Dorian Gray By Oliver Parker.

In response to collecting research on the novel 'The picture of Dorian Gray' By Oscar Wilde, I have decided to watch and analyse the film adaptation creating a small review. 

Compared to the novel I found the film version much more creatively and inspirationally interesting as everything from the London setting to the characters are much more modern.
At the beginning of the film you are introduced to the violent and dark theme of the storyline, as the scene is of Dorian Gray stabbing a body covered in blood, which you later find out to be Basil Hallward. The movie also portrays the 1890 setting well, as the characters, Dorian Gray and his house staff are all dressed in traditional Victorian clothing. In the beginning of the film there is also already a point of how desirable and popular Dorian Gray is by filming him chatting with a group of wealthy beautiful women, all flirting with him.

Basil Hallward is introduced to Dorian Gray by one of the woman surrounding him,and straight away Basil compliments his appearance and then shows him a quick portrait he drew of him whilst performing. The film is much more graphic when portraying the sins that Dorian commits at parties and private gentleman clubs, it also continuously shows drug use, smoking and excessive drinking everywhere Dorian goes. Dorian Gray even comes onto Basil as he is gay and tries to manipulate him also, knowing that Basil is attracted to him. Basil picks up on Dorian's new personality and obsessive search for pleasure and tries to stop him where as Henry embraces his behaviour and pushes it further. This creates tension between the three characters whenever together. 

The portrayal of Dorian Gray in this film is much more evil, manipulative and sly which is more fitting for the storyline but it makes you dislike him much more, where in the book he doesn't come across as so evil. Although some of the scenes in the movie are very graphic and scary to look at sometimes, it is not necessarily a horror style film but instead disturbing as it is made to look realistic. 

These are two quotes that stood out to me in the film and made me think of ways to incorporate it in a make-up look.
'Be searching always for new sensations'
'there are no limits'