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An Ideal Husband (1999)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
18 June 1999 (USA) moreTagline:
He just doesn't know it yet.Plot:
Sir Robert Chiltern is a successful Government minister, well-off and with a loving wife. All this is... more | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 4 wins & 14 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(13 articles)
Everett Joins Starbucks Spat (From WENN. 21 August 2006)
Lottery Money Backs British Flops (From Studio Briefing. 3 January 2001)
User Comments:
Witty, fresh but lacking substance for those looking for it moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)more
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Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for brief sensuality/nudity.Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
97 minLanguage:
EnglishColour:
Colour (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Dolby DigitalCertification:
Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #36196) | Australia:PG | UK:PG | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | New Zealand:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud)MOVIEmeter: 
84% since last week
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Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The play attended by the characters in the movie is Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest." The tall, older man that addresses the audience from the stage at the end of the play represents Wilde who did in reality address the audience when his play first debuted. moreGoofs:
Continuity: Lord Goring's jacket is buttoned, then unbuttoned, then buttoned again as he explains Lady Chiltern's letter to Lord Chiltern, Mabel and Lady Chiltern herself near the end of the film. moreQuotes:
Lord Arthur Goring: I love you... I love you.Mabel: Is that your reason then?
Lord Arthur Goring: Mmm. Mabel, I said...
Mabel: I know.
Lord Arthur Goring: Well? Couldn't you you love me just a little bit in return?
Mabel: Arthur, you silly! If you knew anything about anything, which you don't, you would know that I absolutely adore you.
Lord Arthur Goring: Really?
Mabel: Mmm.
Lord Arthur Goring: Well, why didn't you say anything before?
Mabel: Because, dear boy, you never would have believed me.
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Sir Robert Chiltern is a member of parliament, a member of rich society and in a loving relationship with his beautiful wife. All this comes under threat when Mrs Cheveley arrives to blackmail him with a letter from his past unless he change his stance on a motion passing through parliament. Chiltern turns to his friend, the idle and self obsessed Lord Goring for help, drawing him into a game of deception and love.
The audience for this film is pretty easy to define. I quite often see Wilde's plays as matters of you either like them or you don't. If you are looking for something with a very engaging plot, deep characters and plenty of substance then this is not going to be the film to come to. Instead the focus is on witty word play, confused love interests in a battle of the sexes and deception that spins away from the truth. This works well as long as you know what to expect. The film opens out the play and includes a few in-jokes for Wilde fans and it is effective in making for a slick product even if it takes the edge of the actual characters.
The witty dialogue is good and it won't disappoint fans of the play. The direction uses the locations and sets really well, giving the film a sense of period that it really needs. I am a reverse snob (I know I shouldn't be!) and the spoilt romances of the well educated and privileged upper classes is of no interest to me - but in this setting it works!
The cast is impressively heavy weight but the honours are stolen by two main actors. Everett was born for this sort of whimsy and he does it exceedingly well, making his character playful and fun. Driver is also great as his love interest and her scenes with Everett are the best of the film. The rest of the cast are all excellent even if they don't have quite as much fun as these two. Moore does well while Blanchett and Northam are both good despite not having a fair share of the wit. Wood and Vaughan both have small roles but get laughs every time!
Overall this is a sparky little movie that will appeal to those who love the cut and thrust of well written, witty dialogue and playful to's and fro's between the characters. I need say no more - the audience for this film already know who they are and vice versa.