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Ben Barnes, Colin Firth, Ben Chaplin, Rebecca Hall, Douglas Henshall ... see more see more... , Rachel Hurd-Wood , Fiona Shaw

A vain London playboy offers his soul in exchange for eternal beauty in this adaptation of the chilling tale by author Oscar Wilde. Seduced into the decadent world of Lord Henry Wotton (Colin Firth), ... read more read more...handsome young aristocrat Dorian Gray (Ben Barnes) becomes obsessed with maintaining his youthful appearance, and commissions a special portrait that will weather the winds of time while he remains forever young. When Gray's obsession spirals out of control, his desperate attempts to safeguard his secret turn his once-privileged life into a living hell. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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42% liked it

43,005 ratings

Critics

42% liked it

36 critics

R, 1 hr. 52 min.

Directed by: Oliver Parker

Release Date: September 9, 2009

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DVD Release Date: August 24, 2010

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Flixster Reviews (2,878)

  • SirPant
    March 23, 2012
    SirPant
    I haven't read the book so I have no idea if this is a respectful adaptation or not but personally I found that, although there are moments I could recognise Oscar Wilde's words, they were very far and few between. I didn't dislike the film but I get the feeling there was probabl... read morey more to the story in the book. The CGI tricks in the painting were a bit cheap but the impressive performances made it very watchable.
  • hunterjt13
    January 16, 2012
    hunterjt13
    A British aesthete realizes that a painting of him manifests all the physical evidence of anything he does.
    I'm trying not to be the snobby literature teacher whom everybody hated in high school or that literature survey class you were forced to take Freshman year, but the distor... read moretions that Oscar Wilde's masterpiece was subjected to in this film are almost too much to bear. Avoiding that persona, I'm forced to say that Lord Henry doesn't work as a character if he is bland and evil the way Colin Firth plays him here. The timeline of the film is vastly extended compared to the book, and Sybil's influence is reduced. These latter changes aren't particularly damning, but turning Henry into a leering villain is. Rather than Wilde's tale being about an extreme expression of the aesthete, Dorian Gray suggests that murder and illicit sex are logical extensions of the aesthete's philosophy. Because Wilde considered himself an aesthete, I doubt that he would approve.
    So it's clear that the film differs from the book, but these differences don't necessarily mean it's a bad film. No, the stolid performances and unevenness of the story make it a bad film.
    Overall, read the book or -- though I haven't seen it -- the older version, The Picture of Dorian Gray, can't be worse.
  • tolkienfan101
    September 27, 2011
    tolkienfan101
    This film is visually appealing. Colin Firth is a powerhouse in this film along with actors Ben Chaplin, and Rebecca Hall. The special effects visuals and the dressing of sets and costumes are all fantastic. This all said, the film is as if director Oliver Parker read Oscar Wilde... read more's novel and then watched a 24/7 rerun of Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, and then watched the abysmal end of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen for the film's climax. The story of Dorian Gray and his mysterious painting is one of the best tales put to paper, and at first, the first act is set up rather well and the character development is rather nice. But by the time things begin to progress, that is where the story kind of fell apart, the script became rushed and the performance levels of the main star (Ben Barnes) and other supporting actors like Rachel Hurd-Wood diminished, seeminlgly abandoned for a film that looked good as opposed to telling a great story; and even this is only short lived because of the choppy editing of the center of the film. Not horrible, kept my attention, was definitely entertaining and engaging, but the parts that it lacked really could have been avoided if more effort and time were paid to them, and we would have really wound up with a masterwork, but alas, we do not.
  • MidnightMadwoman
    June 30, 2011
    MidnightMadwoman
    Zomfug. This movie is like Kryptonite for people like me. It's absurd how much it turns me on. Dorian's toast to intoxication alone... Unh. I wish I were more articulate, but it's hard to type when you have to keep wiping drool off your chin. I'm trying very hard not to slide off... read more my chair. Seriously, I get such pleasure from watching a cutie turn to the dark side. The Portrait of Dorian Gray was one of my favorite classical stories, and this movie brings it to spellbinding and decadent life. It moves it forward in time a little bit, which I found a little bit strange, but they really make it work. Colin Firth is great as Henry Wotton, the devil on Dorian's shoulder that introduces him to the concept and practise of hedonism. I think it's kind of funny how quickly Gray surpasses his Sith Lord and it makes Wotton a little uncomfortable, I think. It's delicious. And, uh, Ben Barnes? Rowr. His switch from wide-eyed and naive to predatory libertine is a little bit abrupt, but he really acheives Lestat-like levels of villainy that are just as much fun to watch. It's such a treat to watch him glory and profoundly relish his own sexual escapades and drug binges. The BDSM scenes alone are were worth the price I paid to buy this. Ben Barnes has a gorgeous O-Face. Oh, to live in a world of glib fobs who speak exclusively in bon mots. Beautiful beasts, cruel creatures, brilliant bastards and exquisite animals. Dammit, why am I not watching this right now? If ever you wonder where my mind goes when I space out and smile, this is pretty much it. My happy place.
  • Tomassgringo
    June 27, 2011
    Tomassgringo
    This was just a miss. I will read the book just to check to see if the movie even followed the book. At times just did not feel true to the time period. Feels a little overacted at times as well.
  • itsjustme2004
    February 2, 2011
    itsjustme2004
    A very well done adaptation of the Oscar Wilde Classic novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray". As a period drama lover, I would say this movie was pretty entertaining, and the costume and set designs definitely deserve some praises. I thought Ben's portrayal of Dorian's transformatio... read moren was perfectly subtle, but Colin as Lord Wotten was EPIC! For me, it was a refreshing update to a classic tale. The original film was brilliant, but audiences have changed. I like the idea that more people who aren't familiar with Oscar Wilde may develop an interest after seeig this adaptation.
  • ebs90
    December 19, 2010
    ebs90
    really just watched it for Ben Barnes shirtless, which was fine. In general the direction is awful and the script does nothing to help the poor actors.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    November 8, 2010
    FiLmCrAzY
    what a pile of rubbish, although the scripted looked promising it fails to really entertain and keep the audience interested!
    Colin Firth is the best part of the movie,gorgeous looking and lovely to watch, but the storyline is okay but really does not interest, its not really w... read moreorth the watch.
  • puffchunk
    November 5, 2010
    puffchunk
    There indeed was something lacking from the film to make it truely good. Not sure what. First I felt Dorian was corrupted way too fast. It seemed like all Colin Firth had to do was suggest something to him, and the guy does it immediately. I did enjoy the end era of the movie... read more, since I felt like he was totally screwed and bored with all the horrible things he had done. Anyone who has done terrible things for momentary pleasure knows that eventually you feel sickened and bored with it, and the film captures this in my opinion. My wife says the book blows it away, but dont' they all?
  • sononothing
    October 17, 2010
    sononothing
    Young Dorian Gray (Ben Barnes) has come home to take over the household he was once tortured in. He meets an artist. He meets a lord (Colin Firth).He makes a deal with the devil where his evil goes into a painting of himself and he'll live forever. He turns into Wilt Chamberlain.... read more The end.



    This is an excruciatingly dull film that goes nowhere other than Dorian's pants. It's almost an exercise in seeing how long you can stand watching this film that is steeped in jack the Ripper references but ends up going nowhere. I never read the original story but this film version is a boring two hour endeavor that eventually comes to the predicted climax. An honest to god waste of time.

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Critic Reviews

James Berardinelli
August 24, 2010
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

While Wilde's wit remains firmly entrenched, there's also a gruesome vein of gothic horror, and elements of the original which existed in the subtext or were merely hinted at are brought graphically i... Full Review

David Nusair
February 24, 2011
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...a misfire of nigh epic proportions... Full Review

Don Groves
December 31, 2010
Don Groves, sbs.com.au

Like the painting, B-grade horror movie fast loses appeal. Full Review

Phil Hall
September 4, 2010
Phil Hall, Film Threat

A dismal mess. Full Review

Joseph Proimakis
March 26, 2010
Joseph Proimakis, Movies for the Masses

click to read full review Full Review

Simon Weaving
November 12, 2009
Simon Weaving, Screenwize

If it was Oscar Wilde who said that experience is the name that everyone gives to their mistakes, then this Dorian Gray is quite an experience! Full Review

David Stratton
November 11, 2009
David Stratton, At the Movies (Australia)

This uneasy mixture of horror and elegant wit, which worked so well originally, never really catches fire thanks to Parker's undistinguished handling. Full Review

Colin Fraser
November 11, 2009
Colin Fraser, FILMINK (Australia)

Colin Firth is perfect as the devil's advocate, as this adaptation of 19th century gothic taps into the modern zeitgeist. Full Review

Andrew L. Urban
November 6, 2009
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile

It's a morality tale told through amorality and the pursuit of pleasures of the flesh Full Review

Louise Keller
November 6, 2009
Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile

There's an edge of psychological horror in director Oliver Parker's third Oscar Wilde story that tells how Ben Barnes' Dorian Gray sells his soul to the devil in return for his youth and beauty Full Review

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Facts

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    • Lord Henry Wooton: I suggest we raise a little hell.
    • Lord Henry Wooton: 'Conscience.' It's just a polite word for 'cowardice.' No civilized man regrets a pleasure.
  • This is the second film which stars Rachel Hurd-Wood (who plays Sybil Vane in the film) that revolves around an eternally youthful male lead. The first one was "Peter Pan", where she played the part of Wendy Darling.
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Dorian Gray Trivia

  • In the movie The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen which actor played Dorian Gray.  Answer »
  • In The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, what is the name of the member of the league who posseses a portrait of himself that makes him immortal?  Answer »
  • In The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which league member ended up betraying the others?  Answer »
  • Name the actor who as portrayed the follow characters: Dorian Gray, Lestat de Lioncourt and more recently he played Carl Kolchak on TV.  Answer »
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