Dorian Gray (2009)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jim H

  
  A British aesthete realizes that a painting of him manifests all the physical evidence of anything he does. I'm trying not to be the snobby literature teacher whom everybody hated in high school or that literature survey class you were forced to take Freshman year, but the… More
  A British aesthete realizes that a painting of him manifests all the physical evidence of anything he does. I'm trying not to be the snobby literature teacher whom everybody hated in high school or that literature survey class you were forced to take Freshman year, but the distortions that Oscar Wilde's masterpiece was subjected to in this film are almost too much to bear. Avoiding that persona, I'm forced to say that Lord Henry doesn't work as a character if he is bland and evil the way Colin Firth plays him here. The timeline of the film is vastly extended compared to the book, and Sybil's influence is reduced. These latter changes aren't particularly damning, but turning Henry into a leering villain is. Rather than Wilde's tale being about an extreme expression of the aesthete, <i>Dorian Gray</i> suggests that murder and illicit sex are logical extensions of the aesthete's philosophy. Because Wilde considered himself an aesthete, I doubt that he would approve. So it's clear that the film differs from the book, but these differences don't necessarily mean it's a bad film. No, the stolid performances and unevenness of the story make it a bad film. Overall, read the book or -- though I haven't seen it -- the older version, <i>The Picture of Dorian Gray</i>, can't be worse.

• Matthew R

  
  This film is visually appealing. Colin Firth is a powerhouse in this film along with actors Ben Chaplin, and Rebecca Hall. The special effects visuals and the dressing of sets and costumes are all fantastic. This all said, the film is as if director Oliver Parker read Oscar… More
  This film is visually appealing. Colin Firth is a powerhouse in this film along with actors Ben Chaplin, and Rebecca Hall. The special effects visuals and the dressing of sets and costumes are all fantastic. This all said, the film is as if director Oliver Parker read Oscar Wilde's novel and then watched a 24/7 rerun of Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, and then watched the abysmal end of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen for the film's climax. The story of Dorian Gray and his mysterious painting is one of the best tales put to paper, and at first, the first act is set up rather well and the character development is rather nice. But by the time things begin to progress, that is where the story kind of fell apart, the script became rushed and the performance levels of the main star (Ben Barnes) and other supporting actors like Rachel Hurd-Wood diminished, seeminlgly abandoned for a film that looked good as opposed to telling a great story; and even this is only short lived because of the choppy editing of the center of the film. Not horrible, kept my attention, was definitely entertaining and engaging, but the parts that it lacked really could have been avoided if more effort and time were paid to them, and we would have really wound up with a masterwork, but alas, we do not.

• Emily A

  
  Zomfug. This movie is like Kryptonite for people like me. It's absurd how much it turns me on. Dorian's toast to intoxication alone... Unh. I wish I were more articulate, but it's hard to type when you have to keep wiping drool off your chin. I'm trying very hard… More
  Zomfug. This movie is like Kryptonite for people like me. It's absurd how much it turns me on. Dorian's toast to intoxication alone... Unh. I wish I were more articulate, but it's hard to type when you have to keep wiping drool off your chin. I'm trying very hard not to slide off my chair. Seriously, I get such pleasure from watching a cutie turn to the dark side. The Portrait of Dorian Gray was one of my favorite classical stories, and this movie brings it to spellbinding and decadent life. It moves it forward in time a little bit, which I found a little bit strange, but they really make it work. Colin Firth is great as Henry Wotton, the devil on Dorian's shoulder that introduces him to the concept and practise of hedonism. I think it's kind of funny how quickly Gray surpasses his Sith Lord and it makes Wotton a little uncomfortable, I think. It's delicious. And, uh, Ben Barnes? Rowr. His switch from wide-eyed and naive to predatory libertine is a little bit abrupt, but he really acheives Lestat-like levels of villainy that are just as much fun to watch. It's such a treat to watch him glory and profoundly relish his own sexual escapades and drug binges. The BDSM scenes alone are were worth the price I paid to buy this. Ben Barnes has a gorgeous O-Face. Oh, to live in a world of glib fobs who speak exclusively in bon mots. Beautiful beasts, cruel creatures, brilliant bastards and exquisite animals. Dammit, why am I not watching this right now? If ever you wonder where my mind goes when I space out and smile, this is pretty much it. My happy place.

• Thomas J

  
  This was just a miss. I will read the book just to check to see if the movie even followed the book. At times just did not feel true to the time period. Feels a little overacted at times as well.

• Cynthia S

  
  A very well done adaptation of the Oscar Wilde Classic novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray". As a period drama lover, I would say this movie was pretty entertaining, and the costume and set designs definitely deserve some praises. I thought Ben's portrayal of… More
  A very well done adaptation of the Oscar Wilde Classic novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray". As a period drama lover, I would say this movie was pretty entertaining, and the costume and set designs definitely deserve some praises. I thought Ben's portrayal of Dorian's transformation was perfectly subtle, but Colin as Lord Wotten was EPIC! For me, it was a refreshing update to a classic tale. The original film was brilliant, but audiences have changed. I like the idea that more people who aren't familiar with Oscar Wilde may develop an interest after seeig this adaptation.

• Elvira B

  
  really just watched it for Ben Barnes shirtless, which was fine. In general the direction is awful and the script does nothing to help the poor actors.

• Film C

  
  what a pile of rubbish, although the scripted looked promising it fails to really entertain and keep the audience interested! Colin Firth is the best part of the movie,gorgeous looking and lovely to watch, but the storyline is okay but really does not interest, its not really worth… More
  what a pile of rubbish, although the scripted looked promising it fails to really entertain and keep the audience interested! Colin Firth is the best part of the movie,gorgeous looking and lovely to watch, but the storyline is okay but really does not interest, its not really worth the watch.

• Curtis L

  
  There indeed was something lacking from the film to make it truely good. Not sure what. First I felt Dorian was corrupted way too fast. It seemed like all Colin Firth had to do was suggest something to him, and the guy does it immediately. I did enjoy the end era of the movie,… More
  There indeed was something lacking from the film to make it truely good. Not sure what. First I felt Dorian was corrupted way too fast. It seemed like all Colin Firth had to do was suggest something to him, and the guy does it immediately. I did enjoy the end era of the movie, since I felt like he was totally screwed and bored with all the horrible things he had done. Anyone who has done terrible things for momentary pleasure knows that eventually you feel sickened and bored with it, and the film captures this in my opinion. My wife says the book blows it away, but dont' they all?

• Chris G

  
  Young Dorian Gray (Ben Barnes) has come home to take over the household he was once tortured in. He meets an artist. He meets a lord (Colin Firth).He makes a deal with the devil where his evil goes into a painting of himself and he'll live forever. He turns into Wilt Chamberlain.… More
  Young Dorian Gray (Ben Barnes) has come home to take over the household he was once tortured in. He meets an artist. He meets a lord (Colin Firth).He makes a deal with the devil where his evil goes into a painting of himself and he'll live forever. He turns into Wilt Chamberlain. The end. This is an excruciatingly dull film that goes nowhere other than Dorian's pants. It's almost an exercise in seeing how long you can stand watching this film that is steeped in jack the Ripper references but ends up going nowhere. I never read the original story but this film version is a boring two hour endeavor that eventually comes to the predicted climax. An honest to god waste of time.

• Jake .

  
  Imagine if a bunch of parents and teachers sat back and tried to think of how to make classic literature assessable. First, the piece is placed in an "edgy" setting that looks like a cheap rip off of Sweeney Todd. Then, the actual storyline should be altered so that more… More
  Imagine if a bunch of parents and teachers sat back and tried to think of how to make classic literature assessable. First, the piece is placed in an "edgy" setting that looks like a cheap rip off of Sweeney Todd. Then, the actual storyline should be altered so that more than anything it resembles Disney's Beauty and the Beast. It should also resemble a grim morality tale more than a piece or literature. The title should be shorted too. There is just something irritating and pompous about a title that consists of more than a couple words. Oh, and there should also be a lot of skin and some cheap horror antics, just for the hell of it. In a nutshell, this is what has been done to The Picture of Dorian Gray. What is a fascinating piece of literature is turned into a tacky, mediocre mess. Ben Barnes actually handles a lot of the scenes very well. I'm not going to lie, I was surprised. Still, whenever a situation required any emotion, he completely lost it. I loved Rebecca Hall in The Town and Vicki Christina Barcelona, but was not that impressed with her here. The film felt like a Hollywood crowd-pleaser. That is not a big thing. Per say. It is sort of interesting, though, considering the film has made the art house circuit and went straight to dvd in the U.S. Still, it is interesting and entertaining to watch, but that really is about it.

• Ginny  

  
  Wow, so many bad reviews for this movie and here I am, lovin it. Never mind that I never watched any of the old versions. I like dark, elegant films that has this effect of challenging your convictions. I thought the script was smart, but then again Ive never read Oscar Wilde's… More
  Wow, so many bad reviews for this movie and here I am, lovin it. Never mind that I never watched any of the old versions. I like dark, elegant films that has this effect of challenging your convictions. I thought the script was smart, but then again Ive never read Oscar Wilde's novel so I dont really know if this movie dumbed down the original story :P!! As far as acting goes Ive never had a liking for Colin Firth, but him being a part of this flick didnt stop me from liking it. Over all I thought the whole thing was well done. Something about this movie reminded me of the crypt keeper from "tales from the crypt", I simply thought it was humor thats why it looked like that. (Yes, I bought it without looking at the trailer.) Ah, well, I liked it, I dont care what other people say. For mature audiences due to sexual content & brutality. Re-watchability: High. Verdict: 4 stars! Recommended for those folks who can dance to an ominous tune. ;)

• Dean M

  
  Oscar Wilde's Faustian tale of eternal youth returns in a slick new version simply titled <i>Dorian Gray</i>, and it's the best of a batch of remakes that have followed the now classic 1945 version, <i>The Picture of Dorian Gray</i>. To be honest,… More
  Oscar Wilde's Faustian tale of eternal youth returns in a slick new version simply titled <i>Dorian Gray</i>, and it's the best of a batch of remakes that have followed the now classic 1945 version, <i>The Picture of Dorian Gray</i>. To be honest, this is my first time to watch the tale of title character, but except in <i>The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen</i>. This is quite good; the beautifully rendered streets of Victorian London are a marvel, filled with enough dodgy cockneys and winsome wenches to warm the cockles of your heart. The growling painting and the portrait point-of-view shots are doing much better.

• Kylie B

  
  It's mainly high budget Victorian themed soft core porn with bits of acting thrown in, but actually stays pretty faithful to the original plot if not the supposed skill and subtlety of the Wilde novel - the addition of Henry's daughter as a love interest was the only… More
  It's mainly high budget Victorian themed soft core porn with bits of acting thrown in, but actually stays pretty faithful to the original plot if not the supposed skill and subtlety of the Wilde novel - the addition of Henry's daughter as a love interest was the only deviation I picked up on. Personally despite enjoying Wilde's plays when I read The Picture of Dorian Grey I was disappointed, and found some sections incredibly dull (who cares that Dorian spent years learning lace-making and various other exacting disciplines? I don't need to know the minute details of that part of his life!). The film itself isn't dull, though it rarely felt overly exciting or compelling to me. The acting is generally quite good or at least serviceable, but the only real issue I had was that some of the picture effects were far too flashy. This is particularly so during the climax. Still, at least it looked pretty.

• Candy R

  
  A young man (Dorian) arrives in London. He meets two men who introduce him to the London social scene. Henry tries to get Dorian to live a life he wants of sex, drugs and self-indulgence. It is strange to see Colin play such a devil in disguise. The other man is a painter and he… More
  A young man (Dorian) arrives in London. He meets two men who introduce him to the London social scene. Henry tries to get Dorian to live a life he wants of sex, drugs and self-indulgence. It is strange to see Colin play such a devil in disguise. The other man is a painter and he paints a portrait of Dorian, who soon realises it has magic powers. Dorian never ages, all the sins of his life are absorbed by the painting. He meets Henry's grown up daughter and falls for her. Henry is on a mission to discover the truth about Dorian's youthful looks. Good cast. Ben Barnes is much better looking in real life! It is an interesting story but lacks suspense to get you through it.

• Phil H

  
  An English film and pretty good :) its always been a good little novel from Wilde, being creepy and eerie whilst almost like a dark superhero plot too. This film looks good, not quite as good as a major Hollywood production may have looked but its nice, Victorian London is dark and… More
  An English film and pretty good :) its always been a good little novel from Wilde, being creepy and eerie whilst almost like a dark superhero plot too. This film looks good, not quite as good as a major Hollywood production may have looked but its nice, Victorian London is dark and grimy with cockney scum all over haha nice and 'Oliver Twist' if you will. The story is simple yet effective and keeps you intrigued with all the debauchery going on from Gray which makes you want his curse and of course from the growing temptation to see his portrait and what it looks like. The cast are an all English affair, good but not stunning, Chaplin has always been a sort of B-list man even in the UK and Barnes looks the part but his acting is atouch basic or amateur in my opinion, Firth saves the day with a nice slimy corrupt Lord hehe I liked this really, as I said its a good supernatural tale against the great dark setting of dirty Victorian London (can't go wrong with that) and it all just rolls along smoothly making for a good watch, its not overblown either or over the top (as Hollywood can make these dark stories) its just right.

• William S

  
  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… More
  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 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.

• George R

  
  A boring & extremely dense film that sooner or later you'll forget that the point of the film is the youth & cursed portrait, & is replaced with an overlong run time, bland dialogue, & pornography. Ben Barnes is lifeless through out the entire film, & the… More
  A boring & extremely dense film that sooner or later you'll forget that the point of the film is the youth & cursed portrait, & is replaced with an overlong run time, bland dialogue, & pornography. Ben Barnes is lifeless through out the entire film, & the boring characters just make you wish the film could end now. The only reason I kept watching this dead boring film was because of the amazing score (I think).

• Burger S

  
  About as well done as an Oscar Wilde story can be done with modern special effects. Colin Firth was great as was Ben Barnes.

• Sol C

  
  The film was so so. It kind of reminded me of movies like The Talented Mr. Ripley, Interview With the Vampire, From Hell, and American Psycho. Ben Barnes is great as Dorian Gray. Colin Firth steals the film. I have never seen Colin play a role like this before. Rebecca Hall is also… More
  The film was so so. It kind of reminded me of movies like The Talented Mr. Ripley, Interview With the Vampire, From Hell, and American Psycho. Ben Barnes is great as Dorian Gray. Colin Firth steals the film. I have never seen Colin play a role like this before. Rebecca Hall is also very good too. The film is worth seeing especially for the performances.

• Deb S

  
  'Dorian Gray' is an Oliver Parker's film loosely based on a beautiful book by Oscar Wilde and follows the story of a young English bureaucrat whose blind pursuit of hedonism lands him into a world of supernatural trouble. Plot: The handsome yet shy and innocent… More
  'Dorian Gray' is an Oliver Parker's film loosely based on a beautiful book by Oscar Wilde and follows the story of a young English bureaucrat whose blind pursuit of hedonism lands him into a world of supernatural trouble. Plot: The handsome yet shy and innocent Dorian Grey (Ben Barnes) inherits his fortune through the death of a relative and leaves a quiet life in the country to be thrown amongst the elite of London. He is befriended by the successful artist Basil Hallward (who becomes infatuated with him and) and paints his portrait, and the older libertine Lord Henry Wotton (Colin Firth) who introduces Dorian to the pleasures of the city and to his own hedonistic philosophy. When Dorian's portrait is unveiled, he says that he would give anything to stay as young and handsome as he is in the picture, and this is precisely what happens. Dorian finds that he never ages and remains ever-youthful, all the while escaping without a scar on his body because his portrait bears the brunt of his actions. He moves the picture out of the public eye and delves in to a spiraling abyss of sex, orgies, and drugs. ~Spoiler~ He encounters a beautiful young actress Sibyl Vane (Rachel Hurd-Wood), falls in love only to cast her aside (we later discover that her body has been thrown into the river much to the agony of her protective brother James (Johnny Harris).There's no shying away from the more adult content as Dorian beds his many conquests and does so with no sense of attachment or remorse for those cast aside afterwards until he finds himself unexpectedly affected by his predicament when he fears that his soul may have gone beyond saving as his thirst for lusty and scandalous behaviors increases. The mutual attraction between Dorian and Basil eventually results in Dorian butchering Basil and discarding his body into the river grave. Dorian decides to leave London and travel to exotic places to try to fill his lascivious appetite and returns some twenty odd years later. Lord Henry is by now an old man but Dorian, still looks as young as he did and begins a romance with Henry's daughter Emily, much to the disgust of her father. Dorian finally develops a conscience and wants to change his ways, but is it too late?

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