Period Dramas: Basil

Basil is a 1998 film starring Jared Leto and Christian Slater. It was adapted from the 1853 novel of the same name written by Wilkie Collins.

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What It's About:

Basil, a shy and naϊve gentleman and Oxford student is trying to find his place in life, while still trying to please his father. Having no friends, save for his father's ward Clara, Basil knows little of the world. Upon being injured, he relies on the help of a man, John Mannion, for his rescue, and the two become fast friends. Even though they are from different classes, John opens Basil's eyes to what is around him - even if it goes against everything his cold father taught him regarding his position in society. And then, Basil falls in love...

Why You'll Love It:

• The music is beautiful, and they really got the feel right with the settings and atmosphere
• If you are looking for a quick fix for your period drama addiction, clocking in at 1 hr 53 min, this is a short one that will satisfy you
• New to period dramas? An easy way to try one without it having too much in the way of unusual language or customs to wrap your head around
• If you want a movie with a few cool plot twists, but doesn't overall make you think too much, then this will likely work for you
• Christian Slater does a great job in this role, as always. So, if you love his work, and love Jared Leto, this is definitely one to watch

Why You Might Want To Skip It:

• If you're looking for an original storyline, this isn't it. It has a few interesting twists to it that will keep you intrigued, but overall it feels like something we've all heard before.
• If you like really strong characters that are to be admired, you will not find a single one here. No, honestly. Not one. I didn't care about any of the characters...except maybe the "bad guy"
• Picky about accents? Jared Leto's will drive you nuts.
• This isn't a romance, nor is it a mystery...it just seems a bit confused about what it is trying to accomplish here. Trust me when I say that the tagline "Rent all the passion" is a lie
• Completely random and illogical decisions and thought processes. I haven't read the book, so I am assuming this is just from them cutting things short to fit it into a movie

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Let me know if you guys have seen this one and what you thought. If anyone has read the book, is it worth a read? How well does it match the movie?