A Single Man Review

"Staring in the mirror, looking back at me isn't so much a face as an expression of a predicament." - George Falconer

A Single Man was surprisingly a film I enjoyed on a personal level as well a film level. It is just brilliantly made. The movie is introspective, with a sometimes dry sense of humor, knowledge, and a true passion for its characters. It almost reminded me of Catcher in the Rye (which I read and reviewed recently). The character has that sort of absentmindedness or deep thinking attitude about him and the thoughts he has are wholly interesting.

The film revolves around George Falconer (Colin Firth) on the day he plans to kill himself. Why does he want to kill himself? Jim (Matthew Goode), the man he had been in love with for sixteen years, died recently, leaving George heartbroken, lonely, and essentially weary of life. He plans to simply get through the day in an orderly fashion, have nice conversations, teach his class, have dinner with a friend, and go home and end it all. But the events of his day will either inspire him that life is worth living or truly convince him that dying is the only he can breathe again.

You might not think it at first glance, but A Single Man is one of the most well made movies recently. Like Oren Moverman with The Messenger, this film is the debut of Tom Ford, a popular fashion designer. Combined with the set crew of the show Mad Men, Ford is able to pull off a very realistic and fresh 1950s Los Angeles setting. The cinematography, sets, and wardrobes are all top notch. There's a very beautiful scene where George and a local trick have a gaze at the beautiful, smog fueled, pink sunset in a convenience store parking lot. The movie throughout always looks as if it had been made by someone who had an eye for things in the production department.

The acting is ace as per my tastes. Colin Firth, who I've not seen in a lot (though he's been in plenty), no doubt makes one of the finest characters I've seen in movies lately. Firth brings such quietness, wit, and sadness to the role of George that you can't help but want this destroyed man to make it. It isn't hard to see why this man was Oscar nominated. Julianne Moore is very intriguing as George's old friend Charlie, a heavydrinking, nostalgic woman who parties with her friends, or maybe just friend, almost as if it were denying that she is an older woman whose made too many mistakes. Charlie is the kind of wreck who does well to distract you from that fact. Moore as Charlie is very convincing, and she's never been sexier than with her British accent. Matthew Goode's role is occasional but always nice because Goode is such a charming bastard. In just the few flashbacks he appears in you get why George would be so sad after losing him. Other actors who have good parts are Nicholas Hoult as an infatuated student, Ginnifer Goodwin as a friendly neighbor, and Ryan Simpkins as Goodwin's weird but curious daughter. Acting good all around.

So yes, A Single Man was a very interesting film, engrossing and thoughtful. It gains our sympathy and attention as an audience and any film that can do that is bound to be good. Props to the whole damn thing. It may not be for some people, but some people aren't me. Four out of four bullets.

This has been the second of three reviews from Your Modest Guru. Thanks for reading.