I had a discussion with one of my shady associates the other day. The topic? Immortality. What would you do to live forever? Would you want to? You probably want to try, at the very least, but as someone whom already is, I can say it's fairly overrated. Gets boring after a few hundred millenia, and the times before theatre were a drag to say the least. Nevertheless, inspired by this topic of neverending debate among egotistical megalomaniacs, I have decided to make the world aware of a man who fell to temptation, and took a vow of immortality. But first a little storytelling.
The year is 1890. Cars look sillier than they do today, and the liberal community was an endangered species. In the midst of the victorian civilization, Oscar Wilde published a novel which in today's world would probably be seen as tame, but back then it was as deviant and vicarious as my assistant's guttermind is today. This novel was named The Picture of Dorian Gray and was recieved with heavily mixed thoughts from his peers, seen as a homoerotical plunge into decadence. The novel took us on the journey of Dorian Gray, a young man who traded his soul for the chance to live forever, and remain forever young. A good deal, right? The film I bring to you was released September 2009, and is according to yours truly one of the best adaptions of the old story to be released on film. But I've kept you long enough, let's get down and dirty. Is immortality any good?
Cool guys don't look at explosions.
Dorian Gray does what it wants very well, the scenery and lighting pulling you into the appropriate era with ease, and the costume department has had a field day with the dresses and suits filling the screen in every scene. The few animations that are in the movie are nicely done, and do not detract from the movie, at least not enough for me to bash it.
My comm device is not working properly.
Ben Barnes enters the role of Dorian Gray, a naive young man returning to his parents' estate as the new lord of the manor. A role he performs with good emotion and superb acting. Dorian is supported by Colin Firth, in the role of Lord Henry Wotton, and Ben Chaplin as the friendly painter Basil. Both perform with excellence, Firth managing to hammer down the charismatic nail appropriate to Lord Henry with much skill. A minus here is Lord Henry Wotton's daughter, whom I personally feel is somewhat forced, but your mileage may vary.
How about a story before we sleep?
Dorian Gray is a story told about the very same, the young man willingly wishing away his soul into the painting his friend makes of him, so that it will suffer the consequences he would normally attract from life. Aging included. As the movie progresses, Lord Henry Wotton manages to push Dorian further into decandence and indulgence, living vicariously through the younger man as Dorian happily takes every opportunity to slake his thirst for lust and experiences.
All things must come to an end however, and the cursed painting begins to attract both vermin and insects to it's filthy visage, plaguing the boy with nightmares and reminders of the soulless creep he has become. The story stays true to the novel mostly, the addition of Lord Henry Wottons' daughter a good decision, and in spite of her somewhat forced intrusion into the story, manages to be alright. An enticing story, and it brings up the question if you would do the same in Gray's shoes.
Conclusion, Conclusion, Conclusion.
Dorian Gray is good, and is watchable by pretty much anyone. The movie does have a somewhat slow pace, so if you're an actionlover, it may be somewhat quiet and held back for you at times, but it makes up for it with it's story. I recommend Dorian Gray, but I do not recommend linking your soul to a picture.
Rating: 87% - 'tis a good movie, and a compelling story. Mandatory -2% for lack of ninja.
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