An Ideal Husband - Oliver Parker

Based on the Oscar Wilde play, and adapted for the screen by Oliver Parker, An Ideal Husband is truly a charming, amusing, and delightful film. It has the standard Wilde language and style, his drawing room comedy, while also throwing in some blackmail, and dark secrets. 

Parker does well with Wilde. This was the first Oscar Wilde property that he made into a film, but he did follow it with The Importance of Being Earnest, as well as an adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray named Dorian Gray. He also directed two films based on St. Trinians...both of which star Rupert Everett, and including Colin Firth in the sequel. Everett and Firth are both in Earnest, while Firth is also in Dorian Gray. I bring this up because both Everett and Firth are in one of my all time favorite films Another Country. I also had the immense pleasure of seeing Everett on opening night of Noel Cowards The Vortex.

The rest of the cast of An Ideal Husband is all star material. Cate Blanchett, Jeremy Northam, Minnie Driver, and Julianne Moore. The film is gorgeous, clever, very witty, and even includes a small scene that takes place at a performance of The Importance of Being Earnest. A thoroughly enjoyable film for sure.