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The Importance of Being Earnest (2002)
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Synopsis
A superb cast brings Oscar Wilde's classic comedy of manners to life in the third big-screen adaptation of this hilarious look at fun, games, and dubious ethics among the British upper crust. Algernon Moncrieff (
Rupert Everett
) is a slightly shady, but charming gentlemen from a wealthy family who has a bad habit of throwing his money away. Algernon has a close friend named Jack Worthing (
Colin Firth
), a self-made man who acts as a ward to his cousin, a beautiful young lady named Cecily (
Reese Witherspoon
). Algernon has created an alter ego to help him get out of tight spots brought on by his financial improprieties, and when he learns that Jack has created a false identity of his own -- Earnest, a brother living in London whose exploits have earned him no small amount of notoriety -- Algernon arrives for a weekend visit in the country posing as the mysterious Earnest. Having heard of Earnest's misadventures many times over the years, Cecily had developed something of an infatuation with the lovable rogue, and Algernon's impersonation of him works no small degree of magic on Cecily. Meanwhile, Algernon's cousin, Gwendolyn (
Frances O'Connor
), arrives for the weekend, and is startled to discover Jack is also there -- except that she knows him as bad-boy Earnest. So just who is in love with who? How will Lady Bracknell (
Judi Dench
) handle the matter of her daughter Gwendolyn's suitors? And what's the truth about Jack's mysterious heritage? The Importance of Being Earnest was director Oliver Parker's second film adaptation of an Oscar Wilde comedy; he previously helmed
An Ideal Husband
, which also starred
Rupert Everett
. Everett and
Colin Firth
also co-starred in the 1984 drama
Another Country
. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Cast
Judi Dench
Lady Bracknell
Rupert Everett
Algernon Moncrieff
Colin Firth
Jack Worthing
Colin Firth
Jack Worthing/Earnest
Edward Fox
Lane
Charles Kay
Gribsby
Anna Massey
Miss Prism
Tom Wilkinson
Dr. Chasuble
Reese Witherspoon
Cecily Cardew
Frances O'Connor
Gwendolyn Fairfax
Production Crew
David Brown
Additional Cinematography
Paul Ghiradani
Art Director
Celestia Fox
Casting
Quinney Sachs
Choreography
Tony Pierce-Roberts
Cinematographer
David Brown
Co-producer
Charlie Mole
Composer (Music Score)
Maurizio Millenotti
Costume Designer
Oliver Parker
Director
Guy Bensley
Editor
Uri Fruchtman
Executive Producer
Richard Hewitt
First Assistant Director
Peter King
Hair Styles
Peter King
Makeup
Oscar Wilde
Play Author
Barnaby Thompson
Producer
Luciana Arrighi
Production Designer
Oliver Parker
Screenwriter
Ian Whittaker
Set Designer
John Midgley
Sound/Sound Designer
Max Hoskins
Supervising Sound Editor
Men From Mars
Visual Effects
Year: 2002
Runtime: 97
Country: UK
MPAA Rating: PG
for mild sensuality
Category: Feature
Genre
Comedy
Romance
Produced by
Ealing Studios
Film Council
Fragile Films
Miramax
Release
May 17, 2002 (USA - Limited)
by Miramax
© 2009 Spout LLC. Portions of content provided by All Movie Guide.