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A Single Man, a review by Jon

A Single Man ****
4 out of 5



I hadn't wanted to see A Single Man; it wasn't on my radar and the trailer hadn't struck me as anything particularly outstanding. Add to this occasional reviews of Tom Ford's film that suggested his fashion background had influenced his direction a little too much, and I wasn't convinced this would be a must see.

Then, on one of the podcasts from Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode, I heard a clip of Colin Firth's opening monologue. It was so simple and poignant that I suddenly had to see it. Firth plays George, a man still grieving for his partner Jim (Matthew Goode), killed in a car accident months before. Since then he has been trapped in melancholy and the film follows what is, as he says, "kind of a serious day for me". He'll reminisce with his closest friend, neurotic Charly (Julianne Moore) and be intrigued by a young student (Nicholas Hoult).

Now I'm not cynical enough to believe in the idea that some films are structured specifically to win awards, but it is true that studios are cynical enough to release certain types of films to attract the right attention. This year it seems a sure bet that Colin Firth will win many awards for his performance in The King's Speech and from all accounts, they will be richly deserved. I haven't seen the film yet, but from the trailer, regardless of how brilliant he is, it seems to be the sort of role that Oscar loves. What I can say with confidence is that his moving and superlative performance in A Single Man should have received as much if not more attention. What he delivers is incredibly moving, with an affecting simplicity that is gently stripped away to reveal a complex character in quiet turmoil. If you have any experience of grief, you won't fail to identify with the elegant opening scene especially; his voice draws you in following a dream sequence and never lets you go from then on. Nor would you want to be let go! It is all the more impressive that he is never off-screen, but for the most brief moments, yet the film never feels claustrophobic and almost seems effortless.

Julianne Moore also proves her substantial skill and at least Firth was nominated last year. That she wasn't recognised is criminal. It is a brief role, but again, a complex character and she bundles up a lifetime into her portrayal of Charly. Utterly superb and on a par with Boogie Nights, a film I find overrated except for her. We only see the versatile Matthew Goode (Watchmen, Cemetary Junction) in flashback as Jim and he too works wonders with less screen-time and the relationship between the two men feels absolutely genuine. Nicholas Hoult is also excellent as an unpredictable enigma that George can't dismiss. While his might be the thinnest role of the main characters to play, Hoult still finds depth and works it with the merest expression. Strange how we have Brits playing Brits, Brits playing Americans and Americans playing Brits! Regardless, it is a perfect cast.

Perhaps we should consider that the lean and focused screenplay, so beautifully written, is the common factor for all of them. From the very start to the final moment, it is meticulous and focused. While it never loses it's sombre tone, it has an undercurrent of optimism throughout. The sparse dialogue, entirely free of exposition, is cleverly bolstered by various sub-texts that reflect the story. For instance, it is set in 1962 Los Angeles and America is suffering from Cuban crisis paranoia that gently highlights George's unique perspective. And what of his sexuality? Clearly it is his relationship with men that defines him, yet thank goodness that it isn't an issue the film feels a responsibility to. It is simply who he is and nothing more.

Tom Ford, who also wrote the film (along with David Scearce) adapting Christopher Isherwood's novel, directs his debut with an assured style that contradicts his inexperience, aside from some loose editing. Unless, that is, you want to say it is too good and suggests little personality or interpretation, but that's cynical considering his clear understanding of such sensitive characters. Future projects might reveal more, but Ford's direction here perfectly supports this screenplay this time and he employs some beautiful motifs, such as boosting the colour whenever the sombre George finds something worth paying attention to. As whatever thing it was drifts from the scene, the colour drains a little with it. You might find it obvious, but there is no denying it works and the tone is faultless throughout. Actually a Spanish prostitute demonstrates it perfectly; Ford films him like a model and he seems just a touch overdone, but the ever consistent pace and especially Firth's dialogue in fluent and seamless Spanish puts the substance back in. The balance is never lost here or anywhere else.

I usually somehow forget to mention scores, but no danger here. The final element of this spellbinding film is the haunting theme from Abel Korzeniowski and it is quite wonderful. I've left the DVD menu on while I write this so it keeps playing! Even in a short loop, it's very effective.

I would urge anyone who likes a well told story to invest their time in A Single Man. It is an easy watch, but its substance will take a hold and for viewers of a certain perspective it might haunt you in a most convincing manner.

(From Jon's Random Reviews on February 12th, 2011)

Forrest Gump, a review by Tom

Title: Forrest Gump
Year: 1994
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Rating: FSK-12
Length: 136 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Czech: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Subtitles: Commentary, Czech, English, German, Hungarian, Polish, Turkish

Stars:
Tom Hanks
Rebecca Williams
Sally Field
Michael Conner Humphreys
Harold Herthum

Plot:Awards:

Academy Award	1994	Won	Best Actor	Tom Hanks
Academy Award	1994	Nominated	Best Art Direction	Rick Carter (Art Direction); Nancy Haigh (Set Decoration)
Academy Award	1994	Nominated	Best Cinematography	Don Burgess
Academy Award	1994	Won	Best Director	Robert Zemeckis
Academy Award	1994	Won	Best Film Editing	Arthur Schmidt
Academy Award	1994	Nominated	Best Makeup	Daniel C. Striepeke, Hallie D'Amore, Judith A. Cory
Academy Award	1994	Nominated	Best Music, Original Score	Alan Silvestri
Academy Award	1994	Won	Best Picture	Wendy Finerman, Steve Tisch, Steve Starkey (Producers)
Academy Award	1994	Nominated	Best Sound	Randy Thom, Tom Johnson, Dennis Sands, William B. Kaplan
Academy Award	1994	Nominated	Best Sound Effects Editing	Gloria S. Borders, Randy Thom
Academy Award	1994	Nominated	Best Supporting Actor	Gary Sinise
Academy Award	1994	Won	Best Visual Effects	Ken Ralston, George Murphy, Stephen Rosenbaum, Allen Hall
Academy Award	1994	Won	Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay	Eric Roth
AFI	1994	Won	100 Years... 100 Cheers (2006)
AFI	1994	Nominated	100 Years... 100 Laughs (2000)
AFI	1994	Won	100 Years... 100 Movies (1998)
AFI	1994	Won	100 Years... 100 Movies (2007)
AFI	1994	Nominated	100 Years... 100 Passions (2002)
AFI	1994	Won	100 Years... 100 Quotes (2005)	"Quote": Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.
AFI	1994	Nominated	100 Years... 25 Scores (2005)	"Composer": Alan Silvestri
Amanda-prisen	1995	Won	Beste utenlandske spillefilm	Robert Zemeckis
American Cinema Editors Awards	1995	Won	Best Edited Feature Film	Arthur Schmidt
American Society of Cinematographers Awards	1995	Nominated	Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases	Don Burgess
BAFTA	1994	Won	Achievement In Special Effects	Ken Ralston, George Murphy, Stephen Rosenbaum, Allen Hall, Doug Chaing
BAFTA	1994	Nominated	Actor In A Leading Role	Tom Hanks
BAFTA	1994	Nominated	Actress In A Supporting Role	Sally Field
BAFTA	1994	Nominated	Adapted Screenplay	Eric Roth
BAFTA	1994	Nominated	Cinematography	Don Burgess
BAFTA	1994	Nominated	Editing	Arthur Schmidt
BAFTA	1994	Nominated	Film	Wendy Finerman, Steve Tisch, Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis
BAFTA	1994	Nominated	The David Lean Award For Achievement In Direction	Robert Zemeckis
BMI Film & TV Music Awards	1995	Won	BMI Film Music Award	Alan Silvestri
Casting Society of America Awards	1995	Nominated		Ellen Lewis
Cinema Audio Society Awards	1995	Won	Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Feature Film	Randy Thom, Tom Johnson, Dennis S. Sands, William B. Kaplan
Directors Guild of America	1995	Won	Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures	Robert Zemeckis, Charles Newirth, Bruce Moriarty, Cherylanne Martin, Dana J. Kuznetzkoff
Golden Globe	1994	Won	Actor in a Leading Role - Drama	Tom Hanks
Golden Globe	1994	Nominated	Actor in a Supporting Role	Gary Sinise
Golden Globe	1994	Nominated	Actress in a Supporting Role	Robin Wright Penn
Golden Globe	1994	Won	Director	Robert Zemeckis
Golden Globe	1994	Nominated	Original Score	Alan Silvestri
Golden Globe	1994	Won	Picture - Drama	Wendy Finerman, Steve Starkey, Steve Tisch
Golden Globe	1994	Nominated	Screenplay	Eric Roth
MTV Movie Awards	1995	Nominated	Best Male Performance	Tom Hanks
MTV Movie Awards	1995	Nominated	Best Movie
National Board of Review Awards, USA	1994	Won	Best Actor	Tom Hanks
National Board of Review Awards, USA	1994	Won	Best Film
National Board of Review Awards, USA	1994	Won	Best Supporting Actor	Gary Sinise
Saturn	1994	Nominated	Best Actor	Tom Hanks
Saturn	1994	Nominated	Best Director	Robert Zemeckis
Saturn	1994	Won	Best Fantasy Film
Saturn	1994	Nominated	Best Music	Alan Silvestri
Saturn	1994	Nominated	Best Special Effects	Ken Ralston, ILM
Saturn	1994	Won	Best Supporting Actor	Gary Sinise
Saturn	1994	Nominated	Best Supporting Actress	Robin Wright Penn
Saturn	1994	Nominated	Best Writing	Eric Roth
Screen Actors Guild Award	1994	Nominated	Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role	Robin Wright Penn
Screen Actors Guild Award	1994	Nominated	Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role	Sally Field
Screen Actors Guild Award	1994	Won	Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role	Tom Hanks
Screen Actors Guild Award	1994	Nominated	Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role	Gary Sinise
Screen Actors Guild Award	1995	Nominated	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role	Robin Wright Penn
Screen Actors Guild Award	1995	Nominated	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role	Sally Field
Screen Actors Guild Award	1995	Won	Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role	Tom Hanks
Screen Actors Guild Award	1995	Nominated	Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role	Gary Sinise
Writers Guild of America Awards	1995	Won	Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published	Eric Roth
Young Artist Awards	1995	Nominated	Best Performance by a Young Actor Co-Starring in a Motion Picture	Michael Conner Humphreys
Young Artist Awards	1995	Won	Best Performance by an Actor Under Ten in a Motion Picture	Haley Joel Osment
Young Artist Awards	1995	Won	Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten in a Motion Picture	Hanna Hall

Extras:
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Screen Tests
Trailers

I always liked this movie. I haven't seen it for years, but I had the urge to watch it now, after I recently watched "My Name Is Khan" at the cinema, which reminded me a little of Forrest Gump.
The time flies by with this film and it never gets boring.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on June 20th, 2010)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Married With Children: Season One (1987/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Television (United States) Length: 302 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

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Plot:Married With Children
1.01 Pilot
Writer: Michael G. Moye (Original Characters By), Ron Leavitt (Original Characters By), Ron Leavitt (Writer), Michael G. Moye (Writer)
Director: Linda Day
Cast

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on June 9th, 2012)