A Single Man (2009)
September 15th 2010 04:43
all images sourced from google.com
Based on the groundbreaking novel of the same name by Christopher Isherwood, A Single Man makes the directorial debut of American Fashion Designer Tom Ford. Ford also co-wrote the film with David Scearce.
A Single Man tells the story of a middle aged English Professor George Falconer (Colin Firth) disillusioned with life, and mourning the death of his partner Jim (Matthew Goode) who died in a car accident 8 months previously.
Set over a one day timeline, A Single Man follows George as he spends the day making preparations for the one thing he desires more than any other, reuniting with Jim.
Told in a series of flashbacks to happier days with Jim, George's world is coloured by his perception of isolation. Feeling as if his life is over, George makes plans to farewell the people he loves and end his pain.
Into George's clearly defined plan enters a student at the University Kenny Porter (Nicholas Hoult) who seems determined to get to know the quiet professor.
As evening arrives George has dinner with best friend Charly (Julieanne Moore) who is recovering from a divorce and feeling isolated herself, cheering herself up with alcohol. The two long-time friends who both came to California from England together find their lives have not gone in the direction they had dreamt of all those years ago.
After dinner George goes home to prepare for his suicide when a noise outside his home inspires him to go to the pub he and Jim met at for one last drink. It is here he runs into Kenny and the two spend time together, eventually going skinny dipping in the ocean. For George, this is a case of history repeating itself as that is how he and Jim met and spent that first night 16 years ago.
George hits his head and Kenny helps him home. The offer of friendship from the young man seems to be what George is looking for and having passed out he wakes up to find the Kenny asleep on his couch, the gun George had hidden earlier, empty of bullets.
A Single Man is an amazing film. Colin Firth's portrayal of the damaged, isolated and lonely George is a once in a lifetime performance. Firth was nominated for the Best Actor award for this role at the Academy Awards - he lost it to Jeff Bridges - and this was a performance that was truly worthy of the award, let alone the nomination.
Julieanne Moore does well with the alcoholic Charly, turning a character that risked being an "add-on" into a heart wrenchingly tragic figure. Considering the short amount of screen time Moore had, her amazing talent made Charly a tangible character in the film.
Nicholas Hoult was excellent as the young Kenny. The relationship between Firth and Hoult in the last portion of the film was beautifully crafted and well acted.
Beautifully crafted sums up A Single Man very well. The sets, costumes, and attention to detail were unsurpassed. In a film as much constructed of emotion as dialogue and action, A Single Man is a rare film indeed.
Not only does it address issues and society - both of it's day in 1963 and today - successfully, it brings the audience on the journey, inviting us into the lives of the three characters and carries the viewer through an emotional roller coaster ride.
The normality of the life of George and Jim, the fun, the bantering, the sitting on the couch together discussing music and the ease with which they show each other affection, shows the audience - regardless of sexual orientation - that love is truly all that matters. And it's to the talent of the Firth and Goode, that the audience is able to experience the highs of a relationship and the devasting lows which George experiences after Jim's death.
If you haven't seen this film, do yourself a favour and watch it. Make sure to have a tissue or two handy. This film is definitely a "must-own".
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Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Have heard nothing but good things about this.
Nice review Mike
Comment by Mike Cullen
The Authors Cafe
The Life Design Experiment
OutFlicks
Pop Culturer
Film Mage
Nicholas Hoult is lovely in the movie. He plays his character well and with a lot of depth. I still can't figure out if he was in love with George or not, but I like to think he was.