Colin Firth gives a great performance in A Single Man and that's not the only thing to like in this movie about death and loss. First-time director Tom Ford has a confident eye and those fond of a Mad Men vibe won't be disappointed with the sets and costumes. Though the mournful soundtrack is intrusive - it plays nearly non-stop - it's quite lovely.
No, the movie is put together quite well and the performances are more than good. It's just the character of George I had some trouble with. While not quite a mope, he's 8 months past the tragic death of his long-loved partner and still grieves and now not only contemplates suicide, he takes action this particular day to make it so. I couldn't help but think, man, just buck up already, bad things happen to people and time will help soothe the hurt and it'll be okay. And whattaya know, that's almost the point of the movie: George learns *spoiler alert* there's still much to live for and *spoiler alert* decides to do so. But because this is a "literary" movie where *spoiler alert* happy endings aren't allowed, there is *spoiler alert* no happy ending. How ironic. Everyone nod your heads knowingly.
Good dramas are hard to come by so this is well worth a buck from Redbox for a slow night. I just wouldn't pay too much more to see it.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
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Pete- there's so much drama in real life right now I've kinda lost interest in the manufactured sort. I hope I'm not contagagious.
ReplyDeleteThe plot outline sounds a bit like Capra.
What people may not know from the review, and this was kind of glossed over even in the marketing of the movie, is that this is a gay film.
ReplyDelete*spoiler alerts*
I couldn't help but think, man, just buck up already, bad things happen to people and time will help soothe the hurt and it'll be okay.
The main character couldn't get over the death of his lover because he wasn't allowed by society to do the things normal people do to get over the death of a loved one. He couldn't go to the funeral. He didn't have the support of his loved one's family. He didn't even get to see his own pets again because his lover happened to take them with him before he died.
But because this is a "literary" movie where *spoiler alert* happy endings aren't allowed, there is *spoiler alert* no happy ending.
I didn't think the ending was a downer. The main character was completely suicidal at the beginning of the movie and died a happy man at the end!