“Unasked by night; I am true Love, I fill
The hearts of boy and girl with mutual flame.”
Then sighing, said the other, “Have thy will,
I am the love that dare not speak its name.”
– True Love, Lord Alfred Douglas
It was a historical moment. Wilde, a movie made in 1997 was banned in Singapore for 'homosexual content', and it has been passed without cut with a R21 rating this year.
It is not without its merits with good acting and reminding people that Wilde was persecuted under laws against homosexual acts. It is just that it isa rather straightforward story of how a legendary man was persecuted for his forbidden love. If you are looking for something delicate and touches the heart,it is likely that you would be disappointed.
I have always liked Oscar Wilde and his works ...perhaps not so much of his works, but rather his wit and sarcasm. I like Stephen Fry's acting, depicting Oscar Wilde as the talented and flamboyant playwright which we all know him to be. Unfortunately, depicting such a legendary character is always too much of a burden for any seasoned actor, as everyone will have an image of Oscar Wilde in his or her mind. Stephen Fry made a notable effort to merge with the genius he is playing, but he isn't the Oscar Wilde I have in my mind, and I don't blame him for it.
However, Stephen Fry's chemistry with the men left much to be desired. The intimate scenes were awkward and I felt like cringing whenever they start to get undressed. Jude Lawis yummy and totally to die for (no, the author isn't a gay man) but that is hardly salvation for the lackof on-screen chemistry.
Wilde's relationship with Bison (Lord Alfred Douglas, played by Jude Law) was the most well developed subplot in the entire movie, and that speaks volume about how lackluster the emotions are being played out on screen. One moment, you see him with Bobbie , clothes off and onto the bed. The next moment, you see him meeting the next guy and proceeding to have sex withhim. Next up, you see him with his wife Constance and their baby. The director failed to capture the intricacy of their relationships, and chose to jump from one incident to another, leaving audience with no time to feel for the characters. That was the most disappointing aspect of this movie, in my opinion.
Oscar Wilde was portrayed as a man of flesh and blood - his struggles between his loves, being arrogant and foolhardy at times and how he was slowly driven to the brink of desperation. Too silly to be Oscar Wilde, some might say, but I would not mind granting some artistic license to a movie, given it is not a documentary.
In short, it is above-average entertainment, and worth watching if you like Jude Law, enjoy witty dialogues, or want to see a movie about Oscar Wilde andhis less well-known story of being a victim of laws against homosexual acts. However, the lack of emotional engagement, tabloid-like angle and slight dramatic sensationalism has prevented it from being truly moving.