Dorian Gray (2009)

"Forever Young. Forever Cursed."

Directed by Oliver Parker
Produced by Barnaby Thompson
Screenplay by Toby Finlay
Based on "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde
Starring: Ben Barnes, Colin Firth, Rebecca Hall, Ben Chaplin, Emilia Fox, Rachel Hurd-Wood
Music by Charlie Mole
Cinematography: Roger Pratt
Edited by Guy Bensley
Production company: Alliance Films, UK Film Council, Ealing Studios
Distributed by Momentum Pictures
Release date: 9 September 2009
Running time: 112 minutes
Country: United Kingdom

"Dorian Gray" is a fantasy thriller drama film based on Oscar Wilde's novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray". This screen version is directed by Oliver Parker. The film begins with the story of a gullible young Dorian Gray. He's an owner of singular beauty, and the top-drawer sees that. Then Dorian meets Basil Hallward, an artist, who paints Gray's portrait to capture the full power of his youthful appearance. After that he becomes acquainted with charismatic Lord Henry Wotton, who introduces Gray to the hedonistic pleasures of the city. And since this moment everything starts to change.

Cast

• Ben Barnes as Dorian Gray
• Colin Firth as Lord Henry Wotton
• Ben Chaplin as Basil Hallward
• Rachel Hurd-Wood as Sibyl Vane
• Johnny Harris as Jim Vane
• Rebecca Hall as Emily Wotton
• Emilia Fox as Lady Victoria Wotton
• Fiona Shaw as Agatha
• Maryam d'Abo as Gladys
• Caroline Goodall as Lady Radley
• Michael Culkin as Lord Radley

Oliver Parker, the director of the film, has made a movie which can't be called an exact screen version of the great novel. It's difficult to appreciate this work: the plot and characters really differ from the original, the main ideas of the book are lost, accents are shifted. But if we consider this film as an independent picture, it looks quite interesting.

Ben Barnes, who is well-known for his role of Caspian X in "The Chronicles of Narnia", wasn't the best choice for the part of Dorian Gray. His appearance doesn't suit the description of the book but his acting earns praise. Colin Firth as Lord Henry Wotton played well. However, he fell short of my expectations as I'd imagined his character quite differently. Sibyl Vane is a naive girl and a talented actress who places her faith in the best people's qualities. But Rachel Clare Hurd-Wood saw her part otherwise. Her Sibyl turned out strong and self-dependent.

Advantages

• Colin Firth as Lord Henry Wotton

Disadvantages

• Not a screen version of Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray"
• Music

"Strangenesses"

• Of course, Dorian and Emily

Clue Moments

• The picture
• Killing
• Betrayal

As this film is considered a screen version of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" but it's really changed, I've decided to analyse the book. The film pays great attention to a sensual side of life forgetting about main meanings of the novel. However, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is one of my favourite compositions and it has influenced me deeply.

Perennial youth. Almost everyone dreams of being forever young. And it's clear - eternal beauty and everlasting health have always charmed. But is it worth a sale of a soul? Each of us has an own answer but common sense prompts to say: "No, it isn't". From my point of you, a soul is the most valuable thing (yes, I believe that it exists) which gives us serenity. Serenity... But It's better to say confidence, moral certainty which is a component of happiness. Anyway, just art can be properly immortal. Telling the truth, people should climb to a delight, a state of the highest mental satisfaction of a life, not to a pleasure - just a gratification of needs. 

A hands-on experience always leaves its mark on a person. Even literally - a face wreathes as time goes by, a body ages. However, on the other hand any experience teaches a person if he or she is able to spot mistakes. An aspiration for lofty aims makes anyone better, help develop, meantime vile purposes degrade a soul.

And I can't say nothing about the character of Lord Henry. Almost each of his remarks becomes a citation. It's even possible to call him Mephistopheles as Dorian is indulged in vices by Lord Henry and that leads to a personality destruction. But in this story Faust as Gray isn't able to save his soul. The pupil have outshone his teacher.

Soundtracks

1. Charlie Mole - Front Titles
2. Charlie Mole - Dorian's Theme
3. Charlie Mole - Basil Paints
4. Charlie Mole - Sybil's Theme
5. Charlie Mole - The Painting
6. Charlie Mole - Sybil Stays The Night
7. Charlie Mole - The Painting.
8. Charlie Mole - The Seduction
9. Charlie Mole - Extravaganza
10. Charlie Mole - Carnival Of Venise
11. Charlie Mole - Basil's Murder
12. Charlie Mole - Basil's Funeral
13. Charlie Mole - Remembering Sybil
14. Charlie Mole - Emily's Theme
15. Charlie Mole - Stabbing The Painting
16. Charlie Mole - Vanes Chase
17. Charlie Mole - The Penny Drops For Lord Henry
18. Charlie Mole - The Farewell Party - St Louis Rag
19. Charlie Mole - Final Confrontation
20. Immediate Music - Catch The Falling Sky (Trailer)
21. Charlie Mole feat. Hans Christian Lumbye feat. Tivoli Symphony Orchestra - Sadness Waltz
22. Charlie Mole - Strange Attractor

Quotations

* * *

Lord Henry Wotton: What are you?
Dorian Gray: I am what *you* made me! I lived the life that you preached... but never dared practice. I am everything, that you were too afraid to be.

* * *

Lord Henry Wotton: Yes, very sensible... People die of common sense, Dorian, one lost moment at a time. Life is a moment. There is no hereafter. So make it burn always with the hardest flame.

* * *

Emily Wotton: Hmm... I hope you're not also a dreary old cynic?
Dorian Gray: What is there to believe in?
Emily Wotton: Our developments.
Dorian Gray: All I see is decay.
Emily Wotton: For the religion.
Dorian Gray: Fashionable substitute for believe.
Emily Wotton: Art.
Dorian Gray: Formality.
Emily Wotton: Love.
Dorian Gray: An Illusion.
Lord Henry Wotton: Bravo!
Emily Wotton: Wow... you both cut the world to pieces, don't you? Thank you for the cigarette!
Dorian Gray: Unusual woman.
Lord Henry Wotton: She ought to be... she's my daughter.

* * *

Lord Henry Wotton: There's no shame in pleasure. Man just wants to be happy. But society wants him to be good. And when he's good, he's rarely happy. But when he's happy, he's always good.

* * *

Lord Henry Wotton: The only way to get rid of a temptation, is to yield to it.

* * *

Lord Henry Wotton: I suggest we raise a little hell.

* * *

Lord Henry Wotton: Poor boy. Who can bear to look at you now?

* * *

Lucius: I have the key to your heart.
Dorian Gray: Don't touch that ever!

* * *
You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 6/10

Entertainment: 5/10

Acting: 6/10

Originality: 6/10

Music and Sound: 8/10

6/10