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Wednesday, December 30, 2009
A Single Man (2009)
Posted on 6:00 PM by Paolo
'A Single Man' Review
By Paolo Sardinas
Now I know what you're thinking. "Why in hell would I want to watch a film about a middle aged, gay, depressed, man who lives in the 60's?" You know what? You're right. Why would you? In fact that's how I first felt when I first heard about Tom Ford's directorial debut A Single Man. I figured it would be the next Brokeback Mountain and continued to enforce the presence of homo sexuality at the award shows and would be nothing more than a boring little film that wouldn't resonate with anyone. Well, after seeing A Single Man I can honestly admit, that I was wrong.
A Single Man follows Professor George Falconer who is a middle aged gay man living in 1962 Santa Monica. Over the entire span of one single day, November 20, 1962, we witness series of montages and flashbacks to happy days spent with Jim (Matthew Goode), George's partner for 16 years. George, after suffering for the past couple of years from Jim's death, plans out his final day on Earth. Yes, that's right he plans on killing himself. We also meet Charlie (Julianne Moore). George's best friend whom he also happened to enjoy a brief affair with. The movie plays throughout this man's final day with enough emotion, intensity, and realism too convey more feeling than most of this year's films have been able to offer.
The film starts out in a bleak, bleached out tone. As the day progresses, the colors intensify and become more in sync with the Technicolor realism of the world. Throughout his entire day we get the sense of the despair that George is suffering from, the loneliness, and the eventual, re kindling for the love of life. While many critics will praise Firth's performance as being heartfelt and pure genius, I'm afraid, I'll have to agree with that statement. Firth, whose films I never enjoyed, delivers something truly unique in his depressed English professor. His co-star, Julianne Moore, is another pleasure to watch. She gives one of her best performances, since Children of Men to be exact.
These two fine actors help to bring emotions and characteristics that make these people so entertaining. In a world where we are plagued with pointless teen age wannabee actors its nice to see some more experienced actors come out of their shell and try something new. As the day progresses you don't wish for the movie to be over, you want more.
Director Tom Ford has his directorial debut with A Single Man and my oh my was it a job well done. His attentive focus to detail and his keen eye helps to make the movie flow. Adapted from the novel by Christopher Irshwood, the movie plays out allot smoother than you would imagine. The flashbacks and montages actually help the film and aren't as annoying or confusing as you would think. The film is finely edited and its musical score helps to guide it along. Ford is able to fool the audience member into thinking that he's been doing this for a lifetime when really, he hasn't.
Many will praise the film's set design and art direction. And they have every right to. Using the same set designers from the hit TV show Mad Men, the film looks and feels like it was made in the early sixties. The cars, the clothes, the furniture, the Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho billboard in the background. Everything has a nice flow and a sense of true realism and authenticity. Tom Ford, a former fashion designer, was actually able to make a film without looking and feeling like it was made by a fashion designer. Brilliant.
A Single Man isn't exactly flawless. There are some imperfections here and there and some minor flaws which could have been fixed. But all in all, Tom Ford's directorial debut is definitely a one of a kind film. The performances by its lead and supporting actors are sharp and ravishing. The style is unique and the bleak, transitioning colors are truly keen. While its filled with plenty of insightful morals and deep meaning, A Single Man never stops being entertaining. It is arguably one of the year's best made films.
Grade: A-
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