Note: I normally write some spoilers within my reviews, but don't worry, I try that my "spoilers don't spoil" any important surprise in the plot. That said, here we go...This movie has some good elements that we can notice right from the start like a good setting for the environments, an interesting narrative style and some feeling of nostalgia that accompanies the scenes.Along with many other mysteries, right from the start, we can foresee that the character of the Basil's father, Frederick, must hide a lot of guilt out of either past errors or sins or both, hidden behind all that overwhelming necessity of control. These mysteries add up to a story that reveals and creates new puzzles as it advances. I totally recommend it.I'm conscious that I normally give movies and TV series a higher score that the average given by my IMDb mates, nevertheless I think that 6.1 is way too low for a movie that has so many aspects well taken care of. Maybe I should give a 9 because its not one of my all time favorites, but I decide to give it 10 stars in order to try to compensate that 6.1 that I believe it does not deserve.Thanks for readingDavid del Real. Mexico City, Mexico. Oct, 2017.

Basil, based on the Wilkie Collins novel, has little of the novel in it. In the novel, John Mannion is a man in his forties who is completely calm at all times and intrigues Basil, as a mystery. Basil's brother, Ralph, is an ambassador and quite a playboy. Clara is Basil's younger sister. The Julia character, called Margaret in the book, is an innocent, but spoiled girl. Basil has finished college and is of age. The agreement with Mr. Sherwin is to keep the marriage a secret for a full year. The book is generally regarded as a classic Victorian pot boiler. It may be, but I prefer the movie. I like the inclusion of Basil's imaginary masked man stories as a child. In having already exiled Ralph, we see clearly what the father will do if he finds out about the relationship between Basil and Julia. Mannion here is a worldly, genial friend to Basil, introducing him to smoking cigars and talk of sex. He seems to be Basil's salvation. Clara being a child taken in by Basil's parents rather than a sibling seems contrived only for one scene, but it doesn't detract that she is not his sister. Basil, being only 20, and still at college, makes it far more believable that he would not suspect those around him of being anything but honest and honorable. The idea that the relationship must be kept secret for only three months makes the story move along faster and is more believable. The incident Basil sees as a child, involving his father, makes his Father's talk of family pride ring false. In the book Basil insists that his father is a good man, though blatantly classist, and cold to his children. In the movie, we know that he is not as good as he wants people to think.Basil's having to do manual labor, and being shocked at the pittance he gets for it is still a social issue and one Collins did not address. The inclusion of the child shows Basil to be a much more honorable, moral and principled man in the end than his father ever was. It's an interesting movie, the acting is suited to a Victorian drama, and I enjoyed it very much.

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.

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!