In this most recent update of Oscar Wilde's often film only published novel, a young Londoner (Ben Barnes), corrupted by an aristocrat (Colin Firth), maintains his good looks while his appaling and vapid inner essence is revealed in his grotesque, ever changing self-portrait. "Dorian Gray" is a fine looking film, and one that for awhile seems like it will be a great adaptation. Soon however, it turns exceedingly nasty and takes too many liberties with Wilde's story, most notably with Dorian's once secret but here revealed exploits which are neither intriguing nor sexy by the way they are depicted. As was the case with the superior 1945 film, the imagery involved with the picture itself is excellent.
