The Importance of Being Earnest (2002 film)

The Importance of Being Earnest
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Oliver Parker
Screenplay by	Oliver Parker
Based on	The Importance of Being Earnest 1895 play by Oscar Wilde
Produced by	Barnaby Thompson
Starring	Rupert Everett Colin Firth Frances O'Connor Reese Witherspoon Judi Dench Tom Wilkinson Anna Massey Edward Fox
Cinematography	Tony Pierce-Roberts
Edited by	Guy Bensley
Music by	Charlie Mole
Production companies	Ealing Studios Film Council Fragile Films Newmarket Capital Group
Distributed by	Miramax Films (United States) Miramax International (United Kingdom; through Buena Vista International)
Release dates	17 May 2002 (2002-05-17) (US) 6 September 2002 (2002-09-06) (UK)
Running time	97 minutes
Countries	United Kingdom United States
Language	English
Budget	$15 million
Box office	$17.2 million

The Importance of Being Earnest is a 2002 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Oliver Parker, based on Oscar Wilde's classic 1895 comedy of manners of the same name. A British-American co-production, the film stars Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, Reese Witherspoon, and Judi Dench in lead roles, with Tom Wilkinson and Frances O'Connor in supporting roles. The original music score is composed by Charlie Mole.

The plot follows two men, John Worthing (Firth) and Algernon Moncrieff (Everett), who both lead double lives using the name "Ernest" to escape social obligations, leading to romantic entanglements and comedic misunderstandings. The film explores themes of identity, deception, and social expectations, all set against the backdrop of Victorian England.

The Importance of Being Earnest was released on May 17, 2002.

Plot

John Worthing, a carefree and seemingly respectable young gentleman, has crafted a fictitious brother named "Ernest," whose scandalous and wicked behaviors provide John with the perfect excuse to leave his peaceful country estate and travel to London whenever he pleases. In the city, John stays with his close friend, Algernon Moncrieff, who is equally mischievous and shares John's fondness for bending social norms. While in London, John assumes the persona of Ernest, and under this guise, he has won the affections of Algernon’s beautiful cousin, Gwendolen Fairfax. Gwendolen, enamored with the name Ernest, declares that she could only love and marry a man with such a name.

John is deeply in love with Gwendolen and decides to propose. However, during the proposal, he must face her formidable mother, Lady Bracknell. When John reveals that he is an orphan who was found as a baby in a handbag at Victoria Station, Lady Bracknell is appalled and refuses to approve the engagement unless John can produce a respectable family lineage—namely, at least one parent of proper standing. Determined but undeterred, John returns to his country estate, where he lives with his young ward, Cecily Cardew, and her governess, Miss Prism.

Meanwhile, Algernon, intrigued by John's tales of his nonexistent brother Ernest, decides to visit John’s country home under the guise of this very same fictional brother. Upon arrival, Algernon is introduced to Cecily, who, unbeknownst to him, has already become fascinated by the mysterious "Ernest" through John's stories. Algernon, now posing as Ernest, quickly falls in love with the charming and impressionable Cecily, and to his surprise, she reciprocates his affections, having long dreamed of marrying a man named Ernest.

Chaos ensues when Gwendolen and Lady Bracknell arrive at John’s estate. Both women discover that they are engaged to men they believe to be named Ernest, resulting in a flurry of confusion and mistaken identities. It is revealed that Miss Prism, the governess, is the absent-minded nurse who, 20 years prior, misplaced a baby at Victoria Station—the very baby who turns out to be John.

Through this revelation, it is discovered that John is not only Gwendolen’s suitable match but also Algernon’s long-lost elder brother. Most importantly, his real name is indeed Ernest, the name by which he has been unwittingly known all along. The play ends in a joyful resolution, with both couples—John and Gwendolen, Algernon and Cecily—embracing, as all misunderstandings are cleared and the importance of being "Ernest" is finally realized.

Cast

• Rupert Everett as Algernon "Algy" Moncrieff
• Colin Firth as John "Jack" Worthing/Ernest
• Frances O'Connor as Gwendolen Fairfax
• Reese Witherspoon as Cecily Cardew
• Judi Dench as Lady Bracknell
• Tom Wilkinson as Dr Chasuble
• Anna Massey as Miss Prism
• Edward Fox as Lane
• Patrick Godfrey as Merriman

Production

The production took place in several picturesque locations, including West Wycombe Park, where Jack's country home was depicted, with filmmakers paying £50,000 to use the stately property.

Dame Judi Dench reprised her role as Lady Bracknell for the third time in The Importance of Being Earnest, after having been cast in the 1982 National Theatre revival and the 1995 BBC Radio 4 adaptation. In a unique casting detail, Dench’s daughter, actress Finty Williams, also appears in the film, playing a younger version of Lady Bracknell as a dancer.

Several unscripted moments were left in the final cut of the film due to their comedic value. One such instance occurred when Algernon slaps Jack on the rear end and kisses his cheek, surprising Colin Firth, who plays Jack. Director Oliver Parker found Firth’s stunned reaction so humorous that he chose to keep the scene in the film.

The film also includes material that had originally been written by Oscar Wilde but was later cut from the published play. These additions involve 'Ernest's' bill at the Savoy Hotel and the debt collectors arriving at Jack's country home. Though the character of the gardener, Molton, was also removed from the final version of the play, he can still be seen in the background of several scenes.

Release

The Importance of Being Earnest grossed $8,384,929 domestically and $8,906,041 internationally, for a worldwide total of $17,290,970, against a production budget of $15 million, making it a moderate commercial success at the box-office.

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, as of September 2012, The Importance of Being Earnest holds a 57% approval rating, with the consensus stating, "Oliver Parker's adaptation of Wilde's classic play is breezy entertainment, helped by an impressive cast, but it also suffers from some peculiar directorial choices that ultimately dampen the film's impact." On Metacritic, the film has a rating of 73 out of 100 based on 32 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian described the film as a "bright, easy-going adaptation" but noted it lacks the sharp wit of Wilde's original play. While praising Judi Dench’s performance, Bradshaw criticized the film for softening the play’s satirical edge and relying on broader humor, which diluted its critique of Victorian society. Despite its charm and visual appeal, he concluded that the film falls short of capturing Wilde's incisive social commentary. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times awarded the film 3 stars out of 4, praising the well-cast actors and their performances.

Awards and nominations

The Importance of Being Earnest won the 2003 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists's Silver Ribbon award for Best Costume Design (for Maurizio Millenotti).

Moreover, Reese Witherspoon's performance also earned her a nomination for the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Comedy in 2002.

External links

• Official website
• The Importance of Being Earnest at IMDb
• The Importance of Being Earnest at AllMovie
• The Importance of Being Earnest at the TCM Movie Database
• The Importance of Being Earnest at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
• The Importance of Being Earnest at Box Office Mojo
• The Importance of Being Earnest at Rotten Tomatoes
• Where Did They Film that? The Importance of Being Earnest