An Ideal Husband

An Ideal Husband

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Editorial Reviews

Sexy leading man Rupert Everett heads an acclaimed all-star cast in this wonderfully witty story of decadence, romance, and scandal! Sir Robert is a highly respected politician whose spotless reputation is the pride of his beautiful wife (Cate Blanchett ) and adoring sister (Minnie Driver). But when an old acquaintance (Julianne Moore) threatens to reveal a dark secret from Robert's past, only his womanizing party-loving best friend Goring (Everett) is scheming and dishonest enough to come to his aid.

For truly clever dialogue and a smartly structured plot, you can't go wrong with Oscar Wilde. Wilde's play An Ideal Husband is not his best known, but this film adaptation has all the wit you could ask for and a cast with the chops to deliver it: Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth, Oscar and Lucinda), Julianne Moore (Short Cuts, Boogie Nights), Minnie Driver (Grosse Pointe Blank, Big Night), Jeremy Northam (The Winslow Boy, Emma), and especially Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding, A Midsummer Night's Dream), who tosses off perfect epigrams with unflappable aplomb. The plot hinges on Northam, a member of Parliament (the British governing body, not the funk band) with a skeleton in his closet who is blackmailed into a shady business deal by a lady of mystery (Moore), who turns out to be a loathed school chum of the parliamentarian's wife (Blanchett). Everything is resolved happily, but not until after some devious twists of fate, several mistaken identities, lots of comic banter, and much social skewering. Wilde, who came to ruin when his homosexuality was brought to light, has a sharp eye for hypocrisy and the artificial poses demanded by society--but political commentary never gets in the way of a smart laugh. Visually sumptuous and briskly paced, An Ideal Husband will satisfy anyone looking for social satire or romantic comedy. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

An ideal husband

Reviewed by Conelius F. Kosterman, 2010-02-06

It is a beautiful, witty and feel good movie. It is fantastic. 10/10. i have finally found and ideal husband. i have looking for ages!! :)

Wickedly Clever Humor With a Moral

Reviewed by Cara Holman, 2009-10-24

An excellent adaptation of Oscar Wilde's play of the same name, this film is peppered with memorable one-liners that only Oscar Wilde could have penned. Just a smattering:

Lord Arthur Goring: To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.
___________
Lord Caversham: I don't know how you stand society. A lot of damned nobodies talking about nothing.
Lord Arthur Goring: I love talking about nothing, Father. It's the only thing I know anything about.
___________
Laura: Do you know, Gertrude, I don't mind your talking morality a bit. Morality is simply the attitude we adopt towards people whom we personally dislike. You dislike me, I am quite aware of that, and I have always detested you.
___________
Lord Arthur Goring: My dear Mrs. Cheveley, I should make you a very bad husband.
Laura: I don't mind bad husbands. I've had two. They amused me immensely.
___________
Laura: Wonderful woman, Lady Markby, isn't she? Talks more and says less than anybody I ever met.
___________

But what makes this film so compelling is that behind the humor lies a thoughtful story of a man forced to choose between his honor and his reputation. Highly recommended.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Reviewed by Miles D. Moore, 2009-09-27

Oliver Parker's film of Oscar Wilde's "An Ideal Husband" demonstrates that Wilde's epigrams have lost none of their witty sting, and that his observations on society remain as profound and sagacious as they were more than a hundred years ago. Societal customs and mores may have changed enormously, but human nature has not. Wilde's themes of political skulduggery and financial swindling at the highest levels of society are all the more pertinent today, and the theme of dark secrets between men and women is as old as Aristophanes and as new as the latest rap song. All of this roils beneath the elegant, creamy surface of Wilde's story, brought to life in this film by a sterling cast amid the most sumptuous photography, costumes and set design imaginable.

Unfortunately, the themes of dark secrets and societal hypocrisy had enormous echoes in Wilde's own life. Parker creates a deep poignancy in the film in a scene portraying Wilde himself taking a bow after a rapturously received performance of "The Importance of Being Earnest." A caption at the beginning of the film tells us the action takes place during the London social season of 1895, which in real life was the exact time Wilde was sent to Reading Gaol. Wilde's appearance in the film can only be seen as a lament for what might have been, if Wilde had never met Bosie or read Queensberry's card.

The video transfer on the DVD is crisp and beautiful; however, there is very little in the way of extras, except for a short featurette about the making of the film. In the featurette, however, there is an amusing glimpse of Rupert Everett filming a scene in which his feet apparently would not be visible in the finished film. He is wearing impeccable white tie...and running shoes.

An Ideal Movie

Reviewed by C. Fuehr, 2009-08-10

Much funnier than "The Importance of Being Earnest". Great cast. Fantastic plot twists and writing. I pull it out about once a year and laugh each time.

lovely and flawed

Reviewed by Furio, 2009-07-26

Others have reviewed this film accurately stating a lot which was well said.

Vaguely inspired by Wilde -some quotations feel contrived indeed- this is a good film as long as you disregard its main theme, that of everybody's being imperfect and that real love and maturity are achieved by accepting one's partner and oneself for what they really are, flaws and all.

In fact, when dealing with the matter, the rhythm skips some beats, acting become less convincing and the script even more so.

Much is to be enjoyed instead: the accurate rendition of a specific time, with fabulous costumes and settings, the good acting and the continuos, spotless bantering of the different characters that, when forgetting about Wilde, sounds sharp and cutting and convincing on the actor's mouths.
Poor Everett has to deal with more Wildean lines than everyone else and that he can survive them tells us volumes about how good an actor he is.

Do not misunderstand me, I love Wilde and I am sure each of these actors would be perfectly capable of doing one of his plays: unfortunately this is not one of his plays and the script, elsewhere sparkling, suddenly loses gloss when Wilde is being imitated. Or when the attempt is made at conveying the deep theme mentioned above.

Therefore enjoy this choral comedy, for whatever good it has to offer but forget Wilde and be merciful on the more profound moments.