The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)

The recent adaptation (2002) of Oscar Wilde’s most famous play “The Importance of Being Earnest” is a valiant attempt to bring the fantastic wit of Wilde successfully to the big screen. The cast of top Brit actors, Rupert Everett, Colin Firth and Judi Dench are stalwarts of the stage and period dramas, and are supported by Reese Witherspoon (turning her hand to another period role and another British accent in the upcoming Vanity Fair) and Frances ...
...Park). The story revolves around two caddish bachelors Jack Worthing (Firth) and Algy Moncrieff (Everett), so far no Ernest! Algy is a good for nothing playboy about town, who we frequently witness being chased by debtors. In order to avoid as many boring appointments as possible, Algy has invented a rather sickly imaginary friend called Bunbury. So for example, when his formidable Aunt Augusta (Dench) demands his presence at a dinner, Algy must ...

audreyh 19.09.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)

...this case Wilde's 1895 play, The Importance of Being Earnest) and to transfer it to the big screen, when it was originally intended for performance on stage, as film and theatre are of course very different genres, givne the fact that the English language has ostensibly altered more in the last 100 years than ever - with usage and vocabulary changing, and with a current tendency to dumb down, I was uncertain as to whether there would be very much ...
...who were well versed in the classics and performing in them - I still think that Firth's portrayal of Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones' Diary was a blip almost in his career - there was never a danger that the old-fashioned language would be ill-suited to the cast. Oscar Wilde was renowned as a wit, and his throw-away lines and quotations are unbelievable, with only someone like Aubrey Beardsley, a contemporary and close friend of Wilde (and also the ...

Morgenhund 17.11.2002 · Read full review
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Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)

...has made a forray onto the big screen before, in a version that I found rather staid and very stagey. So, would the new effort be any good? Before we move into the realm of film, I'll just outline the story for anyone unfamiliar with Oscar Wilde's piece of genius. Algernon and Jack are young men in the late 1800s. Jack has invented a wicked younger brother called Ernest so he can spend time in the town misbehaving. Algernon pretends to have an invalid ...
...in the country. Under the guise of Ernest, Jack has proposed to Algie's cousin Gwendolin, but her mother, aunt Augusta, does not approve. Meanwhile Algie pretends to be younger brother Ernest in order to visit Jack's young ward in the country. Much confusion and a good deal of humour ensues. The film. Casting - absolutely brilliant. Colin Firth makes a wonderful Jack, with Rupert Everett as Algie - they really compliment each other as a couple ...

Bryn_Pearson 17.09.2002 · Read full review
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Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)

I'd heard the film wasn't as good as it could have been (not terrible, but reviews suggested disappointment). Despite this, it was our final trip to the cinema for the summer before we all drifted off for a final year of uni. This still looked more appealing than The Bourne Identity to me, and had Colin Firth in for the girls (do my friends just have weird taste?) Credited cast overview: Rupert Everett .... Algernon (Algy) Moncrieff (aka Earnest) ...
...In case you hadn't guessed, the film is based on Oscar Wilde's 1895 play (which I haven't seen or read). This makes it possibly a period drama, only without heaving bossoms (can't have everything I suppose...) Thankfully Wilde's touch of humour is preserved. The play had numerous witty aphorisms, such as Miss Prism's comment, upon hearing that Jack’s good-for-nothing brother has died: ‘What a lesson for him! I trust he will profit from it’. Wilde ...

a-true-ben 16.09.2002 (24.03.2004) · Read full review
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Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)

...Darcy because he loves just the way she is. But did you manage to catch this one where Colin Firth takes on the role of Worthing who pretends to be his non-exsistant brother Earnest whenever he wants to get away from his rather responsible lifestyle in the country and have fun in the city. Of course prior to doing Bridget Jones, Colin was best known for his part as Mr Darcy in the period piece Pride and Prejudice, which is where his surname came ...
...suprise to see Colin take the lead role in the first cinematic version of the stage play and book by Oscar Wilde. I have to say though that I'm not a great fan of period pieces and all the Jane Austen adaptions have been well and truly missed by me, except of course a quick peak at the infamous lake scene in Pride and Prejudice to see what all the fuss was about. Well my love for Colin Firth was greater than my dislike of period pieces on this occassion ...

Lindylou13 03.06.2005 (04.06.2005) · Read full review
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Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)

...Jack are two friends in the Victorian times. This is a confusing film to write about. I was nearly finished writing a review on this and I can't believe it my computer crashed! I didn't get to ave it so I am writing it again in aa very bad mood. Algy and Jack talk and then Jack talks about his ward Cecilly who is 18 and lives in the country and Algy seems interested in her. Algy pretends his name is Ernest and that he is Jack's brother. He goes to ...
...can be called that in the city and pretends to be his brother and then in the country he is called Jack. When Jack goes to the country he finds Algy there and realises that he is pretending to be Ernest. Jack then has to just act like they are brothers and pretend nothing is wrong. Algy starts to really like Cecilly and Jack likes Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn is Algy's cousin who Jack has been with for a while and he wants to marry her but Gwendolyn's mother ...

ms19 30.09.2002 · Read full review
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Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)

...colin firth really was attractive, the openign scene did very little to place that belief firmly in their minds, and no amount of my cajoling can remove it, despite my efforts. but on to the story... i truly believe, unlike many, that this film did not ruin the play by wilde. it is perfectly casted with colin firth protraying the lead character, jack's change from country gentleman to popular townie to a tee. everett as usual is on form, playing ...
...everett is trying to capture the heart of jack's ward, (witherspoon). meanwhile, jack has fallen desperately in love with gwendolene, and is trying desperately to win her hand, but she believes his name is ernest, which obviously it isn't as this is only the name of his town alter ego. but jack hadn't counting on the intervention of gwen's mother. dench plays this snobby, proud and driiping with dry wit mother excellently, as per usual, who strongly ...

spobz 20.02.2003 · Read full review
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Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)

Having studied the play at A-level and watching it in Theaters this story is by far my most favourite to hear, and I was delighted to hear that it had been made into a full lenght film. I was further delighted when i discovered that two of my favourite UK male actors (Colin Firth and Rupert Everett) were taking centre stage! Okay, its quiet hard to describe the film's plot but here goes! Two women (Gwendelin and Cecily) want to marry a man called ...
...the same 'man', Ernest Worthing. So to get the women that they love, Jack and Algy (played by colin and rupert) decide to become this Ernest, each ensuring that they have their women's hearts. However, the women believe that there is only one Ernest Worthing and when they meet, trouble begins. Its v. much a farce! Watching the film I was taken back to when we played the parts and it was very interesting to watch proffessional film actors taking ...

Vikkipiggie 15.04.2003 · Read full review
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Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)

...If you don’t know the ending to this film (and don’t panic, I’m not going to tell you!) it’s brilliant. It’s not a film that keeps you guessing till the end or makes you think about what is going to happen all the way through it. It’s a nice humorous film that you can just sit and enjoy without thinking too much – ideal for when you are tired!! The story is about two men, Algy and Jack (played by Rupert ...
...friend ‘Ernest’, who lives in the country, giving him an excuse to get out and visit ‘Ernest’ at any time. The other has a friend ‘Ernest’, who lives in the city, giving him an excuse to visit the city at any time. This plan works fine until they both fall in love with women, Gwendolen and Cecily (played by Fraces O’Connor and Reese Witherspoon). Both these women believe that their future husbands are called ...

annette_tr9 24.09.2002 · Read full review
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Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)

The scenery was perfect and with a cast consisting of Dame Judi Dench, Frances O'Connor, Rupert Everett and Colin Firth working on an Oscar Wild script, there was little to be faulted. However, I felt that Reese Witherspoon(though wickedly playful)looked out of place because she has very distinctive features and presented herself differently from the other actors who were so accustomed to this genre. Sometimes it felt that the actors were just ...
...a very melodramatic fashion and the movie lacked that element. Saying that, Dame Judi Dench was brilliant at acting the part of the matriarch whose whim is everyone else' command. The costuming was good but not spefctacular. I imagined it would be more opulent or severe where intended. ...

Melisa 09.10.2002 · Read full review
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Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)

...a big fan of both the play itself, and the original film. But this version brought a slightly different interpretation to the screen. Not different enough to deviate from the original story, but different enough to make it an orginal film rather than a remake. Jack and Algernon are two city friends who both aspire to be other people - called Earnest. Gwendolyn is Algy's cousin who falls in love with Earnest (Jack), much to the disgust of her overbearing ...
...year old Charge living in the country, a daydreamer called Cecily, and goes to visit, pretending to be Jack's brother - Earnest. When all four of them end up in the same place at the same time, caos ensues! Colin Firth and Rupert Everett are perfectly cast as Jack and Algernon, bringing just the right amount of wit and working well together. The casting of the 2 female leads was perhaps not quite so inspired. Reece Witherspoon made a beautifully ...

Helenszone 08.10.2002 · Read full review
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Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)

...was a romantic film, and the characters were presented spectacularly allowing the viewer to enjoy every moment of the film. However, this is not just a film for the "middle aged" but from the opinion of a 14 year old...my brother, this film was still very enjoyable. If you are looking for a movie with action, excitement and intrigue...don't pick this film. Understandably, the special effects for a romantic comedy are not particularly memorable, ...

bengar 01.11.2002 · Read full review
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Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)

...wonderful way although I felt the ending was a little soppy. It is not for those who aren't going to get over their prejudices of period drama. Your not going to get alot of action or special effects but for great story lovers it's a perfect night in. Overall I thought it showed British sarcasm at its best and was an absolute pleasure to watch. ...

Betny 21.10.2003 · Read full review
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Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)

...it straight, you'll be disappointed. The versatile language of the writer, as well as its intellectual humour have been massacred by Hollywood in their unique style meant to ensure that their American audiences actually understand what's goin' on in this flick! Well, what did you expect! We're basically faced with a film made by reasonably intelligent creators for audiences "which" are definitely the lamentable opposite. Wilde's original text is ...
...but we get the main idea: the story of British aristocracy and the match-making interests of early 20th century. A social satire, generally, reproduced as a spoof of a false aristocratic era. The decors are good, the atmosphere is alive (particularly that of London) and Judi Dench is wonderful. The two lead actors aren't bad either... but no real sparkle there. The lead American actress (Reese Witherspoon) tries her best to emulate the British accent ...

C_C_Ryder 18.09.2002 (23.10.2002) · Read full review
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Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)