Product Information
Product Details: Wilde (1998)
- Edition:
- DVD Special Edition. See other editions
- MPAA Rating:
- R
- Release Date:
- 03/19/2001
- UPC:
- 043396022973
- Directed by:
- Brian Gilbert
- Featuring:
- Stephen Fry, Jude Law, Vanessa Redgrave. See all cast
Synopsis: Wilde (1998)
Synopis: Based on the best-selling biography by Richard Ellman, this unconventional biopic traces the brilliant, witty, and tragic life of Oscar Wilde from his rise to fame as a much-in-demand author and public speaker to his downfall and ultimate imprisonment for homosexuality. Irish-born and homosexual, Wilde (Stephen Fry, in a critically lauded performance) nevertheless takes a loving wife (Jennifer Ehle), with whom he has children. While married, he becomes aware of his true sexual identity after a chance encounter with an aggressive house guest. This leads to a very public affair with vain, rebellious young Lord Alfred Douglas (Jude Law), the son of the Marquess of Queensbury (Tom Wilkinson, IN THE BEDROOM). Despite an astoundingly successful writing career, Wilde's private life lands him in prison for "gross indecency," a synonym for homosexual behavior, which was illegal in England at the time.Features: Wilde (1998)
Features: DVD Features:Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen
Audio:
Dolby Digital 2.0 - English
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. Cast & Crew
Trailers
Featurette - 1. STILL WILD ABOUT WILDE
2. SIMPLY WILE
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Selection
Text/Photo Galleries:
Filmographies
Production Notes
Photo Montage
DVD-Rom Features:
Complete Content of the Official WILDE Website
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User Reviews: Wilde
-
Oscar at his height
, November 12, 2000Reviewer: cress.rm - See all cress.rm's reviews -
Be forwarned!
, September 26, 2004Reviewer: tarzanrocks2003 - See all tarzanrocks2003's reviews2 of 2 Yahoo! Users found this Wilde review helpfulPros: Beautiful cinematography, first rate acting
Cons: Narrow focus of Wilde's life
This movie had excellent art direction and cinematography, but I longed for more substance in terms of Wilde's writing career and his training at Oxford. By 3/4 through the film, I was anxious to know more than his obsession with young men and sexual complexities. Speaking of sex, if you are heterosexual, as I am, the explicit manner in which gratuitous lust between two (or more) men is protrayed in the film may shock you. ...
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What this film actually covers is Oscar at the height of his fame and then later at the height of his infamy, during his trials and imprisonment. I don't blame the filmmakers for having to skip over some of his life to make a film of practical length, but do keep in mind that the full story is actually in Richard Ellmann's biography of Wilde, on which the film is based. The tale of the "Selfish Giant" is wonderfully used to narrate parts of the film, and Wilde's wit is evident in the many speeches and writings quoted from.
The film's sexual scenes may disturb some viewers, but I think it's not worse than the kinds of heterosexual scenes that are shown in R-rated films all the time. It all contrasts very well with the public hypocrisy and masks that is maintained by society.
Also, even if Bosie Douglas really is a petulant little spendthrift, this Wilde film does not seem to show that Oscar Wilde himself frequently had trouble living within his means. Wilde shouldn't be thought of as too saintly. This film also claims that Constance Wilde died before Wilde got back together with Bosie; this is not true. Wilde, in a moment of weakness, returned to Bosie while Constance was still alive and hesitating for months on whether she would see him again.
Despite such limitations, this is a well-paced and lovely film. ...