Thursday, July 29, 2010

A SINGLE MAN: STYLISHLY BORING

The seconds literally crept by through each frame of this Tom Ford film. It stylishly introduces us to George Falconer (Colin Firth) who is a professor whose partner was recently killed leaving a hug void in his life. Funny enough, set during a time when partner was used more in the business sense between two men, it's not a "gay" film. It just so happens that Falconer is gay and the person he loved was a man. The point is that he loved, so deeply that he doesn't want to go on, so he sets about living his last day on earth before he joins his lover in the hereafter; cue the things in life that one can't prepare for, such as other's actions and moments of clarity. Firth exudes the performance of a lifetime. Unfortunately, the script is so centered on the smallness of his actions it leads to a very subtle change and a more subtle film. A film, in fact, so subtle, that I was indeed bored. Julianne Moore did nothing but devote a few minutes as a lonely fag hag, beautiful as she was. A good looking period piece, just not un-subtle enough to keep watching for the small stuff; as in this film, you should sweat the small stuff.