Review of Wilde (1997) by Rainer K — 20 Apr 2012

The most positive thing I can share with you about Wilde is the casting - Stephen Fry doesn't only look like the real Oscar Wilde but also has the same dandy-like attitude you'd expect from him. Jude Law on the other hand plays the same character he has played so often in the earlier stages of his career - a young, handsome and flamboyant yuppie.

Considering these roles (which are mostly not so likable characters) I admire how he matured and became one of the finest British box office magnets (up to the point where I'd have made him Bond and Sherlock Holmes - he's a prototypical British gentleman by now - not so much back then).

Although Oscar Wilde's life and work is quite intriguing and I love him as an author and political figure I can't connect with homosexuality - I rather prefer to not notice them, a film where his sexual life is depicted rather graphically is not the most suited film for me in the process.

Constrained by British society rules (which are quite hypocritical) and absurd laws (for civilized modern folks at least) he's forced into prison and exil leading to an early death - he never flees and he never properly denies or lies about his homosexuality - feeling a bit guilty on his own. Nevertheless, his actions are not reasonable in my opinion.