AllMovie

Oscar Wilde's provocative classic comes to new life on the big screen in this haunting tale of vanity ripped straight from today's tabloid headlines. As a young man, Dorian Gray's beguiling innocence captured the eye of famed artist Basil Hallward. As the two enter into a close friendship, Basil crafts a remarkable piece of art that seems to capture Dorian's essence as much as it does the artist's obsession. Stricken by the remarkable beauty of the piece and lamenting his own inevitable loss of youth, the troubled Dorian makes a wish that the artistic rendering of him bear the weathers of time while he remains forever youthful. Later, as Dorian strikes up a friendship with Lord Henry, wealthy entitlement, decadence, and obsessive pleasure lead the handsome young noble down a dark path of drugs and dangerous friendships. When Basil attempts to help his old friend, the artist's nobility ends up costing him his life. Through it all, Dorian remains as hypnotically handsome as ever. But in his careless wanderings, Dorian made a tragic mistake and now the brother of a girl he drove to suicide has come seeking revenge. As the memories of his first love come flooding back, Dorian finally seeks redemption and embraces the horrifying consequences of his callous actions.