A Single Man

"A Single Man"
Starring: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult
Directed by: Tom Ford
99 minutes

Tom Ford's "A Single Man" is a polished character study of a grieving college professors attempt to get through a single day with the death of his gay partner lingering in his mind. The professor is played by the likable Colin Firth, a 1950's model for education, with his scholarly look, and English accent, George feels useless to the world without Jim, played by Matthew Goode.

 As the film opens, Firth's character George explains how waking up was never his thing, now, waking up with the past memories of his former lover is wearing on him. He packs a handgun in his briefcase and plans on offing himself before the days end. His senses are heightened as he notices things he never did before, like the distinct scent of perfume on a woman, or the glistening body of a shirtless male in gym class, well, he probably has noticed that before.

Ford's eye for the bold and the beautiful is laid on thick in most of the scenes, but this isn't a burden. "A Single Man," contains beautiful photography which elevates the film past its somewhat pedestrian narrative. It isn't nearly as engaging as it ought to be, and its third act slows when it should already have its viewer invested. It's not that I don't like the film, I admire Firth's brave and forthcoming performance, but it isn't something I would re-visit anytime soon.

The film does do a good job of showing the pressures of a gay man in the 1950's, this, along with small hints of Cold War hysteria, add to the particular time period of the film. As I mentioned before, Firth is quite good, and his Oscar nomination was rightly deserved. Firth maintains the balance of the film, without him, or even with another lead actor, the film could have gone astray . Julianne Moore plays George's past love and long time friend Charly, a chain smoking and glamorous Brit who lives next door to George. Moore's character has little to do but drink and smoke, she's involved in only a couple of scenes, and brings little to the narrative.

"A Single Man" is not a great film, or even a very good one, it's Tom Ford's vision through and through and that is something to admire. Ford's willingness to make films that define him won't go unnoticed, but hopefully upon his next attempt, he tries a little harder to engage his audience past a foreseeable character arc, and a clunky narrative.

Grade: 3/5