An Ideal Husband
BBB.5
(out of 5)
A cast that is obviously having a great time is the real reason to watch this sumptuous adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s popular play. Oliver Smith’s screenplay, which opens up the original and tries to give it more breathing room, doesn’t always succeed, but the proceedings have so much vitality and class that you can’t help but enjoy yourself when watching it. Rupert Everett is a thirtysomething bachelor who avoids the attentions of young Minnie Driver because he’s enjoying single life too much. His best friend Jeremy Northam is happily married to Cate Blanchett in a relationship that involves simultaneous worship on both their parts. In comes conniving Julianne Moore (a devilishly fun performance if ever she gave one) who blackmails Northam with a previous indiscretion in order to force him to use his government powers in favour of a canal investment scheme she has sunk most of her money into. Should Northam accept the offer and avoid a scandal? Will his marriage hold strong if he turns out not to be the ideal his wife holds him up to be? Let’s pay attention to Rupert and Minnie while we find out! Transition between storylines isn’t comfortable enough, but the period settings and plush costumes are too fantastic to let this take a real hit for any critical reasons. Everett is fabulously debonair, and John Wood as his father couldn’t be funnier.
Arts Council of England, Canal+, Fragile Films, Icon Entertainment International, Icon Productions, Miramax, Pathé Pictures International
United Kingdom/USA, 1999
Directed by Oliver Parker
Screenplay by Oliver Parker, based on the play by Oscar Wilde
Cinematography by David Johnson
Produced by Bruce Davey, Uri Fruchtmann, Barnaby Thompson
Music by Charlie Mole
Production Design by Michael Howells
Costume Design by Caroline Harris
Film Editing by Guy Bensley
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This entry was posted on December 5, 2013 by Bil Antoniou in 111toformat, 1999, BBB.5, Oliver Parker and tagged Andy Harrison, Anna Patrick, Arts Council of England, Barnaby Thompson, Ben Pullen, Bruce Davey, Canal+, Caroline Harris, Cate Blanchett, Charles Edwards, Charlie Mole, David Johnson, Delia Lindsay, Denise Stephenson, Doug Bradley, Fragile Films, Golden Globe 1999, Guy Bensley, Icon Entertainment International, Icon Productions, Janet Henfrey, Jeremy Northam, Jeroen Krabbé, Jill Balcon, John Thompson, John Wood, Julianne Moore, Lindsay Duncan, Marsha Fitzalan, Michael Culkin, Michael Howells, Minnie Driver, Miramax, Nancy Carroll, Neil Mendoza, Neville Phillips, Nickolas Grace, Oliver Ford Davies, Oliver Parker, Oscar Wilde, Pathe Pictures International, Peter Parker, Peter Vaughan, Rupert Everett, Simon Russell Beale, Stephen May, Susannah Wise, Toby Robertson, United Kingdom, Uri Fruchtmann.Shortlink
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