Sunday, February 28, 2010

Films Coming Soon...

OK, so after a short hiatus, I have returned as promised (for anyone that actually cares) to regale you with more stories of diamonds and duds. Some of the films you can expect to see reviewed soon include: Un Prophete, The White Ribbon, Ajami, St. John of Las Vegas, Fish Tank, and many many more.

A Single Man


A Single Man

A Single Man, one of many Academy Award nominees for Best Actor (for Colin Firth's performance), is a film that demands the viewer to be open-minded. In other words, if ye be conservative look away now, in that two of the main characters are gay. But, it's not the topic of homosexuality that makes this film unique, it's the way in which it presents it. The mass media today general portrays homosexuals, mostly men, as flaming sex-crazed maniacs that far surpass flamboyant. This is NOT the case with A Single Man; rather the film realistically portrays homosexual relationships in a more realistic way, in that it shows two men who are in deeply in love carrying on a normal healthy relationship the same any straight couple would. Beyond homosexuality, this film contains many other elements which make it both great and unique. The incredibly sincere and darkly ironic performance of the "part-time" suicidal protagonist, George Falconer (Colin Forth), is remarkably powerful and strangely funny. The use of light and dark in the film is another topic that begs to be addressed.

Before I begin the in-depth review, lemme lay a little summary on ya'. The film centers around UCLA English Professor, George Falconer, and his coping or inability to cope with the death of his partner, Jim. The film follows him on his supposed final day of life as he tries to put his affairs in order, i.e. he plans to commit suicide at the end of the day. He quickly comes to realize through a series of seemingly coincidental events that maybe his life is worth carrying on afterall. Beyond that, I would be giving the entire plot away.

Beginning with the homosexual element of the film, which for a same-sex marriage-supporting liberal like me is quite important, serves as both a message and a strong and intriguing drive to the overall plot of the film. The main character, George Falconer, is a gay man who is still reeling from the death of his longtime lover and partner, Jim (Mathew Goode), who died in a car accident a few months earlier (before the film takes place). As the film progresses, the passionate relationship between George and Jim begins to unfold through a series of flashbacks and conversations. It is the first movie that I've seen that portrays gay relationships on the same level of straight ones. It does not give in to any stereotypes and shows love for what it really is, be it between a man and a man, a woman and a woman, or a man and a woman. I'm not going to say that the goal of this film was to progress the state of gay marriage in the United States, which it isn't, but it does make a point of showing these relationships for what they really are.

Focusing on the movie itself, the acting by Colin Firth was second-to-none, and I don't use that term lightly. He expertly plays the constant transitions between suicide and happiness that his character experiences throughout the film. At moments, he makes the viewer truly think that life is pointless without the one you loved, and that maybe death is a real option. But at other times, he shows us that slim ray of light that manages to leak into his bleak and depressing world. The spot-oness (I know that's not a word) of Firth's performance is so accurate to the state of his character that at times one forgets he's watching a movie. Seeing the film for yourself though is the only way to truly understand why this film is Academy Award worthy.

Oh light, so subtle and yet somehow apparent, plays a larger part in this film than any other film I think I've ever seen. The appropriate use of light and dark to highlight the mood the film is nothing unique in itself, but it's the timing and shades of it that make it special. Take for example the entrance of George's also gay student into the movie into a scene; George's world seems to light up oh so slightly as this "small ray of happiness" enters his depressing exsistence. And as soon as he leaves, the light quickly fades into blackness. At another point, George describes his life after his partner's death as a living day in and day out as just trying to get through life one day at a time in a blurry fog.

Ok so before I continue rambling on any longer, let me just stop myself here. This film and is amazing for a number of reasons, and I say SEE IT!!!

Rating: 10/10-Perfect, Couldn't Find a Darn Thing Wrong

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Slight Hiatus

Because of some "stuff" that's come up recently I won't be posting any reviews for a little while. If anyone actually reads this...Anyway, I'll be back soon...promise.