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Wilde

Billed as "the story of the first modern man," Wilde is the biography of poet and playwright Oscar Wilde and his disastrous affair with Lord Alfred "Bosie" Douglas. Oscar Wilde, played by Stephen Fry (who would have made a creditable Professor Snape had not Hot Bad Guy Alan Rickman gotten the role), is a poet and playwright and a married man when he finally realizes he's been Gay the Whole Time. How does he realize this? Well, the young man stripping in his parlor may have given him an indication. After a relationship with Robbie Ross, he has a brief affair with John Gray, played by Wanna Be Hot Bad Guy Ioan Gruffudd, before meeting the Love of His Life, Bosie, portrayed by Hot Bad Guy Jude Law in his Qualifying Role. Lord Alfred's father, the Marquess of Queensbury, is a rampant homophobe and after he leaves a Sharp Note for Mr. Wilde, Bosie insists they take him to court for libel. This is a Bad Idea. Mr. Wilde is eventually sentenced to two years hard labor for "unnatural acts" and hundreds of homosexuals flee England in fear of prosecution.

Mr. Wilde is disgraced and his plays go unappreciated for some time. This is a fascinating portrait of a maligned figure in history, one who has given us such plays as An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest and books like The Picture of Dorian Gray. Aside from all that Adult Appreciation for a Good Plot and Excellent Acting, there are lots of naked shots of Jude Law from behind and very nearly a Full Frontal Shot of Ioan Gruffudd. And really, isn't that the important thing?


Quality of the Hot Guys: most of the guys are a touch Too Pretty
Quality of the Bad Guys: Bosie is a Petulant Child whose behavior has disastrous results
Quality of the Other Stuff: interesting story made even more fascinating by the fact that it's true
Overall Score: