An Ideal Husband (1999) Reviewed by Eugene Novikov http://www.ultimate-movie.com Member: Online Film Critics Society
*** out of four
"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance."
Starring Rupert Everett, Julianne Moore, Jeremy Northam, Cate Blanchett, Minnie Driver Rated PG-13.
Although Rupert Everett has been acting since the early 80's, he crawled out of the woodwork just in 1997 with his shoulda-been-Oscar-nominated turn as Julia Roberts' gay editor in My Best Friend's Wedding. Now, he's finally gotten his long-deserved leading role in An Ideal Husband, director Oliver Parker's light n' fluffy adaptation of Oscar Wilde's play. It's a delightfully good romantic comedy about love, intrigue, blackmail and of course marriage.
Jeremy Northam, last seen in David Mamet's brilliant The Winslow Boy (also a period piece) stars as Lord Robert Chiltern, a respected and wealthy politician whose public life is threatened when he is blackmailed by an old acquaintance. Chiltern has been preparing a report to the parliament regarding a certain canal project, and it was his every intention to condemn it. However, Mrs. Laura Chevely has quite a tidy sum invested in the project and she threatens to reveal the corrupt way Chiltern attained his wealth (and has a document to prove it) unless he speaks favorably of the project.
Lord Arthur Gorring (Everett, the star of the show) is a thirty-six year old bachelor (unthinkable in the late 19th century) who speaks in aphorisms and is fond of gems such as "I love to talk about nothing. It's the only thing I know anything about." He is also Chiltern's good friend and after Chiltern confides in him, he wants to help. When Chiltern tells his wife (Cate Blanchett) the truth about his riches she demands that he leave immediately. Everett then sets up a way for the husband and wife to get back together: he plans to have both of them in his house in rooms directly next to each other with neither of them knowing where the other is. He then plans to talk to Chiltern and have him say that he regrets what he has done and is deeply apologetic for it so that his wife can hear it from the next room. The plan backfires when Gorring's butler mixes up Chevely and Chiltern's wife, sending the latter away while putting Chevely in the next room, forcing Chiltern to think that Gorring and Chevely are having an affair.
An Ideal Husband is an entertaining, light-as-a-feather production, as funny as it is affecting. There is a wicked, knowing charm emanating from the star-studded cast. Sometimes Parker's movie seems like a showcase for these actors and actresses, but I didn't mind. If stars can act well in a film with the intention of exhibiting their talents, then more power to them.
Indeed, this peculiar comedy owes much to its gloriously gifted roster of performers. Rupert Everett again deserves Oscar attention; he is absolutely delightful as London's most eligible bachelor, sly and suave yet sympathetic at the same time. Jeremy Northam is just as good: even though he doesn't get too many comedic scenes, his performance is quite impressive. The roles given to Minnie Driver and Cate Blanchett aren't particularly showy, but both of them being fantastic actresses, they make the best of it. But the real gem is Julianne Moore as the sneaky blackmailer. Enigmatic and often hilarious, an Oscar nomination is in order for her turn here.
The thematic significance of An Ideal Husband is not constantly apparent nor is it important to enjoy this picture. I liked it because of its charm, because of its comedy and because of its performances and wouldn't dream of complaining about lack of particularly deep substance. The film has more than enough wit to make up for any such deficiency.
This isn't as good as films come, but it's a welcome antidote to a summer of mediocre big-budget timewasters. This won't be a doorbuster, but that's too bad because it has more laughs than Big Daddy and Wild Wild West combined. Typical Hollywood irony at hand. ©1999 Eugene Novikov‰
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