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| The Importance of Being Earnest | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Oliver Parker |
| Screenplay by | Oliver Parker |
| Based on | The Importance of Being Earnest 1895 play byOscar Wilde |
| Produced by | Barnaby Thompson |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Tony Pierce-Roberts |
| Edited by | Guy Bensley |
| Music by | Charlie Mole |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films (United States) Miramax International (United Kingdom; throughBuena Vista International)[1] |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Countries | United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $15 million |
| Box office | $17.2 million |
The Importance of Being Earnest is a 2002romanticcomedy-drama film directed byOliver Parker, based onOscar Wilde's classic 1895comedy of mannersof the same name. A British-American co-production, the film starsColin Firth,Rupert Everett,Frances O'Connor,Reese Witherspoon, andJudi Dench in lead roles, withTom Wilkinson,Anna Massey, andEdward Fox in supporting roles. The original music score is composed byCharlie Mole.[2]
The plot follows two men, John Worthing (Firth) and Algernon Moncrieff (Everett), who both leaddouble lives using the name "Ernest" to escape social obligations, leading to romantic entanglements and comedic misunderstandings. The film explores themes of identity, deception, and social expectations, all set against the backdrop ofVictorianEngland.
The Importance of Being Earnest was released on May 17, 2002.
John Worthing, a carefree and seemingly respectable young gentleman, has crafted a fictitious brother named "Ernest", whose scandalous and wicked behavior provides John with the perfect excuse to leave his peaceful country estate and travel toLondon whenever he pleases. In the city, John stays with his close friend, Algernon Moncrieff, who is equally mischievous and shares John's fondness for bending social norms. While in London, John assumes the persona of Ernest, and under this guise, he has won the affections of Algernon's beautiful cousin, Gwendolen Fairfax. Gwendolen, enamored with the name Ernest, declares that she could only love and marry a man with such a name.
John is deeply in love with Gwendolen and decides topropose. However, during the proposal, he must face her formidable mother, Lady Bracknell. When John reveals that he is anorphan who was found as a baby in a handbag atVictoria Station, Lady Bracknell is appalled and refuses to approve the engagement unless John can produce a respectable family lineage—namely, at least one parent of proper standing. Determined but undeterred, John returns to his country estate, where he lives with his young ward, Cecily Cardew, and her governess, Miss Prism.
Meanwhile, Algernon, intrigued by John's tales of his nonexistent brother Ernest, decides to visit John's country home under the guise of this very same fictional brother. Upon arrival, Algernon is introduced to Cecily, who, unbeknownst to him, has already become fascinated by the mysterious "Ernest" through John's stories. Algernon, now posing as Ernest, quickly falls in love with the charming and impressionable Cecily, and to his surprise, she reciprocates his affections, having long dreamed of marrying a man named Ernest.
Chaos ensues when Gwendolen arrives at John's estate and meets Cecily. Both women discover that they are engaged to men they believe to be named Ernest, resulting in a flurry of confusion and mistaken identities, compounded by the subsequent arrival of Lady Bracknell. It is revealed that Miss Prism, the governess, is the absent-minded nurse who, thirty-four years prior, misplaced a baby at Victoria Station—the very baby who turns out to be John.
From this revelation, it turns out that John is not only Gwendolen's suitable match but also Algernon's long-lost older brother. Most importantly, John pretends to discover that his real name is indeed Ernest, a deception which Lady Bracknell allows to stand. The play ends in a joyful resolution, with both couples—John and Gwendolen, Algernon and Cecily—embracing, as all misunderstandings are cleared and the importance of being "Ernest" is finally realized.
The production took place in several picturesque locations, includingWest Wycombe Park, where Jack's country home was depicted, with filmmakers paying £50,000 to use the stately property.
DameJudi Dench reprised her role as Lady Bracknell for the third time inThe Importance of Being Earnest, after having been cast in the 1982National Theatre revival and the 1995BBC Radio 4 adaptation.[3][4] Dench's daughter, actressFinty Williams, also appears in the film, playing a younger version of Lady Bracknell as a dancer.
Several unscripted moments were left in the final cut of the film due to their comedic value. One such instance occurred when Algernon slaps Jack on the rear end and kisses his cheek, surprisingColin Firth, who plays Jack. DirectorOliver Parker found Firth's stunned reaction so humorous that he chose to keep the scene in the film.
The film also includes material that had originally been written byOscar Wilde but was later cut from the published play. These additions involve 'Ernest's' bill at theSavoy Hotel and the debt collectors arriving at Jack's country home. Though the character of the gardener, Molton, was also removed from the final version of the play, he can still be seen in the background of several scenes.
The Importance of Being Earnest grossed $8,384,929 domestically and $8,906,041 internationally, for a worldwide total of $17,290,970, against a production budget of $15 million, making it a moderate commercial success at the box-office.[5]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, as of September 2012,The Importance of Being Earnest holds a 57% approval rating, with the consensus stating, "Oliver Parker's adaptation of Wilde's classic play is breezy entertainment, helped by an impressive cast, but it also suffers from some peculiar directorial choices that ultimately dampen the film's impact."[6] OnMetacritic, the film has a rating of 73 out of 100 based on 32 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[7]
Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardian described the film as a "bright, easy-going adaptation" but noted it lacks the sharp wit of Wilde's original play. While praisingJudi Dench's performance, Bradshaw criticized the film for softening the play's satirical edge and relying on broader humor, which diluted its critique ofVictorian society. Despite its charm and visual appeal, he concluded that the film falls short of capturing Wilde's incisive social commentary.[8]Roger Ebert of theChicago Sun-Times awarded the film 3 stars out of 4, praising the well-cast actors and their performances.[9]
The Importance of Being Earnest won the 2003 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists'sSilver Ribbon award for Best Costume Design (forMaurizio Millenotti).
Moreover,Reese Witherspoon's performance also earned her a nomination for theTeen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Comedy in2002.
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