Thursday, March 29, 2012

Dorian Gray

A classic story with a classic British cast....what else could anyone want? Ok maybe a slightly bigger budget but I suppose beggars can not be choosers. As some of you know, I have been on a little Colin Firth kick...I can't help it really....the man is just so darn talented!

For those of you that don't have a taste for CLASSIC pieces of literature, let me give you a little back story. Dorian Gray is based on the novel The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Dorian is a young beautiful man that gets mixed up in the Lust and corruption of London. Dorian is played by Ben Barnes, you might know him as Prince Caspian in the Narnia movies. He inherits a lovely home and a small fortune from a corrupt and abusive uncle.

Once in London he meets Lord Henry Wotten played by Colin Firth. This is not a typical Colin Firth role, he is not funny or charming but lustful and sinful. He helps lead Dorian astray from his pure life of innocents and introduces him to all the lust the city can provide.

Dorian is painted by Basil Hallward, played by Ben Chaplin. Dorian's spirit becomes tied with that painting. All of the ugly and sinful things that Dorian does shows on this painting. It shows his true self. Dorian himself becomes ageless and forever beautiful.

The sets in this film are dark but classical. The spaces are so large and make the characters seem so small and out of control in their own world. The costumes reflect the mental state of the characters. The ladies in lush red and blues while the men keep to the simple black and white. Well all the men except for Basil who adds a touch of flare to his attire. That becomes very important halfway in the film but I will not spoil the surprise. Color is a big part of emotion in the film. Reds are vivid and stand out so much in the world of grays, blacks, and blues.

The acting is top notch with some of the finest Britain can offer! Colin Firth is fantastic as such a horrible mean spirited lost man. He loves to manipulate the people around him like they were pieces in his game. Once Dorian becomes the lead player, Henry fights back. Firth does a stellar job trying to seek the truth that Barnes has so charmingly hidden.

Barnes has grown so much as an actor and it is fun to watch him evolve. Not only is he beautiful but he shows his emotional range and depth. He makes Dorian a confused and lost soul not a selfish player. His emotional turmoil shines all over the screen.

This movie is very much rated R. There are several scenes where Dorian goes on sexual escapades. They are very shocking and show his corruption. The painting itself is so grotesque it is hard to watch. Like a said it is a bit disturbing....but still a good film.

Over All- B

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