Every frame of it is lush and constructed in the hope of it being perfect. And by looking at it you would be hard pressed to say it wasn't so. The main problem though is that this striving for perfection at points strangles the life out of the piece.
A Single Man, based on the novel with the same name by Christopher Isherwood, tells the story of George and his final day before he intends to kill himself. Not a film that you would think would have much humour and warmth to it but that is why this film succeeds because there is so much laughter in the piece and a whole lot of love as well. This is reflected in the grading and the sound of the film, when George comes up against something that he is overwhelmed with, his normal drab life abounds in lush warm colours and every heart beat seems to be registered. It is a fantastic device used through out the film. My only misgiving about it is that it does teeter over and seems to be directed like an old 1970's french advertisement. But I guess this is bound to happen from time to time with such a device.
Colin Firth as George is quite brilliant. A deserved BAFTA win and OSCAR nomination. Nuanced and heart achingly at sea without his love. He's never been better. There is such texture to this performance that he hasn't really been given a chance to show before that you forget how great an actor he is. This is a man that made a very two dimensional character in the bridget jones diary series come alive with some a little bit more. Recently he was seen in Michael Winterbottom's Genova and again was quite brilliant there.
The funniest thing about the casting of this film is that you have two exceptional english talents in minor roles playing American and the one American in the piece is playing English but they all do it with such aplomb that you forget where they come from.
Matthew Goode as George's lover, Jim, nails it right on the head. Goode who has recently been seen in Watchmen and has just finished shooting Cemetary Junction is turning into quite a reliable character actor. The scene between George and Jim as they read is just fantastic, you get the real sense that this is a couple that have been together for 16 years.
Julianne Moore as George's neighbor Charley, is beautiful as woman who fell in love with a man that she could never have and has never wanted to let go.
And Nicholas Hoult as one of George's students, Kenny, has the uncanny sense to rock Firth from his intended goal. You never doubt that Hoult is able to this.
A fine film that would not have happened if Tom Ford didn't want it so much, didn't care for the story and the people so much that he was willing to risk his own money for it. And in the end that is what rings out that this is a very personal film that the film maker was desperate to tell.
Thank you Mr Ford and to everyone else who was involved in the film.
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