urbanlegend23
07-11-2002, 06:06 AM
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
RATING: 7/10
Director: Oliver Parker
Starring: Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, Reese Witherspoon
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Year of Release: 2002
Reviewer: urbanlegend23
I’ve read fairly lukewarm reviews of this film from reviewers who loved the play and know a lot about it. I will inform you right now that I know nothing of the play, its writer and had never heard much of the story before seeing this movie. Perhaps if I had known the play I wouldn’t of liked the movie so much, but I am reviewing this film just as it is, no comparisons or anything, so be aware of that now. If you want a review from someone who is more knowledgeable of the Oscar Wilde play, then go somewhere else.
That said I thoroughly enjoyed this little movie that doesn’t try to be to be much else than what it is – a little bundle of joy. The movie is not too serious or overly melodramatic, it’s a quick, fun and entertaining little feast that will most likely entertain those who are not such serious fans of the original play.
I very much enjoyed the exceptional idea of the film that made me chuckle several times. The way the stories intertwine is hilarious and I loved the scene where Frances O’Connor (great as always) and Reese Witherspoon (cute as a button) meet up for the first time and tell each other how they are both getting married to Earnest, when, in fact, they are marrying two different men. It’s cool how the audience knows the truth but the characters are left muddled and confused, it makes for great comedy. The tagline is rather appropriate…”Everyone loves Earnest, but no-one really knows who he is.”
The actors are great. Rupert Everett, an Oscar Wilde regular (he was also in An Ideal Husband, which I have yet to see), is quite funny in the movie but I felt he was a little underused though he is classed as the main role. His character must’ve been great fun to play. Colin Firth is more the leading man, and, as in Bridget Jones’s Diary, he turns in a very credible comedic and romantic performance. Frances O’Connor who was great in A.I. Artificial Intelligence last year proves she is quite the supporter once again. Perhaps a leading role now? Reese Witherspoon, no stranger to comedy, is a lot of fun to watch and she slips into her role nicely. It is a strange casting choice but Witherspoon will benefit from the career change. I also enjoyed performances from Anna Massey and the great Tom Wilkinson, but its Judi Dench who manages to steal the show yet again. Although no stranger to this type of film, she gives yet another role her unique touch. She is very funny in the movie and got the most laughs out of me.
The movie, like all period pieces or Oscar Wilde adaptations, is also marvellous visually. Although the director of photography is not very creative with the camera (its not that type of movie really), the movie looks gorgeous. The lush costumes and brilliant set decoration are the best I’ve seen in any movie so far this year and if the competition is not too tight throughout 2002, this could be a sure-fire Oscar contender in the categories of Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration. The movie is a complete feast for the eyes and has a very old-feel. Its great how you feel like you’re there as well, watching the characters as they laugh, smile, prance, kiss, fight and fall in love.
There were a couple of flaws in the movie that brought its rating down a bit for me. I was unimpressed by the serious lack of chemistry between the cast, which was the main thing that bothered me. None of the characters really have much of a spark between them, which was really disappointing because I was expecting some really decently developed love stories. The ending was also a little too frantic for me (and quite unfunny) and it left some questions unanswered. There were also little things in the movie that left me a little annoyed, like the annoying appearance of the old man who looks after the people who stay at the country house. What was the point of his character? He just kept bobbing in and out of the movie and irritating me. It wasn’t a huge flaw that I noticed too much but he didn’t really seem to have much relevance to the plot.
The movie remains an enjoyable movie that is a period piece that didn’t bore me half to death and had terrific pacing and a perfect running time. The actors were terrific and the movie looks amazing. I can’t really say I’d change much because I didn’t know much of the story or how it was intended to be seen, but I think Oliver Parker and his gang managed to get the story right (although the mostly mediocre reviews seem to suggest otherwise). Overall, not a life-changing or perfect film by any means, but a refreshing and fun romantic comedy that will keep you entertained for the surprisingly short running time.
RATING: 7/10
Director: Oliver Parker
Starring: Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, Reese Witherspoon
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Year of Release: 2002
Reviewer: urbanlegend23
I’ve read fairly lukewarm reviews of this film from reviewers who loved the play and know a lot about it. I will inform you right now that I know nothing of the play, its writer and had never heard much of the story before seeing this movie. Perhaps if I had known the play I wouldn’t of liked the movie so much, but I am reviewing this film just as it is, no comparisons or anything, so be aware of that now. If you want a review from someone who is more knowledgeable of the Oscar Wilde play, then go somewhere else.
That said I thoroughly enjoyed this little movie that doesn’t try to be to be much else than what it is – a little bundle of joy. The movie is not too serious or overly melodramatic, it’s a quick, fun and entertaining little feast that will most likely entertain those who are not such serious fans of the original play.
I very much enjoyed the exceptional idea of the film that made me chuckle several times. The way the stories intertwine is hilarious and I loved the scene where Frances O’Connor (great as always) and Reese Witherspoon (cute as a button) meet up for the first time and tell each other how they are both getting married to Earnest, when, in fact, they are marrying two different men. It’s cool how the audience knows the truth but the characters are left muddled and confused, it makes for great comedy. The tagline is rather appropriate…”Everyone loves Earnest, but no-one really knows who he is.”
The actors are great. Rupert Everett, an Oscar Wilde regular (he was also in An Ideal Husband, which I have yet to see), is quite funny in the movie but I felt he was a little underused though he is classed as the main role. His character must’ve been great fun to play. Colin Firth is more the leading man, and, as in Bridget Jones’s Diary, he turns in a very credible comedic and romantic performance. Frances O’Connor who was great in A.I. Artificial Intelligence last year proves she is quite the supporter once again. Perhaps a leading role now? Reese Witherspoon, no stranger to comedy, is a lot of fun to watch and she slips into her role nicely. It is a strange casting choice but Witherspoon will benefit from the career change. I also enjoyed performances from Anna Massey and the great Tom Wilkinson, but its Judi Dench who manages to steal the show yet again. Although no stranger to this type of film, she gives yet another role her unique touch. She is very funny in the movie and got the most laughs out of me.
The movie, like all period pieces or Oscar Wilde adaptations, is also marvellous visually. Although the director of photography is not very creative with the camera (its not that type of movie really), the movie looks gorgeous. The lush costumes and brilliant set decoration are the best I’ve seen in any movie so far this year and if the competition is not too tight throughout 2002, this could be a sure-fire Oscar contender in the categories of Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration. The movie is a complete feast for the eyes and has a very old-feel. Its great how you feel like you’re there as well, watching the characters as they laugh, smile, prance, kiss, fight and fall in love.
There were a couple of flaws in the movie that brought its rating down a bit for me. I was unimpressed by the serious lack of chemistry between the cast, which was the main thing that bothered me. None of the characters really have much of a spark between them, which was really disappointing because I was expecting some really decently developed love stories. The ending was also a little too frantic for me (and quite unfunny) and it left some questions unanswered. There were also little things in the movie that left me a little annoyed, like the annoying appearance of the old man who looks after the people who stay at the country house. What was the point of his character? He just kept bobbing in and out of the movie and irritating me. It wasn’t a huge flaw that I noticed too much but he didn’t really seem to have much relevance to the plot.
The movie remains an enjoyable movie that is a period piece that didn’t bore me half to death and had terrific pacing and a perfect running time. The actors were terrific and the movie looks amazing. I can’t really say I’d change much because I didn’t know much of the story or how it was intended to be seen, but I think Oliver Parker and his gang managed to get the story right (although the mostly mediocre reviews seem to suggest otherwise). Overall, not a life-changing or perfect film by any means, but a refreshing and fun romantic comedy that will keep you entertained for the surprisingly short running time.