Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

SeeQuant Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

SanEat A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

diligentdrool-49794 About seven minutes into 'A Single Man', there is a scene that should never have worked so early in a film. It is that moving, 'Oscar' moment that most movies would have in their second or third acts, after strong character establishment and buildup.But this scene -- a value addition by fashion designer Tom Ford to Christopher Isherwood's brilliant prose -- works perfectly here. It epitomizes what this film is about -- emptiness. That Colin Firth produces what I consider to be the finest single piece of acting helps.The story of 'A Single Man' is straightforward. It is set in one day in the life of George, a middle-aged college professor in 1960s California. He is grieving the loss of his long-time partner, Jim. Through this day, we follow George as he wakes up, "becomes George", lectures students, has dinner, drinks, and has a few chance encounters. Clearly, this is not a film for everyone. Audiences not keen on character-driven stories will probably not even be able to sit through it.That Ford chose this book for his first feature film is interesting. Not because of the subject matter, but because the internal nature of the book would have given any film-maker fits. This is a book that could be considered impossible to translate visually because not only is there little in way of plot or action in the story, but it is all narrated in the third person's head. What is even more surprising is the way Ford deals with this problem. He does not abandon who he is. He chooses to make this internal story extremely visual -- a choice not everyone seemed to like. But that he did it his way made me appreciate the honesty behind his effort to take this beautiful, poignant story to the screen.This is not Isherwood's story fully. The tone is different, as is George, and there are elements added for driving the narrative. That is exactly why this is a great adaptation. It is full of original elements but at the same time does no disservice to the raw and powerful source material. Ford does make a few questionable and indulgent choices, but even when he does flounder, his lead actor is always there to save him. Firth delivers a career turn as George. How he produced a performance so heartbreaking and empty at the same time, I will never know. Ever the paragon of subtlety, Firth comes out of his shell as an actor in the most unique way -- by going into a shell as his character. This is a performance that should have landed him the Oscar gold, not just the nomination. It is his finest 95 minutes on screen. There are many reasons to watch this film. Firth is the biggest, for he barely seems like he is actually acting, which is the highest praise I can give an actor. But he is not the only one. He is supported by wonderful turns by Julianne Moore and Mathew Goode, both of whom have great chemistry with him and make use of limited screen time to convey real emotions and relationships. Nick Hoult is good too, though less brilliant in the third act (he is not helped by the relatively weak dialogue there).Also a hat tip to Abel Korzeniowski, whose score is one of those few that perfectly capture the mood of the film. Sometimes, good music is not matched by the film, and vice versa. Here, the harmony is perfect. It is a beautiful score that stays with you long after you have watched the film.I have, however, docked a star even though 'A Single Man' is one of my favorite films. If you have seen it as many times as I have, the editing mistakes -- probably a result of Ford over-directing the film -- become hard to ignore. Also, the day the story is set actually falls AFTER the Cuban Missile Crisis ended. A little research would have helped avoid that frustrating mistake. But those goofs matter little in the grand scheme of things. A beautiful story, the aesthetic and tender handling of it, and one extraordinary performance recommend this film. As one critic put it -- it is a thing of heart-stopping beauty.

sol- Depression overwhelms a college professor on the anniversary of his boyfriend's tragic death in this drama written and directed by Tom Ford. As per Ford's latter 'Nocturnal Animals', this is a visually arresting and finely acted motion picture, further topped off with a superb Golden Globe nominated score. While some of Ford's imagery is a little ostentatious, he shows perfect restrain at other points, allowing Colin Firth to emote silently in close-up during a flashback in which he hears the news of his boyfriend's death by phone. Ford's use of slow motion as Firth drives along, watching neighbourhood kids and others works very well too; one truly gets the sense of Firth using the day to contemplate whether he can go on living or whether he should poetically end it all. There is, however, no escaping how slim the narrative is and not all of the subplots that crop up necessarily gel. Julianne Moore's turn as his best friend adds surprisingly little to his journey, except for some unanswered questions about their past together. It is hard to know what to make of Jon Kortajarena's gigolo either, however, Nicholas Hoult has a nice turn with a lot of suggestiveness as one of Firth's students with an unusual interest in him. Indeed, while all the little bits and pieces here might not necessarily add up, the experience of 'A Single Man' resonates long after it is over.

Joshua Tylee Crossing my radar fairly late and with zero expectations, I was moved to tears by it's realistic depiction of an existential quandary similar to my own personal experiences.The pacing empathically guides you through with Colin Firth's heavy breathing grief and gently lifts you up through romantic chance encounters and difficult revelations, all visually stylised as some beautiful, melancholy fashion magazine dream.This truly is an adaption that will conjure some jealously and heaps of inspiration to other directors and should go without saying that the costume, set design and photography is flawless.TLDR: Beautiful

milkyjeanette I came a crossed this movie by accident on Netflix. Went in to the movie, all I know was the main character is Colin Firth. 15 seconds into the movie, I am already impressed with how beautiful the graphics is, I myself being a graphic designer/photographer, I had to see who is the director. And I am surprised and not too surprised it's Tom Ford. I am surprised cuz I have no idea he direct movies, not surprised because it is very Tom Ford, their photography is always stunning. Throughout the movie, the set, the costume, the makeup, the styling, all impeccable!!! That has to be a lot of work and it shows! I searched and apparently it's the same group of people that did Mad men, the quality just really draw my attention. The movie itself is intense at times, I wouldn't say it's the best film or the most interesting story, but again, it's very beautiful and Colin Firth is a great actor that pull the whole story together.Overall definitely worth the time watching it. Good job Tom Ford!