An Impeccable Picture
An Ideal Husband
Cast: Rupert Everett, Cate Blanchett, Jeremy Northam, Julianne Moore, Minnie Driver
Director: Oliver Parker
Movie Help Web Popcorn Kernels: 
An Ideal Husband is a gem of a film: witty, sparkling, elegantly made, and superbly acted by its talented cast.
Though Rupert Everett is front and center on the movie posters, it's his fellow Englishman Jeremy Northam in the title role as Sir Robert Chiltern, a rising star in Parliament. Chiltern, according to his peers, has it all: a spotless reputation for probity, a substantial fortune, and (not least) a devoted wife in the intelligent, strong-minded, and equally forthright Gertrude (Blanchett).
One day, however, a piece of Chiltern's past comes back to haunt him, in the form of the mysterious Mrs. Cheverly (Moore), who's privy to the secret of his ill-gotten wealth — and threatens to expose him. Her price for keeping silent? Chiltern's support for a highly speculative canal scheme in Argentina, which he has already gone on record as opposing.
What worries Chiltern most is not dishonor in Parliament, but the thought of revealing his past indiscretion to Gertrude, the light of his life (as he is of hers). So he enlists the help of his best friend, confirmed bachelor and playboy Lord Arthur Goring (Everett) — sparking a hilarious series of intrigues and maneuvers, with turn-of-the-century London as the backdrop.
An Ideal Husband owes a good part of its brilliance to its source: the play by that prince of drawing-room comedy, Oscar Wilde. His trademark one-liners — witty, nonsensical, and to the point — are sprinkled throughout the film:
"The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on."
"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance."
"Life is never fair...And perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not."
The beneficiary of Wilde's best lines is Everett, who tosses off repartee as if born to play the part. In his earnest attempts to help his friend, though, he does an excellent job of showing the soul beneath Goring's sophistication, as the high-born dandy (for once in his life) is forced to take something seriously.
Julianne Moore is a delightfully malicious schemer, armed with an insinuating charm and a knowing smile. It's amusing to watch her tete-a-tetes with Everett, as each does his/her best to outwit and out-negotiate the other. Everett also finds himself skirmishing with Driver, who plays Mabel, the sister of Sir Robert. Although her part is relatively small, Driver steals quite a few scenes with her droll delivery and spot-on timing. (Watch her while Blanchett is trying to tell a fib — what she does in the background is absolutely hysterical.)
Jeremy Northam and Cate Blanchett are believable as the high-minded couple who are suddenly reminded that they're as fallible as the rest of the human race. I only regret that they were relegated to the more serious parts of the script — particularly Northam, who has proved his talent for comedy in Emma and Happy, Texas. (On a personal note, I think Northam is much, much cuter sans moustache.)
Director Oliver Parker has matched his cast's performances with stylishly shot, precisely edited sequences that may take more than one viewing to appreciate, since everything moves so smoothly. One bit to look for the first time around: the very effective cut that marks the transition between Goring's house and the party at the Chilterns.
Parker has also done a good job with his screenplay, keeping the best of — while expanding on — Wilde's work. The movie, even with all the brilliant dialogue, is a movie, not a videotaped play.
In a Boston Globe interview (June 20, 1999), Parker recalled how daunting the idea of adapting Wilde's script first seemed:
"I thought it was a very bad idea, actually, for a film...It seemed so theatrical, I had no idea how we would get it off the stage."
Well, you have, Mr. Parker, and I have only one more thing to say: Encore!
Also recommended: For those who are wild about Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest (which makes a cameo appearance in this movie) is a must-read, and the 1952 film version is a good rental.
