Let us preface this by saying that we at HARO are very uncultured, so we have little if no experience with the plays of Oscar Wilde. We do know however, that this is a renowned romantic comedy. The spirit of the play (we guess) has been preserved in the new Miramax (but Merchant Ivory looking) production. The set design and costumes are lavish, and we could be just as happy watching this film with no sound.

Fortunately, there is sound, so you will be treated to an enjoyable comedy set in turn of the century England. Lord Goring (Rupert Everett from Inspector Gadget) is a member of the idle rich. He is perenially lazy, and has no desire to get married. His old friend Sir Robert Chiltern (Jeremy Northam from Mimic) is a member of Parliament, and Robert's wife Gertrude (Cate Blanchett from Pushing Tin) is an old flame of Gorings, but now is a friend. Sir Robert's sister Mabel (Minnie Driver from Hard Rain) is also a friend of Gorings, and is also looking for a husband. When Mrs. Chieveley (Julianne Moore from Psycho), and old flame of Goring's, show's up with some damning evidence from Sir Robert's past, the hijinks begin.

All of the actors do a wonderful job (as you can tell by their other projects) with Wilde's material, adapted for screen by Oliver Parker. Julianne Moore is especially wonderful as Mrs. Chieveley. Though we at HARO are not necessarily fans of Moore, we do admire her incredible acting ability and range. Each role that she takes is vastly different from the last, and she is terrific in all of them. The comic timing between everyone is marvelous, and just looking at the expressions that Driver, Blanchett, and Everett give at certain points in the movie is enough to make you crack up.