A Single Man

I walked into this one (yes, I actually saw it in a theater) expecting to be underwhelmed. Instead it really knocked me out. Colin Firth is getting all of the attention for this film. He gives an extraordinary performance of a character at the end of his rope, but managing to remain charming and fun instead of brooding and dark. I really think the movie is getting shortchanged, however. This is quite simply a beautiful movie. I mean in the physical sense. Tom Ford's eye for images is startling. It was as if every frame of this movie was intended for a coffee table book. But it never felt staged or forced or limiting. The space was still there for the actors to give tremendous performances (Julianne Moore was good, although it felt like she was doing a Madonna impression more than a British accent). I think the lighting was some of the most impressive I've ever seen on film. Every set, every costume, ever detail was perfect, but not enough to distract from the story. And the story itself is simple and not all that appealing. But it's told with such intimacy and power that I found it hypnotic. This is a fantastic movie.