Oscar Wilde (Stephen Fry) is a celebrated bon vivant and raconteur. He marries Constance (Jennifer Ehle) and has two sons, seemingly the epitome of British gentility. But he has a secret. He is desperately in love with the young, fragile, but beautiful Lord Alfred Douglas (Jude Law) in a time where homosexuality is illegal. Their relationship is an open secret but Douglas' father, the Marquis of Queensbury (Tom Wilkinson), is determined that it should not continue. He continuously and publicly insults Wilde, until Douglas convinces the latter to sue the former for libel. But it's only libel if it's untrue, leading to one of the most scandalous trials of the era.
This is the greatest performance Jude Law has ever given and I am SHOCKED more people don't talk about it. Honestly, I've never really liked him as an actor. I always thought he was overrated (probably because I don't think he's as attractive as people claim he is) but this was an incredible role for him. Fry obviously is great and was born to play this part but Law really surprised the hell out of me. Micheal Sheen is as wonderful here as he is everywhere else (except the Underworld franchise, no one could save that), and there are very early glimpses of Orlando Bloom (who has not aged a day, my God) and Ioan Gruffudd, looking very young and very pretty.
Wilde is currently streaming on Hulu.
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