A Single Man

Set in 1962, Colin Firth stars as George - a college professor suffering from the tragic loss of his beloved partner, Jim (Matthew Goode). Finally at his wit's end and full of pain that won't go away, George has decided to end it all, but life keeps getting in the way.


Will George find a reason to live?

Writer/director Tom Ford and co-writer David Scearce (based on the novel by Christopher Isherwood) have made A Single Man into a character study where our performers get a chance to shine, while the story is not as important or well developed.

Firth is fantastic as the pained man dealing with an empty life. He makes George a much more complex character by showing his melancholy along with anger, smugness, a sarcastic side and dashes of hope when events throughout this day make him perk up and reassess his plan. His reactions to painful statements and decisions by Jim’s family are the types of reactions Oscars are made of, or, at least, nominations.

Meanwhile, Julianne Moore puts in a scenery chewing performance as his best pal, Charley, who is the ultimate boozy broad pining for better days and afraid she is on the downward slope of life, but happy to be spending time with the man who makes her laugh. Moore fantastically keeps Charley on the edge of being too much and cartoonish, but never crosses the line, so we enjoy her and even feel a bit sorry for where life has gone for her.

Unfortunately, it feels like Ford is trying too hard at times. He fills A Single Man with too many moody, slow motion sequences of George thinking he is looking at someone for the last time, or scenes in his nightmares playing out before our eyes. Then, he doesn't make the case for why it is important to point out how this whole film is happening at the same time as The Cuban Missile Crisis. The audience doesn't get to see any parallels or impact on the story, so what's the point?

Ultimately, I want more stuff happening, and A Single Man is a meditative piece with very good acting.

A Single Man is rated R for some disturbing images and nudity/sexual content.