Dorian Gray (2009) dir, Oliver Parker

My Dad introduced me to the story when I was 8, and it influenced me so much I worked it into my English writing exam aged 11. A mousemat in the office reminded me daily that "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." Having been brought up on lots of classic literature, I treasure the work of Oscar Wilde, so was really excited back in 2009 when a new film version of his masterpiece The Picture of Dorian Gray was released.

Everyone knows the story, even if they don't know its origins. I watched Dorian Gray again this week with two other people, one of whom soon piped up, "Oh, so this is where the whole 'picture in the attic' saying comes from?" Ben Barnes is young, fresh-faced Dorian arriving in London at the mansion he has inherited from his cruel, estranged grandfather. Dorian's beauty catches the eye of artist Basil Hallward (Ben Chaplin), who begins studying the young man, and painting his portrait. Meanwhile, Dorian is quickly taken under the wing of the corrupt Lord Henry Wotton (Colin Firth), and thrust into rat-infested opium dens and whorehouses."What effect does this have on one's soul?" the young man asks innocently. "One's...SOUL?" The very word seems to taste bitter to Lord Henry. "I nail my soul to the devil's altar," he declares, knocking back another gin. "You have the only two things worth having Dorian: youth and beauty."

Soon Basil's portrait is finished. "It's quite the best thing you've done," Harry observes, "and it will always look this way.You, Mr Gray, will not." As Dorian awes over his reflection, he realises he really does have the only two things worth having, and unwittingly trades his soul for eternal beauty.

As a depiction of classic literature, it is inevitably compared to the novel, and of course the film lacks Oscar Wilde's tremendous wit and poetry. However, it is full of beautiful performances. Ben Barnes, the stunning up-and-coming actor from London, is absolutely how I always imagined Dorian Gray to be. Stuart Townsend was great, but too old for the role in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. My copy of the novel is covered by a painting of a blonde, short-haired man in a white suit, who is nothing like how I imagined him. Barnes has a face for all occasions. He has a radiant smile and wide excited eyes as he arrives in London, his torrent of sexual escapades is believable when we see his seductive side. He smirks, fox-like, as he returns from 20 years of travel to a room full of aged friends, who gawk at his miraculously youthful appearance. So many forms his face takes, and all highlighted by his allure.

The other notable performance is from British favourite Colin Firth. Prior to seeing Dorian Gray, I was not convinced of his acting abilities, finding all his performances the same stuffy, uptight Brit who spoke very properly. But his Harry Wotton is absolutely spot-on, and very refreshing from Firth's usual image. He is loud, proud and vulgar in a 19th Century way, full of his own cynical wisdom. "The only thing to do with a woman is to make love to her if she is pretty, and to someone else if she is plain," he philosophizes. He draws Dorian over to the 'dark side,' played by Firth like a Satanic Wilde. 

Overall, the film is visually splendid, and oozing with charm from its sets and players. True, it is lacking Wilde's magic, but as a film made from a work of classic literature, it is a decent tribute, and certainly very enjoyable. I would recommend though that anyone who is not familiar with the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray gets a copy- it's a real read-before-you-die!