I appreciate Al Pacino's ambition, and the concept of the whole project: a play, a movie of the play, and a documentary about both that also contains separate dramatic elements. Rarely has the colloquial idiom about spinning multiple plates held so much water, and I admire the effort put into it all. More specifically, the scope of the documentary itself, 'Wilde Salomé,' is brazenly broad, tying together examinations of Oscar Wilde, both his life and writings, as well as peeks at the play, and the production of the play. That's just the start, however, as Pacino further rolls in small scenes that were put together in different settings to further accentuate for audience and actor alike the nature of the story, and in which he himself appears. This is nothing if not a minor insight into the mind of a great actor, and for that alone this is kind of fascinating.
Putting aside the most emphatically staged elements (pageantry at a banquet, or in the desert, or a scene of Pacino as Wilde), it's hard not to feel like 'Wilde Salomé' is filled with substantial additional embellishments that in the very least blur the line of what a "documentary" is meant to represent. Scenes of Pacino in Ireland, for a prime example, are fabricated to the point of feeling forced and kitschy - though, I suppose if the man had fun doing these things, then sure, why not. And there's something to be said for the fact that the wide breadth of the subject matter here is a bit of a hodgepodge, somewhat struggling to maintain cohesion. All this, in a genre of cinema that is the least easy to engage with and enjoy as a viewer. It's not that documentaries can't be interesting or even captivating in their own right, but no matter the topic, it's generally an uphill battle to capture the imagination, to inspire, to enrich, compared to works of pure fiction. 'Wilde Salomé' is operating at a disadvantage from the very beginning.
And - meaning no disrespect, but I'm unclear what special wisdom Bono has to impart to deserve involvement.
With all this said, rather more so than not I think Pacino's documentary is entertaining and deserving on its own merits. There are some difficulties in becoming invested in it, but these are less prevalent toward the end, and are ultimately minor in considering all else that the film presents. From the perspectives on the production of the play, to reflections on Wilde, to candid moments like Jessica Chastain indicating uncertainty about the play's arrangement, or Pacino hurriedly eating a sandwich - in its own way, this is really a small bit of fun. It's hardly going to appeal to all audiences; only those especially enamored of some facet herein is likely to find it meaningfully enjoyable. Yet for anyone who isn't inherently turned off by the concept of 'Wilde Salomé,' this is a suitably worthwhile way to spend 90 minutes.
