FOREVER YOUNG. FOREVER CURSED.
In Victorian London, the newly-arrived Dorian Gray (Ben Barnes) is charmed by the city’s high society, but when he agrees to let a friend paint his portrait, a careless wish becomes his damnation. Director Oliver Parker’s third Oscar Wilde adaptation lacks a little spark in spite of good performances and nice production values (including nasty CGI that brings the infamous painting to life), but is certainly a watchable retread of the story about vanity and the effect of old sins on one’s soul. Colin Firth is fun to watch as Lord Wotton, a hedonist who is eventually outdone by his young protégé.
2009-Britain. 112 min. Color. Directed by Oliver Parker. Novel: Oscar Wilde (“The Picture of Dorian Gray”). Cast: Ben Barnes (Dorian Gray), Colin Firth (Henry Wotton), Rebecca Hall (Emily Wotton), Ben Chaplin, Emilia Fox, Rachel Hurd-Wood.