If Jazz is the essential American art form, then I think Britain can claim the period costume drama. This one measures up to the highest standards in every department, despite being a somewhat routine outing. It's so routine, in fact, that it scarcely deigns to condemn or extol the lifestyle that it so frankly portrays, instead limiting itself to a chronicle of societal intrigues. The fact that the script leaves broader moral issues entirely off the table might have raised questions of why this film was made at all, only it's greatly helped along by Stephen Fry in the role that I honestly believe he was literally born to play. Maybe another actor could capture Wilde's playfulness and recklessness, but…

A very under-rated, stylish film with a brilliant central performance - it seems to me audiences have long assumed that just because Stephen Fry made his name in comedy and is now best known as a television presenter and "national treasure" he's not really an actor. This film stands as a testament to how wrong that assumption is. He gives a nuanced, sympathetic and very moving portrayal of Oscar Wilde from his first contact with literary fame and forbidden homosexuality to his eventual downfall at the hands of the lawmakers of the late nineteenth century. The scenes of his trial and heartfelt but hopeless defence of "the love that dare not speak its name" is extremely moving. Fry is supported…

I have never made secret of the fact that I'd shag Stephen Fry. I don't know what it is. Brains are sexy.

What I love about Wilde is that even that Stephen Fry is nothing like Stephen Fry when he is playing our green carnation sporting hero, there is still a sense that he is still himself. That sounds confusing, I know. What I am trying to say is that Fry so inhabits Wilde that you don't think of Fry but when you take a second look, you realise that there is not really all that much difference going on. In many respects they are two petals on the same rose.

Wilde lived in an age when homogaysexuality was not…

A very under-rated, stylish film with a brilliant central performance - it seems to me audiences have long assumed that just because Stephen Fry made his name in comedy and is now best known as a television presenter and "national treasure" he's not really an actor. This film stands as a testament to how wrong that assumption is. He gives a nuanced, sympathetic and very moving portrayal of Oscar Wilde from his first contact with literary fame and forbidden homosexuality to his eventual downfall at the hands of the lawmakers of the late nineteenth century. The scenes of his trial and heartfelt but hopeless defence of "the love that dare not speak its name" is extremely moving. Fry is supported…

More than a decade is a long time not to watch a film you feel you ought to have watched already. But that’s just how it was with Brian Gilbert’s Wilde [1997], his earnest biopic of the great writer and wit Oscar Wilde that starred the marvelous Stephen Fry, with Jude Law as the spoiled Lord Alfred Douglas (but Bosie to all of us who know their tragic story). And yet, halfway through screening this film, I felt compelled not to continue. I did not want to finish this, for some reason. Was it the Merchant Ivory type of earnestness, when a film about Wilde should have been witty, and zings? I don’t know. Or perhaps the real reason is…

If Jazz is the essential American art form, then I think Britain can claim the period costume drama. This one measures up to the highest standards in every department, despite being a somewhat routine outing. It's so routine, in fact, that it scarcely deigns to condemn or extol the lifestyle that it so frankly portrays, instead limiting itself to a chronicle of societal intrigues. The fact that the script leaves broader moral issues entirely off the table might have raised questions of why this film was made at all, only it's greatly helped along by Stephen Fry in the role that I honestly believe he was literally born to play. Maybe another actor could capture Wilde's playfulness and recklessness, but…

Hmmm. I find Oscar Wilde a potentially interesting charachter especially after I was surprised to enjoy the film of Dorian Gray. I don't know anything much about Wilde but I know Stephen Fry adores him and thought that might make his a great performance but alas I was a little disappointed. The film looks very dull like driving down a wet country lane on a rainy day with muck on your windshield and you've no windscreen washer left in your motor. Still, there's a few good quotes and the tragedy of a man being sent down just for simply being and his general predicament, resonates. I wanted to like this, I wanted Stephen Fry to wear a pink suit, I…