he didn't know by then-and having an affair with Oscar that he decided to destroy Oscar's literary career as well has his life. Oscar at first just ignored the vulgar and load mouth Lord Queensberry but when finally forced to fight back by using his both sharp and stinging wit, like a left jab, and overwhelming intelligence, like a combination straight right and left hook,to keep Lord Queensberry and his foul and guttural language directed towards him at bay Oscar thus made him look like the unsavory and low class fool and ignoramus that he really was.It's was when Bosie, who hated his father for driving his younger bother to suicide and his mom into an insane asylum, goaded Oscar to take his father to court for insulting him by calling Oscar a "queer" and "sodomite" in public that sealed his fate as well as end his brilliant career as a giant in the history of English Literature. There were just too many skeletons,live as well as dead, in Oscar's closet to prove Lord Queensberry's accusations about his secret life, Oscar was in fact married with two young boys at the time, to be absolutely true. Put on trial, after Lord Queensbery was found innocent, for acts of gross indecency Oscar's witty and brilliant defense of his actions were not enough to convince a jury get him off. Convicted and sentenced to two years of hard labor at Reading Prison Oscar, who never as much as picked up anything as heavy as a book in his entire life, was subjected to such inhuman treatment by working on a treadmill for six hours at a stretch, together with his incurable syphilis, that he eventually fell completely to pieces.Finally released from prison, after serving his two year sentence, Oscar ended up broke and alone with his faithful wife, who swore she'll never leave him, Constance, Jennifer Ehle, dying at an early age and his two sons, with the court declaring Oscar an unfit parent, taken way from him. Forced to flee England Oscar, now calling himself Sabastian Melmoth, died broke and forgotten to everyone but his closest friends and family members in Paris France on November 30, 1900. Just six weeks after his 46th birthday.Truly a giant of his times, as well as now, Oscar Wilde was a victim of the same kinds of ignorance and indifference that we have even among us now in people not trying or caring to understand those that are somewhat different-racially religiously or sexually-then themselves. We in fact see in the movie that homosexuality in Victorian England was wide spread and in many cases openly exhibited with very little punishment to those involved in it. It was that the flamboyant and outspoken Oscar Wilde stuck out like a sore thumb and took his sexuality as a badge of honor not a curse that made him a target for persons like Lord Queensberry, who he accused Oscar of turning his pansy son Bosie into a sissy, to take pot shots on. In the end it was Oscar's pride self righteous as well as self respect that had him take Lord Queensbery on that unfortunately ended up destroying him!

bkoganbing Two very fine films about Oscar Wilde came out roughly at the same time during the sixties and they starred Peter Finch and Robert Morley respectively as the great literary icon. But those were in the days before Stonewall and you couldn't be all that explicit. I'm not just talking about sex scenes though there are some here. As far as films were concerned homosexuality was the love that really dare not even breathe let alone speak its name.One reason I liked this film Wilde that starred Stephen Fry in the title role is that the others began with Wilde's involvement with Lord Alfred Douglas, played here by a sexy Jude Law. Here we get a bit of background and we discover that Wilde was a latent case for years because society dictated gay was an abomination. He married and fathered two sons whom he no doubt loved. Just some of the beautiful children's stories he did write attest to that.But as the film opens with Wilde in America and touring a mining camp and giving a lecture to miners below the earth's surface, you can see the look of love in his eyes as he beholds some of those hunky miners with their shirts off. Since you know who Wilde was and his story already, you're looking yourself for signs.Wilde was a latent case until he was seduced by Robbie Ross an actor in one of his plays portrayed by Michael Sheen. I can certainly attest to the fact that if gay is your orientation and you've been with women before, when you do it the first time, you KNOW it's right for you. Later on Ioan Gruffud who apparently is his inspiration for Dorian Gray actually falls in love with Wilde.But Wilde's like a kid in a candy store and when he meets the incredibly handsome Lord Alfred Douglas. Unlike the other two Wilde pictures I mentioned this version fleshes a bit more out of 'Bosy's' character and Jude Law may be pretty to look at, but he's a vain, shallow, selfish, and spoiled young aristocrat. Among other things Law introduces Fry to is the availability of rent boys on the street and at certain posh establishments frequented by closeted Victorians.But it all comes to an end when Bosy's dad played by Tom Wilkinson leaves a calling card accusing Wilde of being a sodomite. In the other two Wilde films, it's Oscar who just arrogantly think he can squash this thing in court with his fabled wit. Here it's Bosy who pushes Wilde into it.The other films concentrated on the trials, civil and criminal. In Wilde the emphasis is on Oscar's character and relationships. The women in Wilde's life are wife Jennifer Ehle and mother Vanessa Redgrave. In watching the two women how they interact it's like watching the families of Ennis and Jack from Brokeback Mountain and how they react to their husband's strange behavior.Also in the film very briefly is Orlando Bloom playing a rent boy. I'm surprised that the film received no Oscar nominations, no pun intended. Though it was honored in the United Kingdom.Some 40 years after Stonewall, the tragedy of Oscar Wilde not being true to his nature as he says he wished he had done from the beginning is still being played out in many areas, in many walks of life. Just look at the number of outings there have been of various political figures on the right and you know it is so.Wilde is a great film which speaks to this generation of GLBT people with current players to tell sadly an often repeated story.