User reviews

It's a tempting story about lust, deception, revenge and obsession. Nothing's wrong with this movie, the three eye catching main cast were doing fine for the film, but the story itself just lack the passion of becoming a powerful drama.

After the fast and intriguing pace from the midway of the movie until the edge, the movie was washed off by a poorly executed climax which made it ended up so cliché. It's not a mainstream ending but at the same time looks so lame and motiveless. Too bad.

But again I think this is still a better romantic thriller film than most teenage romantic movie you'll find everywhere this day. But it was surely a movie only to watch when you're in the mood.

... so I watched this one too. Well, it wasn't all that bad, but truth to be told, it wasn't that special as well.

The actors, not only incredibly gorgious Claire but also Jared Lehto (who is developing into being a very fine mime), know how to do their job and so the lack of originality in the story does not hurt too much. Still, I think the big drama and the element of surprise come short and the solution of the plot somehow seems to have been there before...

Still, time is never wasted when perfect beauty is displayed. Claire Forlani, have a great career!

A twenty-six year old Claire Forlani might be one of the better reasons to give this film a try. But it's not enough to make you stick with it till the very end. For half way through you may become really challenged, and begging to want to abandon it, if you have not already. Just because it is a period piece, for those partial to them, it's not anywhere near one of better quality. Story-line and acting are just too weak, and it's believed the former detracts from the latter. Except possibly in the one actor's case, for try as I want, I've yet to see her perform with above average ability in any production to date. She's beautiful for sure.. to this day, and most especially here in her late twenties. She makes a great model, as for acting, she's no Jessica Biel.

To talk of the Victorian novel, and any film derived from them, generally imposes the theme of the sociological novel: these works were frequently what might be called a social critique, unbehest by the landed gentry of the times, ignored by the reigning sovereign, much encouraged by the publishing houses, lapped up by the intelligencia of the public at large, but in general lacking the more profound humane sentiments of, say, the Russian novel. The result is sometimes rather sanctimonious, at others preachy, not to mention parsimonious. Wilkie Collins embarked on such ideas, and found fame with his two most well-known novels - `Moonstone' and `The Lady in White'. However, his themes suffer from certain overladen stylism, absent from novels by his very good friend Charles Dickens.

Thus any serious attempt at transposing such works to the screen is bound to bump into all kinds of problems; however, Radha Bharadwaj resolves most of them with a certain degree of panache, such that the end result in this film is more or less acceptable. There is that sense of proprietary so correct to the times in question which pervades the essence of capturing those times of social inequality, rule by power, the burgeoning heavy hand of the upper-class bourgoisie, the India-rich dwellers of mansions in London and the far-flung provincial counties. But it must be said, Wilkie Collins drove himself to his own despair, and this is clearly shown in his novels, though not so clearly perceived in this film. He tried the Russian technique, thus missing out on the Dickensian style - much more to the point - incorporating ideas which could only come to fruition a little later by such novelists as Joseph Conrad. If you like, he was the masculine equivalent of Virginia Woolf who also drove herself to despair and attempted suicide. But do not compare this film with the recent `The Hours' (q.v.), nor even with `The Portrait of a Lady' (q.v.), Jane Campion's exquisite film based on the novel by Henry James.

Notwithstanding (how good that word sounds in Dickens' novels!) the film has its interest; not necessarily because either Christian Slater or Jared Leto have anything special to offer on which to comment, as they are both merely acceptable, nor for Claire Forlani's part, nor for yet another appearance by yet another member of the Bonham-Carter family - in this case Crispin, cousin to Helena. The film stands up for its merits as a carefully directed and produced period piece which is nicely photographed, within and without London. How much of the film is made in Cornwall or even Yorkshire will have to be guessed.

An interesting film for its story-line, with not much real tangible evidence as to the Victorian scene, but which worked hard to transport the book to visual contemplation.

For a film set in England, neither of the two leading actors were British. This made the movie difficult to watch.

I'm guessing the people who like this are simply satisfied to stare at Jared Leto for an hour or so, because I can't image anyone likes it for the story. You can immediately see why the Director never made another film. I quit at the 40 minute mark because this film wasn't in the "so bad its' good" category, it was just bad.

Its really hard to know where to begin with describing how bad this film is, since its bad in every respect, though I guess it was in focus, so cheers to the Camera operator I guess. The dialogue is atrocious, the lighting is awful, the transitions between scenes is jokingly bad, and the acting.... Oh my, where to start.

I rarely criticize production design but it can't go unmentioned for this film. There is an opening voice over about how the mansion is run down, and it looks like the Production designer had 5 dollars and about 5 minutes to make the mansion look old.

To be fair, a lot of what makes this film laughably bad is because of what must've obviously been severe budget constraints, as it had scenes that clearly needed many extras, but only had a few to fill the background.

But you can't blame lack of money for bad dialogue, bad acting, and some atrociously bad accent work by Leto and Slater. I've seen those actors be good in other things, so I have to put a lot on the really bad dialogue they had to speak. It's George Lucas Phantom Menace level of bad dialogue.

I'll stop now, because this movie deserves no more of my life or your time spent reading this review.

Cheers.

Slow to start and then the rush to the end. The acting certainly is on mark and the writing not altogether terrible. Basil's life is saved by a stoke of unbelievable luck but not is all as it seems ...

Please take my advice and don't subject yourself to the horror of watching this movie. I suppose the cover should have warned me, but I thought the adequate cast might save it from the first impression the DVD cover made. I was wrong. There were multiple scenes that I cringed at the dialogue and the acting was horrible. I generally like Jared Leto's choice of roles, but this was a major blunder. It just didn't suit him. In his defense, though, I don't think the script could have been saved by anyone. Basically it was a dismal, fragmented movie that lacked flow from short unimpressive scenes that served no purpose but to hold the frail story together. But if you'd rather, see for yourself. Maybe I missed the deeper meaning... :)

A brit production, where the two leads are american. Basil's older brother had shamed the family, so he was sent away. Basil has always been careful around his dad, but there may be a showdown coming! Father doesn't approve of the young lady for whom basil has fallen. Mannion has become basil's friend, and will try to help. Julia's father agrees to the wedding, but they may not consummate the marriage until it is too late for basil to be dis-inherited. It's okay. The first half is pretty slow. The script is rather sparse, and we feel the desolation that basil feels. Twists, turns, intrigue. In the close-ups, faces, eyes, wallpaper, paintings are quite vivid. In the wide shots, everything and everyone is a bit faded, or foggy. It's possible they did something to the film to give it an aged look, like sepia. Directed by radha bharadwaj. Story by wilkie collins.

This movie is based on Wilkie Collins' (author of Moonstone and Woman int White) little known 2nd novel "Basil". The story is an unexpected combination of a Victorian Gothic novel with lust, passion, betrayal, revenge and more. It comes across as more sensational and modern than one would expect from a story from the mid 1800s. I think the screenplay expanded upon the novel. The plot twists are quite startling and some aspects of the story don't make that much sense in a but it's a suspenseful and satisfying yarn to watch on screen.

The filming is quite well done with atmospheric locations and sets. The cast is interesting with Jared Leto and Christian Slater both playing English characters with accents that aren't quite spot on of course. Half Italian Claire Forlani plays an English lady although she has a slightly Mediterranean look.

Instead of watching another adaptation of Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights give this one a chance.

I watched this film at home this week. Made it through the whole movie without falling asleep. This film has the worst editing job I have ever seen. Really chopped up. The cast was good, the acting creditable, even the story line had potential but the directing was awful. Someone took a good story, some great actors and made a really poor movie. Too bad.

"Basil" is a film that has all the ingredients of a classic soap opera. There's plenty of love deception, jealousy, a rich man who falls in love with a poor girl etc. But that's not one more and forgettable soap opera like the others. First of all, the film is based on a novel written by Wilkie Collins, one of the most important English writers of the 19o. century (a great friend of Charles Dickens) and that makes a great difference. On the other hand, this film has a nice direction and a fine cast, never sliding in hollow sentimentalism. Maybe the only negative point is that the plot is too predictable but even though you can still have a good time watching the film.

The movie was boring and predictable, couldn't even finish it. Slater was not particularly inviting, the aristocrat had no personality, had no sexual excitement, was difficult to care who ended up sleeping with anyone since the plot was easily discerned after 20 minutes or so

This movie came off as pretty bizarre. Horny young man falls madly in love with dumb but hot girl after being introduced to her by Christian Slater, playing his usual role as a second rate version of Jack Nicholson. Without getting into the strange plot which seems to make no sense at all, suffice it to say that its strangeness can be explained after reading the book. The plot of the book is a potboiler aimed at Victorian audiences who no doubt were shocked by the sexual innuendos (way too subtle for a modern audience) and is also bizarre but much less so than the movie which has adapted it presumably for more liberated modern audiences and in doing so makes it stupid stupid stupid. And strips it of any depth or complexity that the book has. The liberties taken with the book are astounding -- and my question is WHY was this movie made?????

Very disappointing. The script suffers from extreme tell-a-life-story-in-two-scenes-itus leaving any tension or drama on the cutting room floor. Slater and Leto, who can normally make the best of bad writing, appear wooden and passionless. And Claire Forlani, who requires the intense drama of CSI to evoke any feeling, is preposterous as the love interest. One cannot believe she would tempt Leto to risk tuppence let alone his entire fortune, family and lifestyle. Not even the mighty weight of Derek Jacobi can make his character convincing. There is no mystery and no intrigue, which leaves the viewer with no care for what happens next. Dreary mood lighting supposedly meant to make the film dark, merely lends credence to the assumption that a minimal budget meant they couldn't afford professional lighting. With so many other excellent period dramas available, it is little wonder this movie ended up in the bargain bin.

I watched this movie on AMC yesterday afternoon. I was glued to my television set for 2 hours. I didn't move a muscle. I must say that most of my faith in Christian Slater is restored. His work in this film is superb. I attempted to explain this movie to someone, but it was just too complicated. The story was excellent! Unfortunately, this film wasn't released in theaters. I certainly would have paid $6.50 to see it again.

I was disappointed in this film. I was hoping for something interesting or remarkable to happen later on, but it really didn't happen. Yet I do give credit for Jared Letto. He did a great job in this film, but the film itself is so boring!

I must admit, Jared was the hook, but it was the story that kept me interested. Not quite 'Dangerous Liaisons' or 'The Remains of the Day', but this film was very enjoyable. Jared Leto and Christian Slater both did fine jobs playing Brits and I would recommend this film to anyone.

Huge disappointment; stopped watching after a half hour. Derek Jacobi is good in most anything he does. Jared's British accent was HORRIBLE. Glad he has had some amazing roles after this one.

This would be in the running for my "Worst Films Ever" list if it only had tried a bit harder. As it is, it's an endless, sleepy affair starring my two favorite bad actors: Christian "The Cop Biter" Slater (woodenly delivering his lines in an undefinable accent) and Jared "Short Bus" Leto, who acts as if he's recently experienced a serious head trauma. Long a favorite of late, late nights on the cable movie channels, this stone of a film sinks, well, like a stone. Unsure of its location and time period (maybe London, perhaps in the 1870's, 80's or 90's), Basil plays like the fan fiction of a thirteen-year-old girl with a limited imagination. Avoid this and read a good book. You'll thank me.

I give the movie "Basil" a very high 10+. I love time period films and think "Basil" is a wonderful movie. Jared Leto was fantastic in this movie. I love all of his work on the big screen, but I have to say that His portrayal as Basil in my opinion is one of his finest performances. This movie is not boring. It has a wonderful cast, wonderful story line, and the events that unfold, to a good watcher, will unfold from the very beginning. Jared Leto, Christian Slater, and Clair Forlani are just magnificent in this film. It's very tastefully done, and the scenery is beautiful. Proper in it's time, but still society itself was not at all proper. Aristicratic life was very demanding, and to this day, still is. In the end, we are all the same no matter what class we are brought up in. I congratulate the performances in this movie, and I would love to see more movies like "Basil" on the big screen. I highly recommend "Basil" to anyone who loves period films. Thank you.