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"A Single Man" (beware spoilers)
southendmd:
I just saw an astonishing film: "A Single Man", directed by Tom Ford (yes, of Gucci fame) and starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore. It's based on Christopher Isherwood's novel, about one day in the life of a bereaved man in 1962.
I can't say enough about Colin Firth's performance. I couldn't take my eyes off him; he expresses so much with his face. It's 1962, he's lost his partner (Matthew Goode), and can hardly tell a soul. Partly because of the time, and partly because he's a Brit who's perfectly mannered and creased.
The production is almost unbearably beautiful, with music to match. No doubt it will be criticized for being "too perfect", too much like a fashion magazine spread, but I didn't find it distracting. Rather, it added to the loss and longing. Even the saturation of color changed, depending on the protagonist's mood.
Important bits of youth and beauty intrude on his sadness, especially a student played by Nicholas Hoult, whose almost-directness is alarming.
I'm sure I'll be thinking of this film for some time to come. In fact, I think I'll see it again.
Monika:
This sounds like something that I'd like to see. Always nice to see Colin Firth, if nothing else. Thanks for the recommendation, Paul.
belbbmfan:
Lucky you Paul, I'll have to wait untill March 3rd till this movie is released over here. :-\
I've read some very very good reviews and now, with your recommendation, I'm really looking forward to this movie. And Colin Firth is such a good actor (although not every movie he was in took advantage of his huge talent), I've been very impressed with him ever since I saw A Month In The Country, way back in '87.
Thanks for posting those pictures Paul. Wow again!
southendmd:
Cheers, Monika and Fabienne! It'll be worth the wait.
Meanwhile, I bought the novel today. Most of the regular bookstores didn't have any Isherwood. So, I went to the LGBT bookstore called Calamus (a Walt Whitman reference) and they had a stack of the new edition of the novel. Instead, I found an anthology from the 80s, edited by his partner Don Bachardy, and with a foreward by Gore Vidal (to whom A Single Man is dedicated).
Meryl:
Thanks for the review, Paul. I hadn't heard anything about the film except that Colin Firth was in it. I really want to see it now.
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