A SINGLE MAN

Ma's View:

Last night we had free tickets to go see this movie and it was well worth the effort of driving 40 minutes to Portside!  First time director, Tom Ford, has taken time out from his fashion designer career, to co-write, produce and direct this movie with great success.  It is based on the novel by the same name written by Christopher Isherwood.

My mother used to say "the eyes are the windows of the soul" - well, Colin Firth gives us a glimpse into the suffering soul of a bereaved man who has lost his soulmate.  This is a consummate performance by this much under-rated actor, who has been type cast far too often into light-weight romantic leads.  It is no surprise that he has won "best actor" for this role at Bafta's recent awards.

Set in wholesome and conservative 1962 USA, the story-line follows a day in the life of a gay man who is mourning the death of his partner of 16 years.  It is a grief he cannot disclose in such a society and he faces it alone and un-supported.  In fact, he intends this to be his last day on earth, having had enough of going through the motions of living, just floating through the unreality of his world which now holds no meaning for him.  It is almost black comedy as George (Firth) prepares methodically for his death but we always feel engaged by the intensity of his feelings and the sharpness of his awareness of every detail around him.  Through flashbacks, we come to understand the depth of his relationship with Jim (played beautifully by Matthew Goode) - so much so that, when it is described as a "substitute" for a "real" relationship by friend and one-time lover Charley, we are almost as outraged as George himself.  Ironically, Charley (Julianne Moore is excellent!) illustrates the hollowness of these so-called "real" relationships, being herself a divorcee with 2 grown up children (who never call), and dependant on gin to get her through the day (and night).

The movie is very stylishly filmed with exquisite attention to perfection in costume and set design.  I didn't notice, but there should have been a credit for the architect of the house.  The music is compelling (sometimes overly so) and the cinematography very good.

Score:  8/10


Pepe's View:

This movie could only have been so beautifully directed by someone who has the ability to see life through a sensitive almost ephemeral lens.  Tom Ford has crafted an extemely sensitive and sensual cinematic experience.  The framing of each shot is beautiful and the house in which much of the action takes place is stunning.  It is also ironic that it is a "glass" house with seemingly acres of glass walls to the outside world when in fact the life that was lived within the walls was anything but open to public scrutiny.  My favourite scene is one of flashback when George (played beatifully by Colin Firth) receives the phone call to tell him that Jim (Matthew Goode) has been kiled in an automobile accident.  The intensity and slow disintegration of Jim is consumate acting.  Almost all of the shots are in extreme close up - it is almost seeing the world through George's eyes which can only see the details and he lacks the ability to step back and see the complete tapestry of life.  AS the film progresses, this close up effect is used less often until by the conclusion of the film it is not used at all.

Julieanne Moore is again excellent as "Charley" the woman "next"door that is a long term friend (and once a lover) of George.  She manages to evoke sympathy even though her total screen time is probably less than 15 min.  She resisted the temptation to play a "gin whore" and in so doing managed to in a sense become the voice of  "everyman" who tolerated gay relationships but really felt that the men would come to their senses eventually and settle down with a woman and enter the real world.  The scene towards the end of the movie when George goes to Charley's for dinner is a triumph of acting and directing.

This movie is tender, understated,  revealing, cinematically beautiful and thoroughly enjoyable.  One of the most satisfying 90 odd minutes I have ever spent in the cinema.

Score:  8.5/10