Dorian Gray: Review

Dorian Gray: Review

I really enjoyed Dorian Gray, which I saw at the cinema last night.  It pains me to admit it, but I have not actually read Oscar Wilde’s A Picture of Dorian Gray, on which the film was based, so I can’t comment on whether the film was an accurate reflection of the novel.  That’s neither here nor there really, though; the film was interesting, thought-provoking, and thoroughly engrossing.

The film opens with Dorian Gray, played by Ben Barnes, arriving in London, after some years away.  He has just inherited his grandfather’s large house, and has returned to settle into his new life.  He soon meets Lord Henry Wotton (Colin Firth) who introduces him to the London social scene.  Dorian meets artist Basil Hallwood (Ben Chaplin) who paints a portrait of him.  Dorian becomes transfixed with his own beauty as reflected in the portrait, and declares he would give his soul to remain as youthful as he is shown in the painting.

Dorian soon realises that his desire has been answered; he embarks on a hedonistic lifestyle of drugs, sex, sado-masochism, and drink, and, whilst he personally shows no ill effects from his pursuits, the painting ages and warps.  He hides the painting in his attic, and initially takes great joy in being able to do exactly what he wants, with no ill effects for himself.  Of course, his actions do have consequences for those around him; he upsets, hurts, causes suicides, and even kills in pursuit of his own happiness.  One observer remarks that it is unfair that such a monster should have such a perfect face.

A particularly tragic moment came when Dorian cruelly abandoned his girlfriend, Sybil.  Wotton, whose wife is pregnant, is discussing children with Sybil and Dorian.  Sybil remarks that she would like to have children, and Wotton remarks that having children effectively brings life to an end.  Sybil and Dorian have an argument, which results in Sybil killing herself.  It transpires that Sybil was carrying Dorian’s child.  Dorian is heart broken, but, following the advice from Wotton that experiences strengthen us, he quickly pulls himself together and plunges even deeper into his life of hedonism.

As the world grows old around him, Dorian begins to regret his fate.  He remarks that there is a great difference between pleasure and happiness, and that all he really wants is freedom.

Dorian pursues the life that many people long for – a life of pure hedonism which leaves no ill effects on the body, mind or soul.  Yet precisely because the painting absorbs the consequences of his actions, it becomes completely clear both to him, and us, the audience, the impact of what he is doing.  His actions are corrupting his soul.  Far from being a perfect, beautiful person, his soul is dark, foul and unpleasant.  Whilst his body remains youthful, the painting in the attic gurgles away as his soul rots.

Even in his physical form, Dorian’s pursuit of pleasure leaves him cold and empty; it is not the path to happiness that he initially thought it would be.  He finds himself remaining young as all around him are aging gracefully, and, far from making him happy, he feels more and more isolated and alone.  He begins to regret the path that his life has taken, especially his treatment of Sibyl, his one true love, to whom he was so cruel.

Youth is an obsession with our society.  Our population might be ageing, but barely a week goes by when there is not some allegation of ageism, normally connected with the media, and especially TV.  We all want, it seems, to see young people on the television, not old folk.  Those older people who remain in the limelight often turn to surgery in order to hold back the effects of time on their bodies.

Dorian Gray is about the quest for eternal youth, and the pursuit of hedonism.  It asks if these aspirations are really the path to true happiness, and concludes that no, they are not.  Dorian Gray learns to realise that what he really wants is freedom.  The question is – what is freedom?  Where does freedom come from?

What kept running through my mind as I dwelt on this is how many references there are to freedom in the Bible.  In Galatians, Paul writes “For freedom Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1).  It’s interesting in the film how when Dorian realises that his youth and pursuit of pleasure are not making him happy, he visits a Catholic church and confesses his sins to a priest.

I became so engrossed in the story Dorian Gray that, for once, I didn’t become obsessed with the quality of the acting, writing or film making.  The story and the implications of Dorian’s flippant remark upon seeing the painting totally captured my attention.  For this reason, I would thoroughly recommend seeing Dorian Gray.  

I now promise to read the original novel!

(Update 2nd April 2025: I still haven’t read the novel…)