A disappointingly shallow, filleted adaptation of Wilde's theatrical war horse. Rupert Everett stars as a playboy whose desire to be a lifelong bachelor is jeopardised when he becomes entangled in a web of blackmail, lies, deceit and romance.
DVD Extras:
Theatrical trailer, featurette, two deleted scenes. Oliver Parker's film is a seriously sumptuous affair, but it fails to say anything new about the play. Its most adventurous aspect is the casting of gay icon Rupert Everett as an incorrigible womaniser, which adds an extra layer of irony to Wilde's lines. The extras are similarly unimaginative, comprising the usual plodding brace of uninformative cast and crew interviews and a couple of deleted scenes. That there's no information provided on the disc about Wilde's work - and especially his life - given his reputation, is a seriously missed opportunity.
