| Author | Message | ||
     John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 90.203.130.13 |
So having read a few reviews I didn’t hold out a great deal of hope for my early evening’s entertainment tonight, and I have to say the last thing I was expecting, especially in these quality starved times, was something as brilliantly enjoyable as this movie but that’s what I got. Because, when I had pretty much given up all hope, along comes a Good Old Fashioned Proper British Gothic Horror Film. In fact I haven’t thrilled to a British horror film at the cinema as much as I did this afternoon since Hellraiser 20 years ago. The reviews are going to trash this because they’re probably expecting (or hoping for) a faithful, respectful, respectable adaptation of the Oscar Wilde short novel. But this is an entirely different beast, for Dorian Gray is nothing less than the kind of version Hammer Films would have made in the early seventies, with Ralph Bates in the lead and your very own JLP as the wicked Lord Henry. Instead we get Ben Barnes (who’s ok) and Colin Firth (who’s excellent and should be in horror pictures instead of being wasted in crappy romcoms.). One thing Hammer was always very good at was filling the supporting roles and we get the same thing here. Ex BBC sitcom actor turned didn’t-quite-make-it-Hollywood-star Ben Chaplin is excellent as Basil Hallward, the artist who paints the picture. There are a number of character actresses that Hammer would doubtless have employed if they were still going, like Maryam D’Abo and Emilia Fox, and there are familiar faces like Michael Culkin (Candyman) and Douglas Henshall (from Primeval) who plays a doctor who, when he’s not fingering prostitutes in gin houses is busy committing people to Broadmoor. The fact that some massive liberties are taken with the script just makes it feel all the more cosy –as if the spirit of Jimmy Sangster was guiding the screenwriter. The film has a delicious sense of the gothic at its best and most lurid, there’s plenty of blood and nudity, all of Wilde’s delicious epigrams are delivered deliciously, and there’s even a great funeral scene in Highgate Cemetery where they manage to fit in the locations both for Taste the Blood of Dracula and From Beyond the Grave. Anyone who has given up hope of a film in the style of the best of 70s gothic BritHorror will think they’ve gone to heaven. Trashy and lurid are the words being bandied about in the reviews at the moment and they’re absolutely right. I bloody loved it. NB - While reading this review please bear in mind that I am absolute sucker for British horror films filled with decadence, witty dialogue, beautiful women, nudity, outrageous behaviour, gory murders and some absolutely splendid outfits for the male leads (I already want Dorian’s silver-headed cane). Then go and watch it anyway, if only because it’s a British film (hurrah!) and an Ealing Films Production (double hurrah!) and because it needs your support so they can make more like it | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 82.38.75.85 |
John, you've sold me on this one. If it harks back to the good old days of 70s BritHorror, I've got to go and see it! | ||
| Steve Jensen (Stevej) Username: Stevej Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 82.0.77.233 |
As a Wildean, I really should be Queensburyesque in my fury at this travesty, but...I suspect that Oscar himself would love it.  | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 213.158.199.103 |
Yes, they will trash it, but Lord Probert's review makes it a must see. | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.209.108.231 |
You had me at "a Good Old Fashioned Proper British Gothic Horror Film." | ||
| Steve Jensen (Stevej) Username: Stevej Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 82.0.77.233 |
I was going to watch the trailer on Youtube but I got distracted by Penelope Cruz in Broken Embraces. I'm going to marry her when I grow up. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
Steve - have you seen Volver? great film, and possibly Cruz's finest hour. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 213.158.199.103 |
I don't know why but Cruz has irked me ever since Vanilla Sky (the remake). I know she's a great actor, but I guess she irritates me the way Tom Hanks bothers other people. Or perhaps it was just Vanilla Sky which did it? Then again, I know who'd I'd rather be trapped in a lift with for several hours, and it's not Tom Hanks. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 213.158.199.103 |
And her best role: Bandidas or whatever title it's currently doing the rounds under  | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.250.67 |
The trailer sure looks cheeseball, frankly -- cheeseball-bad -- so I'll have to take your word for it, John.... | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 213.158.199.77 |
Craig - were you grown in a jar? | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
He keeps failing the Turing test. We're not sure he really exists. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.225.167 |
Don't get me wrong, Frank - I love the old Hammer horrors, grew up on them, adore them - but something about this just looked like a groaner for me... but in my defense, it seems it might have been with John as well, before he actually saw it... one pet peeve: I hate CGI overall, and the CGI-ed London shots, they looked lousy... again, pet peeve.... I'm sure I exist, Weber. Take my word for it. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 213.158.199.77 |
Craig - yes, mate. I'm not the biggest fan of CGI, and definitely not when it's used for backdrop effects for city landscapes. Again, we agree. What's happening to me? I'm falling down a long wobbly spiral thing like out of 'The Time Tunnel'.... | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
"I'm sure I exist, Weber. Take my word for it." That's what the Turing test would predict you'd say... | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 213.158.199.77 |
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| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.225.167 |
What's happening to you Frank, is what happens to everyone that's around me enough - they realize I'm always right, and they conform, or die. Weber, I've allowed to live, because one must ever have one foolish creature prancing around in motley for our mild bemusement. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 213.158.199.77 |
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| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.37.199.45 |
Turing finally got a posthumous apology from the British government. Did Wilde, I wonder? And as Peter Tatchell aptly commented, what about the 10,000 others whose lives were destroyed by police persecution for what should never have been a crime? | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 90.203.130.157 |
Craig- I thought DG was going to be rubbish from the trailer so don't give up on us (baby). Sorry - David Soul moment | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 82.38.75.85 |
>>don't give up on us (baby). Sorry - David Soul moment<< Argh! I've got that ruddy song on the brain now, thanks to you! | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.163.177.179 |
I watched this last night - I couldn't decide if it was just right or a bit plain, but did like it. I think part of me wanted it to be a bit more playful, push the story in a new direction. But it was still strong. And who was that lovely lass, Wooton's daughter? I thought they'd gone back in time and got a young Frances De La Tour for the part. She was lovely. Good movie. Also saw The Final Destination; more like a ride than any of the others it was fun, and even stole a direct Tom and Jerry image (remember the bits where Tom used to go through little gaps in fences and come out looking like chips? It's here!). The 3D was ace. Dorian won, but perhaps needed a little of FD's umph. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.163.177.179 |
BTW it was Fantastic seeing Highgate cemetery again in DG - it looked brilliant up on the big screen! Best graveyard ever, especially after having visited it this year. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.253.131 |
Finally saw it. It was okay... the Wilde in it, made it, of course. I don't know, overall?... Let's see another one done like this, I need two to make up my mind.... | ||
| Mark_samuels (Mark_samuels) Username: Mark_samuels Registered: 04-2010 Posted From: 86.173.246.188 |
I live in Highgate Cemetery. It's a basement flat. Mark S. |