A Single Man - Movie Review

Au00a0Single Man
A; Drama
Dir: Tom Ford
Cast: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Nicholas Hoult
***



What's it about: George Falconer (Colin Firth) is a college professor who's dealing with the loss of his partner Jim (Matthew Goode) who died in a car crash. Unable to emerge from the burden of that grief and get closure, he reaches that point where giving up on his life seems to be the only option. In a time when the world is engulfed by the Cuban Missile crisis, Falconer starts planning the last day of his life. Before the unassuming end, he meets an old friend (Julianne Moore) and mulls over what's coming his way.

What's hot: Designer Tom Ford treats the film as if it were yet another creation to dazzle frontbenchers on the runway. Using monochrome and beautiful tight close-ups, he wows us with his imagery.u00a0 There's no doubt that the film is a visual delight, but Ford also supports his canvas with strong characters. The morose sense of what's coming and the clouds of melancholy that hang over Falconer are beautifully portrayed. The dialogues are personal, almost as if he were telling the viewer his story, while sitting on a park bench. Firth is spectacular in his roleu00a0-- right from his body language to those horn-rimmed glasses or the sense of emptiness in his eyes, everything is spot-on. Ford plays with the small details, creating memorable moments in chance encounters, a flirty conversation or a moody argument, they all give the film a shade of surrealism.

What's not: There are moments that seem long and unending. The images sometimes drown out the message they want to convey. Style takes over substance giving the plot a lethargic pace. Also the matter at hand is heavy. Even through the light moments, there is always that heavy feeling of tragedy.u00a0 Sometimes there are a series of montages put together on a string that makes up for a scene. The use of monochrome, bright colours and shifting palettes don't work all the time.

What to do: A must watch for Colin Firth's breathtakingly beautiful performance, A Single Man marks the powerful debut of an already successful designer.