An Ideal Husband (1999)

Excellent but underrated film

As Good As It Gets

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

This movie is one of the better romantic comedies. Julianna Moore steals the show as a beautiful but conniving woman who concocts an elaborate plot to snare a man, a confirmed bachelor, for marriage and in the process sets off a series of unanticipated but amusing events. Rupert Everett plays the target of Ms. Moore's intrigue; only one actor could have played the role better: George Sanders. What makes this movie even more entertaining is that the Moore/Everett characters mirror one another as each one tries to outdo the other's cynicism, with amusing results. All kinds of embarrassing moments occur as miscommunication leads to havoc which one hopes will be sorted out. The movie is based on a story by Oscar Wilde, which means that it will contain a lot of wit and biting commentary on the pomposity and decadence of the upper of the upper classes. This movie is wonderful.

Unlike other Victorian films of the '90s (Emma - Gwyneth Paltrow) An Ideal Husband holds up very nicely. Much of the appeal of a first viewing comes from watching a perfectly cast Rupert Everett traipse through Oscar Wilde effortlessly. Ensuing viewings reveal that both Blanchett and Northam assay their characters quite finely also; although their scenes together are really almost too much to bear without rolling ones eyes ("Love me Gertrude! Love me!" "Hold me Robert..!"). Blanchett, although plain, becomes increasingly beautiful as she inhabits Victorian trappings and mores, while trying to hold it all together. As she strives to accommodate all sorts of conflict she grows more and more winsome. The narrative lets her and Robert off the hook. In a bit of ethical dissonance, we're meant to feel that gluing the two back together (in upper class splendor) is more important than reckoning with the loathsome, traitorous source of Robert's wealth, and Gertrude's social standing. They're quite a pair of hypocrites. Ah well, it's the convention of light comedy to share their delusion, and devalue such things.Well past the resolution of the major conflict, the movie lingers over some glorious, goofy moments in the Chiltern mansion. You may wonder why the movie stays so long, but the scenes are there to resolve a secondary plot line. They're droll and underplayed wonderfully. Just about every scene of Minnie Driver and Rupert Everett bantering is a gem; with some subtle face work and reactions. This coda is also shot & pieced together nicely, with even the camera placement being thoughtful and funny (A vain Minnie Driver steams past the camera to await a proposal behind a palm tree. Everett and his disapproving father depart the screen symmetrically off either side. heh he he.. good stuff.) Whenever I think I bought this movie in a moment of weakness, I pop it in and it always makes me laugh out loud.

Jeremy Northam is "An Ideal Husband" who's about to get his clock cleaned by Julianne Moore in this gorgeous rendition of Oscar Wilde's play, also starring Rupert Everett, Cate Blanchett, and Minnie Driver.Northam is Sir Robert Chiltern, happily married to his lovely and adoring wife, Lady Gertrude (Blanchett) and guardian to his unmarried sister Mabel (Driver). He is in Parliament and opposed to an Argentine canal project. Then he is visited by Mrs. Laura Cheveley (Moore) who tries to blackmail him into approving the project. She knows how he gained his wealth and position. If his wife finds out, she'll be devastated. In desperation, he turns to his bachelor friend Lord Arthur Goring (Everett) for help. Goring attempts to help, and for a while, it looks like he made things worse.This witty comedy is given wonderful direction by Oliver Parker, and the production is sumptuous. The actors all underplay, letting the brilliance of the material come through. Especially funny is the scene where everyone is in a different room of Lord Goring's house, with no one aware that the other is present. Most times, you'd see a scene like this with the host a frazzled mess, running around, trying to keep everyone quiet and hidden. Here, Everett never changes his expression and is unflappable, making the situation funnier.Highly recommended as the way a classic play should be filmed.

Oscar Wilde's play has been made into movies many times. There was even one made one year before this version. I can't comment on the other versions, but Oliver Parker certainly adapted the play with and very good screenplay and excellent direction to give us a glimpse of 19th century British aristocracy with a magnificent cast to boot.Jeremy Northam (Gosford Park, Emma) was excellent as a man who had a terrible secret in his past that was to be brought to the light of day by Julianne Moore (The Hours, Boogie Nights), who was looking to get rich. He had thought that no one knew, and his political career, and even his marriage to Cate Blanchett (The Aviator, Notes on a Scandal) was to come to a crashing end.But, Sidney Carlton to the rescue, as his best friend, Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding) got himself another Golden Globe nomination as a friend that would risk all for another.The repartee in this film is what makes it so special, and you cannot help by laugh at all the great lines delivered by the principals, including the ever lovely Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting).Outstanding costumes and makeup in the period piece that is worth watching more than once for the hilarious lines.