The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) - Dench crowns Parker's fine Wilde adaptation

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A cheeky blend of game stars and an eye-catching question mark graphic makes up this poster for Oliver Parker's The Importance of Being Earnest

In 1890's finer English circles in London, two chums deceit maidens in different ways; both assuming the sympathetic name 'Earnest', which gives rise to problems.

 

The Importance of Being Earnest is written and directed by Oliver Parker (Othello (1995)), adapting the same-titled 1895 play by Oscar Wilde (Lady Windermere's Fan (1892)).

Wonderful Wildeian satire comes out light and well cast here, if a bit dialog heavy in this text loyal adaptation. Rupert Everett (Napoleon (2023)) and Colin Firth (Supernova (2020)) bask in the luxurious material, and everyone do well here; not least Anna Massey (Oliver Twist (2007, miniseries)) as a sympathetic nitwit, and in particular Judi Dench (Cats (2019)) as the honor-focused mother-in-law to be, arguably the crown jewel of the film.

Good-looking costumes and plenty of jolly fun. And Reese Witherspoon (Home Again (2017)) acquits herself well in fitting into the language and landscapes of Britain.

Related posts:

 

Oliver Parker: Johnny English Reborn/Johnny English Returns (2011) - Atkinson will make you laugh till your belly aches

Othello (1995) - Parker's fascinating Shakespeare adaptation debut 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 15 mil. $

Box office: 18 mil. $

= Big flop (returned 1.2 times its cost)

[The Importance of Being Earnest was released 21 June (USA) and runs 97 minutes. Shooting took place from April - June 2001 in England, including in London. The film opened #18 to a 500k $ first weekend in 38 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #12 and grossed 8.3 mil. $ (44.4 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 4.7 mil. $ (26.1 %) and Australia with 1.4 mil. $ (7.8 %). Roger Ebert gave it a 3/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. Parker returned with The Private Life of Samuel Pepys (2003, TV movie) and theatrically with Fade to Black (2006). Everett returned in Unconditional Love (2002); Firth in Hope Springs (2003); and Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama (2002). The Importance of Being Earnest is rotten at 57 % with a 6/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Importance of Being Earnest?

Napoleon (2023) - Scott's best in many years, a thumping epic

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A wild scene of fierce battle makes up the striking motif in this poster for Ridley Scott's Napoleon

Corsican army officer Napoleon Bonaparte rises in the years following the French revolution of 1788, by 1804 becoming Emperor of France. His countless military battles around Europe and beyond it and his passionate but childless marriage to empress Joséphine define the man.

 

Napoleon is written by David Scarpa (All the Money in the World (2017)), based on the real historical figure, and directed by English master filmmaker, co-producer/director Ridley Scott (The Duelists (1977)), whose 28th feature it is.

Opening with a brutal, vivid rendering of the execution of Marie Antoinette, France's last queen, Scott intentionally throws his audience immediately into a fantastic, adventurous depiction of a severely different time and place than the common day, - anywhere that it may be lived on this earth. Napoleon springs along without wasting time, to various countries and battles, with a narrative anchor in the central love story, which is never shown with present-day affinities but rather with unflattering, somewhat theatrical, perhaps honest insight into the actual marriage. Co-producer/star Joaquin Phoenix (Irrational Man (2015)) is the man to lift such a bombastic mega-ego commander on the big screen and gives a memorable performance, and Vanessa Kirby (Kill Command (2016)) is very good as Joséphine, although the character is invariably reactive in nature: He conquers; she largely home-sits. And fails to get pregnant, which was her main job. The importance of this ultimate failure is dealt with seriously, and is part of the film's incredible allure. 

Helping to build the bulky, striding picture are also incredible costumes, locations and battle scenes, - the Austerlitz battle is especially captivating, but there are striking images and a very engaging sense of primal, boyishly gleeful but of course deadly serious 'war' about all the battles in Napoleon. Dariusz Wolski's (War Machine (2017)) cinematography is wonderfully free of the now so often seen soaring drone shots that reveal a mass of CGI-created details. This film's digital effects are never glaring; and the achieved realism helps transport us to this far-away time and place. Martin Phipps (Black Mirror (2011-16)) relishes the film with strong musical choices, classical and some more idiosyncratic, but all apt and commendable. The film also has some noteworthy supporting actors; Paul Rhys (Borgia (2013-14)) as the French foreign minister is fantastic, and so is Rupert Everett (Muse (2019)) as the Duke of Wellington. The film is a deft display of Scott's unsentimental knack for bravado storytelling, entertaining the masses and telling a great story at the same time. This French legend strikes one as very French here, while the sub-level humor and brazen, unadorned form is very English.

Related posts:

Ridley Scott: 2021 in films - according to Film Excess  

House of Gucci (2021) - Gaga slays as Patrizia Reggiani 

The Martian (2015) - Scott and Damon triumph with hopeful sci-fi adventure  

Prometheus (2012) or, Even Then, Space Eggs Were Bad News
2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]

2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess

Robin Hood (2010) - R. Scott's grand film of the English legend 

2008 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

2008 in films - according to Film Excess 

Body of Lies (2008) - R. Scott's terror actioner is a fatiguing turkey 

2007 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II] 

2007 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 

2007 in films - according to Film Excess 

American Gangster (2007) - Great American - now black - gangster picture
A Good Year (2006) - Ridley Scott likes Provence

Matchstick Men (2003) - Great Cage job highlights entertaining Scott crime dramedy 

Hannibal (2001) - Grisly highlights in low-yielding Scott sequel 

2000 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

Gladiator (2000) - Experience the grandeur of the Roman Empire in Scott's dramatic masterpiece

G.I. Jane (1997) or, The Amazing Seal Woman! 

Top 10: The best big flop movies reviewed by Film Excess to date  
Blade Runner (1982) director's cut - Visual extravaganza, great SF 

Top 10: Best future-set movies

Top 10: Best Twentieth Century Fox titles 

Top 10: Best first-of-franchise movies
Alien (1979) or, Space Eggs Are Bad News

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 200 mil. $

Box office: 140.1 mil. $ and counting

= Too early to say

[Napoleon premiered 14 November (Paris) and runs 157 minutes. Shooting took place from February - May 2022 in England, Paris, France, Morocco and in Malta. The film opened #2, behind The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, to a 32.7 mil. $ first (5-day) weekend, falling out of the top 5 in its 2nd weekend in North America. Together with Martin Scorsese's The Killers of the Flower Moon, it is the first major theatrical picture from Apple Studios, who will also base the two films' success criteria on their performance on their streaming service as well as at the 2024 Oscars. The film has been criticized for a long list of historical inaccuracies/creative inventions; Scott has told the critical historians to "shut the fuck up". He has also stated that he hopes to later release a 4 hour 10 minutes long director's cut version of the film with more about Joséphine. Scott returns with Gladiator 2 (2024). Phoenix returns in Polaris (2024). Napoleon is rotten at 58 % with a 6.30/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Napoleon?