"Wilde" is an episodic, Masterpiece Theatre-style look at the famous playwright Oscar Wilde and his notorious trial and imprisonment upon sodomy charges at the turn of the last century. While not a penetrating or in-depth look into Wilde's character, it does keep your interest with a fast moving look at a fascinating life.
Unfortunately, the film begins with an already famous Wilde, and gives us no real insight into his beginnings or character. Stephen Fry is an inspired physical choice as Wilde, but is content to show us only a genteel, endlessly patient and saintly man, whom young men are constantly throwing themselves at. One longs to see a more multi-faceted depiction. (Also, there's a distractingly awful makeup job in the prison scene with his wife toward the end, looks like he's coated with gray paint!)
The gay sex scenes which some other commenters have alluded negatively to are actually pretty mild, I thought - some kissing and hugging, some rather discreet huffing and puffing under the sheets, and a few bare buttocks. Nothing anyone would get worked up over if it were a man and a woman doing it onscreen, so why the double standard?
A special word of praise to Zoe Wanamaker, who plays Wilde's society friend "Sphinx", and who is acerbic and wonderful in her few scenes - one wanted to see much more of her!
Unfortunately, the film begins with an already famous Wilde, and gives us no real insight into his beginnings or character. Stephen Fry is an inspired physical choice as Wilde, but is content to show us only a genteel, endlessly patient and saintly man, whom young men are constantly throwing themselves at. One longs to see a more multi-faceted depiction. (Also, there's a distractingly awful makeup job in the prison scene with his wife toward the end, looks like he's coated with gray paint!)
The gay sex scenes which some other commenters have alluded negatively to are actually pretty mild, I thought - some kissing and hugging, some rather discreet huffing and puffing under the sheets, and a few bare buttocks. Nothing anyone would get worked up over if it were a man and a woman doing it onscreen, so why the double standard?
A special word of praise to Zoe Wanamaker, who plays Wilde's society friend "Sphinx", and who is acerbic and wonderful in her few scenes - one wanted to see much more of her!