An Ideal Husband

A witty adaptation of Oscar Wilde's 1895 comedic play

Julianne Moore as the scheming, devious Mrs. Laura Cheveley

Jeremy Northam is Sir Robert Chiltern, the scandal-plagued Government minister

Rupert Everett plays it straight as the dandified philanderer, Lord Arthur Goring
Also: Cate Blanchett (Sir Robert's wife, Gertrude) & Minnie Driver (Mabel, Sir Robert's sister)

Steamy scene between Lord Goring and Sir Robert

PLOT: Another of Wilde's social satires, 'An Ideal Husband' revolves around the lives of two men, successful political figure Sir Robert Chiltern (Northam) and his friend the uninspired but utterly charming Lord Arthur Goring. Chiltern's life is perfect thanks to the help of his loving and brilliant wife Gerturde (Blanchett) and the support of his quick witted sister Mabel. Goring's life is one of lounging, flirting with Mabel, and avoiding his father's instance that he should marry. The world of these men is turned upside down by the arrival of old acquaintance Mrs. Laura Cheveley (Moore) who has come with blackmail in mind. Chiltern could lose everything including Gertrude. It is up to his wife and Goring to confront this dilemma, but it could risk Goring's chances to finally win over Mabel. As the comments and lies begin to fly about, it's revealed that the man thought to be perfect is flawed, the man with all the flaws must do something right, and the question remains: what makes an ideal husband? (IMDb)

QUOTES
I love talking about nothing: it's the only subject I know anything about.

Even YOU are not rich enough to buy back your past.

"You were to me, something apart from common life."

Marriage is not a question of affection, it's a matter of common sense.

Surely, there must be some sin in her past that would help her understand yours?

I don't mind bad husbands - I had two. They used me immensely.

I do love you...but not that much.

To look at something is quite different than to SEE something.

Distressingly little time for sloth or idleness.

Salon Review
Everett -- who seemed, for a time, to have settled into a groove of acceptable but dull performances until he almost single-handedly salvaged the dreadful "My Best Friend's Wedding" -- has become a marvelously intuitive and, for all his innate elegance, inextinguishably alive actor. When he delivers a line, there are a million cues to listen for and look at: the wicked arch of his eyebrows, the polished-rosewood timbre of his voice, the way his lips often seem to be curved protectively around an intimate secret. He captures the essence of traditional English understatement, but even more important, he shows that there can be a weirdly simmering warmth just beneath its surface -- it's not necessarily about coolness or unflappability. His performance as Lord Goring is so delicately shaded, so prickly-plush, it's almost enough to make you forget that his profile could be the eighth natural wonder of the world.