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Brevity is the soul of wit, eh? This adaptation gets to the nitty gritty of Wilde's stage piece and plays on eternal human foibles. Read critic reviews

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An Ideal Husband Photos

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Movie Info

Sir Robert Chiltern (Jeremy Northam) is a respected government official and a loving husband. His friend, Lord Arthur Goring (Rupert Everett), is a notorious womanizer who lives a life of casual lounging, meaningless flirtations and multiple illicit affairs. But when old acquaintance Laura Cheveley (Julianne Moore) arrives in London to stir up trouble, the lives of the two men become increasingly complicated and intertwined, and their true natures are revealed.

Cast & Crew

Rupert Everett
Lord Arthur Goring
Julianne Moore
Mrs. Laura Cheveley
Jeremy Northam
Sir Robert Chiltern
Cate Blanchett
Lady Gertrude Chiltern
Minnie Driver
Miss Mabel Chiltern
John Wood
Lord Caversham
Lindsay Duncan
Lady Markby
Peter Vaughan
Phipps
Jeroen Krabbé
Baron Arnheim
Ben Pullen
Tommy Trafford
Marsha Fitzalan
Countess
Neville Phillips
Mason
Nickolas Grace
Vicomte de Nanjac
Simon Russell Beale
Sir Edward
Anna Patrick
Miss Danvers
Delia Lindsay
Lady Basildon
Denise Stephenson
Gwendolen
Charles Edwards
Jack
Nancy Carroll
Cecily
Andy Harrison
Algernon
Oliver Parker
Director
Oliver Parker
Writer
Barnaby Thompson
Producer
Uri Fruchtmann
Producer
Bruce Davey
Producer
Susan B. Landau
Executive Producer
Ralph Kamp
Executive Producer
Andrea Calderwood
Executive Producer
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News & Interviews for An Ideal Husband

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Critic Reviews for An Ideal Husband

All Critics (65) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (10)

  • Parker's shuttlecock technique only succeeds in throwing Wilde's cascading rhythms seriously out of whack and makes it hard to attend to the language as fully as one would like.

    June 18, 2012 | Full Review…
    Sight & Sound

  • The bright, crisp design, Wilde's arch eloquence and a classy company help to camouflage the shortcomings.

    March 2, 2011 | Full Review…
    Time Out

  • An enjoyable, minor, lustrously shot revamping of Oscar Wilde's play about the perpetually interlocked manners of love and deception.

    July 7, 2010 | Rating: B | Full Review…

    Owen Gleiberman

    Entertainment Weekly

  • Smooth-flowing direction, a shrewdly pruned script and a top-flight ensemble cast that visibly relishes both the dialogue and one another's perfs make this a tony item for upscale, mature audiences.

    June 19, 2008 | Full Review…

    Derek Elley

    Variety

  • Parker has made a sensible cinematic translation of Wilde's play, intercutting scenes which would have been played consecutively on the stage.

    July 21, 2005

    Jeff Millar

    Houston Chronicle

  • [I]t's likely that Mr. Wilde, who once wrote, 'A poet can survive anything but a misprint,' would have been less than thrilled with the result.

    March 19, 2002 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
    Globe and Mail
View All Critic Reviews (65)

Audience Reviews for An Ideal Husband

  • Jun 15, 2010
    Ideal is not a word I would use to describe "An Ideal Husband". Cate Blanchett and Rupert Everett held up this average movie. The witt and humor mostly came from Everett and Blanchett's characters. This, though, proves that there was witt and intriguing moments. The plot was good enough, up until the ending, which wasn't set up enough during the movie. Overall worth a watch, but not as amazing as some lead you to believe.
    Liz < Super Reviewer
  • Aug 20, 2009
    <a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i25.tinypic.com/11l3akn.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> Oscar Wilde's play, An Ideal husband, remake in movie with great performances by Cate Blanchette, Rupert Everett, Jullianne Moore and directed by Oliver Parker. I must say refreshing British humor with very funny scenes. Julianne Moore portrayed the blackmailer Mrs. Laura Chevely very well, But I liked Rupert Everett, for me he stole the complete show. Everett had naturally charm and charisma, and fits perfectly for the Lord Goring role. All in all, I highly recommend this movie.
    Daisy M Super Reviewer
  • Dec 14, 2008
    Superbly written Oscar Wilde adaptation weaves its layers of romance and deceit masterfully, brimming with dry wit and astute observations about love. Marvelous cast with Rupert Everett scoring highest, and even the peerless Cate Blanchett would step aside to acknowledge the delightful doe-eyed performance of Minnie Driver. Be aware the whole film is one long talkfest, but if you savor the digestion of skilled, multi-meaning conversation, then 'An Ideal Husband' is a sumptuous feast for the ears.
    Doctor S Super Reviewer
  • Apr 25, 2008
    A well-executed Oscar Wilde play that is both funny and charming.
    Sunil J Super Reviewer
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