Disappointed

WolfHai

I rented the movie because it said "based on a play by Oscar Wilde". There are a number of Oscar Wilde movie-plays (play-movies?) out that I truly enjoyed.

Not this one. I liked neither Ms. Johansson nor Ms. Hunt in their roles; probably the casting, maybe the acting was bad. The story was not very credible either; often I could not understand the motives, worries, and problems that the characters supposedly had. And shouldn't there be at least a tiny little sexual tension between Mr. Windermore and Mrs. Erlynne or between Mrs. Windermore and the Lord who was after her, or at least some wit? And why on earth did Mrs. Windermore love Mr. Windermore and vice versa, something they were not tired of telling us?

If the acting was bland, the script should have saved the movie, but it did not. Where was the spark? Usually Oscar Wilde's plays have a certain pace, but this was dragging on with rather predictable and some outright silly dialog. Did anyone find the gossiping women funny? And the scenery, probably thought to give the movie a light touch, in its being so unbelievably "pittoresque" seemed to have a belittling effect on either the characters or the story or both.

Sorry I am so harsh on this movie. The makers probably had the best of intentions (witty Oscar Wilde, carefree summer Italy, beautiful people, rich decor), but somehow it did not work - at least not for me.

score 3/10

WolfHai 9 July 2006

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1415706/