Dorian Gray
Starring: Ben Barnes, Colin Firth, Ben Chaplin, Rebecca Hall
Dir: Oliver Parker
Rating: 3/5
Dorian Gray remains one of literature's most fascinating characters, the only novel by Oscar Wilde back in 1890.
And over the years Gray is a character that has been depicted on the big and small screen many times. And this time around it's Ben Barnes who takes on the character of the ageless character as he tries to stay young forever.
He arrives in Victorian London and is swept into a social whirlwind by the charismatic Henry Wotton (Colin Firth - Mamma Mia), who introduces Dorian to the hedonistic pleasures of the city.
When a portrait of Dorian is unveiled, such is its beauty that he makes a pledge: he would give anything to stay as he is in the picture - even his soul.
Dorian Gray examines the destructive power of beauty, the blind pursuit of pleasure and the darkness that can result.
In terms of youthful beauty for the central character of Dorian Gray actor Ben Barnes, who shot to fame as Prince Caspian, couldn't be more perfectly cast.
He gives a great performance as the wide eyed innocent who is haunted by his harsh upbringing at the hands of his grandfather.
The growing relationship he has with Lord Wotton, played by Colin Firth, is also very powerful as Gray becomes fixated on every word that Wotton says and Wotton slowly leads Gray down a very dangerous path where there is no turning back.
But as the tide turns and Gray's behaviour becomes more wild and out of control Barnes' performance just lacks that little bit of something.
The movie focuses in on Gray's life of decadence and excess it doesn't look at the ideas of conscience and inner anguish, which would have given an extra and interesting layer to the movie.
However it's Colin Firth's performance that is nothing short of brilliant and the pair banter well together, the fact that they have worked together on Easy Virtue last year really does shine through.
Firth brings some much needed humour to the film as the hedonistic Wotton who preaches about a life that he dares not live himself.
The movie does differ from the book as the script jumps forward, finishing in the 1920's, and there's also the introduction of a love interest that might redeem Gray.
And that love interest comes in the form of Rebecca Hall as Wooton's daughter but sadly she has too little screen time to make a huge impact. Plus the speed of their relationship is a real problem.
In all Dorian Gray is a suspenseful gothic horror and is a nice change from all the slasher/torture movies that we are so used to seeing of late, and the score is fantastic!
The film lacks depth as it struggles with having to be about ideas rather than action and excitement. Having said that it's a solid film that produces some good performances.
Dorian Gray is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Ben Barnes