Dorian Gray (2010)

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This is the tale of debauchery, vanity and excess and what damage your soul takes as a circumstance, as told by Oscar Wilde in his 1890 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.

The film is set in London between 1880 and 1915. At the beginning, Dorian is a naive young man thrust into ownership of an estate due to the death of his grandfather. Because Dorian is the new lord of the house, artist Basil Hallward demands that he paints his portrait as he wants to capture Dorian's youth and beauty. Upon the work being finished, Basil claims it to be his finest work, and whilst viewing it for the first time Dorian remarks that he would sell his soul to be able to remain as he is in the painting.

During the portrait being made Dorian remarks that he wants to go out to a party, Basil reluctantly takes Dorian to a ball that his friend Lord Henry Wotton is having and Dorian is immediately intrigued by the Lord's lifestyle. Lord Henry influences Dorian to change his simplistic world-view and makes him aware of his naivety of his beauty. He also teaches Dorian his hedonistic lifestyle. As a consequence, Dorian learns that he can manipulate others because of his beauty and uses that power as the story progresses.

The main themes are Influence, manipulation, vanity, hedonism and consequence. Although Dorian himself does not age, the painting reflects his true nature. As each sin is committed, the portrait becomes increasingly ghoulish, a mirror of his vanity and self-indulgent lifestyle.