Ben Barnes, Ben Chaplin, Caroline Goodall

Dorian Gray is very handsome -- and very cursed. Young Dorian arrives fresh on the London social scene and is taken under the wing of Lord Henry Wotton who introduces him to the seedy pleasures of Lon...( read more  read more... )don life. When Dorian sees how incredible he looks in a newly painted picture of himself, he swears to do whatever it takes to look as young and handsome in real life as he does in the picture -- forever. His stunning good looks and charm soon attract the celebrity lifestyle and everything that it brings. Dorian finds himself slipping deeper and deeper into a world of sin, sex and celebrity, seemingly without any consequences. But as his actions become increasingly evil, for how long can he hide the secret behind his eternal youth?

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53% liked it

22,752 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 52 min.

Directed by: Oliver Parker

Release Date: September 9, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (961)


  • October 5, 2009
    Dumbed down doesn't even come close (I half expected the credits sequence to say "based on the game..."!). Ben Barnes is indeed a pretty thing and Wilde would have approved on an aesthetic level at least. But he is by far the least satisfying actor here. Colin Firth (an actor who...( read more) is improving with maturity), as Lord Henry Wooton comes off considerably better. But I suppose his established pedigree would dictate that he knows his Wilde a little better than the enfant Barnes, plus Lord Henry is often the voice of Wilde (even here spouting most of the Wilde wit) and is the more interesting character. So maybe I'm being unfair? Maybe.
    The film itself, despite superficially feeling 'authentic', is really rather too literal with its metaphors to feel at all Wildean - not to mention the huge hammer and chisel they use with the story's darker themes and ideas (everything writ large, no ambiguity). You could never accuse the makers of this potboiler of subtlety!
    More unforgivably they seem to have dispensed with any sense of aestheticism at all in favour of something more akin to a gothic 'penny-dreadful' or, more obviously, a Hammer horror pastiche. This 'disrespectful' (?) approach, despite making it all a profoundly hollow experience, does however make proceedings much more enjoyable than your average hidebound and pursed-lipped affair. The kind that is often foisted on us claiming to be a faithful adaptation of Wilde's work - but which still only ever succeeds in missing the point completely - albeit at the other extreme of being dry and flavourless. And there are some fun moments to be had. Especially a wonderfully camp, yet still utterly moving scene where a still exceptionally youthful Dorian returns after a couple of decades of whoring and scoring to face his gaggle of former admirers who are, poor wretches, now obviously ravaged by time. Oh cruel irony (forget the picture locked up in the attic!)
    Even so, as an adaptation of Wilde's only full length novel, it's a huge missed opportunity - this could have been something very special. As it is, it's merely a stripped down version to allow for an audience who doesn't like to think too hard about anything much.
    Fun but utterly forgettable.
  • September 28, 2009
    Dorian Gray - Forever Young. Forever Cursed..

    Fresh-faced and innocent, Dorian Gray arrives in London to move into the house he has inherited. Almost immediately he falls under the influence of amoral and calculating Lord Henry Wotton, leading to a life of increasing debaucher...( read more)y and even violence. Through many years Gray stays as young-looking as ever, while a portrait painted when he arrived grows old, reflecting his increasing excesses. Eventually the picture, now secreted in his attic, becomes almost hideous to behold. When true love finally enters his life he realises he must guard his secret at all costs..

    continue soon..
  • September 24, 2009
    Theres something about period peices set in this era of London that just visually fascinates me which helps with Dorian Grey. Based on the popular novel Dorian Grey pads out the running time with enjoyable dialouge, plot and horror. Its lacking in anything else but is enough to h...( read more)old interest.
  • September 13, 2009
    Very enjoyable British horror gothic romp. It's linear, and don't expect a masterwork, but the CGI is used both sparingly and effectively - I jumped twice, and the plot works. Acting's all good. Decent film.
  • September 13, 2009
    Its a pretty decent thriller. It didn't quite live up to the book. One thing is for sure though, there is lots of sex in this film, quite surprised, yet happy, to see Ben Barnes shed some clothes, it was a nice turn. I think they did a good job with all the gore and the horror as...( read more)pect. One of the things I didn't like was how they would make the picture move, I would have just preferred it, if each time you saw the picture, it would be different. Just some of the scenes where the picture itself was moving looked a little cheesy to me. Also when I was watching it the audience was laughing at some parts, that aren't technically supposed to be funny, so I would take that as a disclaimer, but then again, when they left the theatre they said it was good.

    I think they added some scenes, it wasn't completely like the book, but I think it was a good adaptation. Ben Barnes really does look the part of Ben Barnes and he does a pretty good job, he might have to work on the crying part though. When Sybil Vane dies, his crying just looked odd. This also a scene where people in the audience laughed. Colin Firth does a really good job. He can be funny, he can be dramatic, he can be angry. He plays it well.

    So overall it was pretty good, I probably could have waited but its not entirely bad. I am glad that I did get that TIFF experience and here what director had to say about it and stuff.
  • November 17, 2009
    hm... this sounds like it coul very well be interseting
  • November 17, 2009
    I am writing this as someone who has not read the book on which this film is based. I thought this movie was brilliant. It was raw, emotive, passionate, sensual, seductive, dramatic and everything else it should be. The script was superbly written and sensationally executed. The ...( read more)cast were phenomenal and the story was fulfilling. I had my doubts going into this film after reading a few negative reviews, but I honestly don't think those people were watching the same film. I was immensely impressed with this film and am sure that will enjoy it just as much the next time around.
  • November 2, 2009
    can't wait to see it! I'm reading the book now and the story is really interesting.. I hope the movie will be good as well
  • October 31, 2009
    i want to see this movies this week
  • October 31, 2009
    AHH.. may movie na pala nito.. i want to watch!!

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Comments


  • ekaniki
    February 23, 2009
    I CANT WAIT TO SEE THIS AS WELL!!!!!

    the story is very cool, sooo i hope the movie will be interesting to watch
  • mrbicklethepickle
    September 9, 2008
    I bought the book recently. I haven;t had time to read it., but it sounded it really good. And Ben Barnes is soooo hot. LOL.
  • michellerubio
    August 12, 2008
    OMG! Dorian Gray is an awesome story! And Ben is perfect to represent him! And to be with Rachel! Perfect couple, I love Rachel!

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Dorian Gray Trivia


  • In the movie The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen which actor played Dorian Gray.  Answer »
  • In The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, what is the name of the member of the league who posseses a portrait of himself that makes him immortal?  Answer »
  • In The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which league member ended up betraying the others?  Answer »
  • Name the actor who as portrayed the follow characters: Dorian Gray, Lestat de Lioncourt and more recently he played Carl Kolchak on TV.  Answer »

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