Author Topic: "A Single Man" (beware spoilers)  (Read 129335 times)

Offline milomorris

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Re: "A Single Man"
« Reply #30 on: January 03, 2010, 09:53:20 pm »
BTW, the aria heard in the film is "Ebben, ne andro lontana" from La Wally by Catalani.  Film buffs might recognize it as the featured aria sung by Wilhelmina Wiggins Fernandez in the 1981 French film Diva, a personal favorite.  In this case, it is sung by the soprano Miriam Gauci.  I found a youtube of her:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bioceu36XOY[/youtube]

I believe the soundtrack will be released on Tuesday.

I saw the movie on Friday. As the titles scrolled past, a man seated behind me said, "I wish they would tell us who sang the aria." I agreed with him, and told him I didn't recognize the voice.

I thought the placement of the aria was dramatically perfect.
  The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Offline southendmd

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Re: "A Single Man"
« Reply #31 on: January 03, 2010, 10:05:26 pm »
I saw the movie on Friday. As the titles scrolled past, a man seated behind me said, "I wish they would tell us who sang the aria." I agreed with him, and told him I didn't recognize the voice.

I thought the placement of the aria was dramatically perfect.

I had to watch the credits very carefully  to find her name.  I agree--perfect placement and match of subject matter.

Offline Lumière

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Re: "A Single Man"
« Reply #32 on: January 05, 2010, 02:03:00 pm »
I have been on the look out for this movie in theaters around here.
No luck so far.
I hope it comes here though.  Would LOVE to see it (or what till it's out on Dvd, I guess).


Offline southendmd

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Re: "A Single Man"
« Reply #33 on: January 05, 2010, 02:24:17 pm »
Hey, Milli!  Keep an eye out for it.  It's definitely worth it.

Meanwhile, I finished the novel last night.  I don't want to mention spoilers, but there are some significant differences between the film and the novel.  Also some verbatim passages.  Tom Ford has said that he added some details from his own life to the film. 

I liked the novel very much, and will read some more Isherwood.  I'd say he's ruthlessly unsentimental (like one of our former members). 

Offline Front-Ranger

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Re: "A Single Man"
« Reply #34 on: January 05, 2010, 10:56:37 pm »
I saw this lovely film and loved it. One question I had: Charly and George are eating dinner and he says something after which she laughs uproariously. What did he say? I have no idea.

Sometimes the film was just too pretty and luxurious like a chocolate truffle. But it was also very rich, and I'll have to see it again to even begin to appreciate it.
"chewing gum and duct tape"

Offline Front-Ranger

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Re: "A Single Man"
« Reply #35 on: January 06, 2010, 03:26:49 pm »
These lines said in class by the lead character, Professor George Falconer, affected me deeply (as they did the young student, Kenny, who decides to befriend him):

The Nazis were obviously
wrong to hate the Jews. But their
hating the Jews was not without a
cause... But the cause wasnʼt real.
The cause was imagined. The cause
was FEAR.
Curious stares.
GEORGE (CONTʼD)
Letʼs leave the Jews out of this
for a moment and think of another
minority. One that can go unnoticed
if it needs to.
George looks directly at WALTER, a slightly effeminate young
man, who turns away embarrassed.
GEORGE (CONTʼD)
There are all sorts of minorities,
blondes for example, but a minority
is only thought of as one when it
constitutes some kind of threat to
the majority. A real threat or an
imagined one. And therein lies the
FEAR. And, if the minority is
somehow invisible...
Another glance at Walter.
GEORGE (CONTʼD)
...the fear is even greater.
Kenny tries to find the target of Georgeʼs glance, but to no
avail.
GEORGE (CONTʼD)
And this FEAR is the reason the
minority is persecuted. So, there
always is a cause. And the cause is
FEAR. Minorities are just people.
People...
Again a subtle look at Walter.
GEORGE (CONTʼD)
...like us.
"chewing gum and duct tape"

Offline southendmd

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Re: "A Single Man"
« Reply #36 on: January 06, 2010, 03:43:29 pm »
I saw this lovely film and loved it. One question I had: Charly and George are eating dinner and he says something after which she laughs uproariously. What did he say? I have no idea.

Great question.  I hadn't heard it either.  Leslie posted a link to the screenplay above (thanks, Leslie).  I found it quickly:


GEORGE:
You had a mouth on you even back in London.
Do you remember that old lesbian who threw her drink at you because you asked her if she was hung like a donut?



Offline Front-Ranger

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Re: "A Single Man"
« Reply #37 on: January 06, 2010, 03:59:00 pm »
Thanks, Paul. He was eating, he was slightly drunk, and he has a British accent. Between all those things, nothing registered! I guess if I had heard that, it would have prepared me better for what was to follow. I was shocked when Charley (spoiler alert) suddenly said disparaging things about George and Jim's relationship.
"chewing gum and duct tape"

Offline milomorris

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Re: "A Single Man"
« Reply #38 on: January 06, 2010, 04:06:32 pm »
Great question.  I hadn't heard it either.  Leslie posted a link to the screenplay above (thanks, Leslie).  I found it quickly:


GEORGE:
You had a mouth on you even back in London.
Do you remember that old lesbian who threw her drink at you because you asked her if she was hung like a donut?



That was very funny!!
  The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Offline southendmd

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Re: "A Single Man"
« Reply #39 on: January 06, 2010, 04:08:40 pm »
That was very funny!!

Julianne's (Charley's) line right before that is even funnier.  But, I'll let you see the film for yourself!