A Single Man

Film Review

I utterly love this film. I saw it on Valentine's Day this year and have watched it several times since, it is officially in my top 3 films of all time. So if you didn't like this one, this little review will disappoint because I cannot think of a single thing I did not like about it. So what did I like? Well first up, it's the best film featuring gay characters I have ever seen. I am so tired of "gay films" where people's sexuality is the issue, this film isnt like that. George and Jim just happen to be gay, their story, their emotions, their trials, their relationship could happen to anyone, gay or straight and that's what makes it so good, it's a film about a gay man not a gay film about a man. The story was just so simple and I enjoyed the fact that it didn't focus on anything other than acting and brilliant writing. There are so many wonderful exchanges, I love the line that Kenny has about the sleeping bag - "Are you going camping sir?"

I loved the relationship between George and Jim, every flashback made me sadder that Jim was dead. The scene where they are sitting reading books and listening to music was beyond romantic - that is honestly my perfect evening, hot guy, good music, page turner of a book and a nice roaring fire - and the first meeting was lovely, why don't I ever meet sailors in bars?

I won't say too much about George and Charley just yet, but wow, what a relationship. Ten minutes on screen and I believed every word, every look, every beat.

Poor George. I loved the fact that Kenny saved him, but it seems that George was fated to die. He spends all day preparing to kill himself and then right at the last minute he makes that new connection with someone, there might actually be life after Jim! I was watching it with my friend Lisa tonight - very Charley - and she kept saying is he going to get it on with Kenny, but I didnt really think thats what he was looking for. Kenny offered it to him on a plate but he didnt want sex, he wanted the connection, the new connection with someone, he wanted that little bit of hope in his life and Kenny gave him that. He saw a future, somewhere for him to go, that's why he calls himself stupid, because he is a young boy and it's a foolish future but it's a future that saves him.

Shout outs must also go to the beautiful music - check out the track "Becoming George" - and the performances. Colin Firth utterly robbed of an Oscar, the scene where he hangs up the phone breaks my heart every time, then to be able to pull of the shower and sleeping bag comedy, a tour de force performance that was snubbed, at least us brits know when someone deserves a Bafta. Nicholas Hoult was a revelation, he looked so beautiful but exuded this strange warmth and optimism. The way in which he saves George and he is so insecure yet so confident at the same time. I hope he keeps making brave film choices as I'm desperate to see him in more stuff like this.

And then there's Julianne...

JULIANNE'S PERFORMANCE

It was stunning. I honestly felt that I knew Charley like a real person. I loved how flawed she was, when she can't help ruining a perfect moment with George by making a cruel comment about Jim. Her deep routed jealousy that her love for George was never enough for him, you felt that every second she spent with him was truely special. I think we all feel like that sometimes, when you have such strong feelings for someone that you know, deep down that will always be unrequited but there is always that little, tiny "maybe". You love every single second you spend with them and I felt that Charley was like that. Behind all her make-up and expensive clothes, she was a really sad character, he husband had left her, her son doesn't care and all she has left is George, a man she loves and can never have, imagine how desperately lonely she must be if that is the only person she has to cling onto, a man who breaks her heart everytime she sees him. When the film ended, I thought of Charley. She'll never get the letter, she'll never know for sure how much she meant to George, she can try and convince herself in her grief but she can never truely know. She has nobody now, she really is alone. I like to think she goes back to London and starts again but I get the feeling she's drink herself into oblivion.

Wow, I'm writing about her like she is a real person. Ah the power of Julianne. I cannot stop thinking about when she is dancing and having a good laugh, how special a moment that would have been for her. Julianne's performance was remarkable, how many different emotions are bottled up in that character. The cruel jibe at Jim and that awkward, awkward kiss are the only times she loses control. She has her very brief moment of happiness but she herself knows that sadness lies ahead. She thinks George will find someone else, but when he dies, it becomes much worse.

I really cannot stop thinking about the film. Just how quiet and simple the film really is. it's all about happiness and finding those connections in life. Not all the connections are romantic or sexual, as I said I don't think George wanted to be sexual with Kenny, he just needed someone. Those connections are important and I guess you don't really think about them at the time. I think you have mates, aquaintances and then you have people you connect with and I think they are the important people. Now I think about it, there are people you have unhealthy connections with as well, you know it's a bad idea because you'll have your heart broken over and over but it might actually be harder to disconnect and not have your special moments together - or more likely youll be the only one that find it special haha - like George and Charley dancing to Green Onions. I feel I should end on a positive, not as Charley who is sad and lonely but Charley dancing away to Green Onions and laughing about insulting a lesbian. I'm so glad I have these positive connections in my life. I'm not the sort of person who has a massive group of mates who all know each other like I did when I was at high school. I have a lot of good friends and a lot of people I've "connected" with, I often wonder if I should tell them about how cool I think it is but then I think, nah, it's just for me and it makes me smile and hey, they might be thinking the exact same thing on the friend/connection front.

Thanks Julianne. And by the way, imagine how amazing dinner with Julianne would be!!

if you havent watched A Single Man then GO NOW and watch it. I already know this post will not have done it justice. A stunning film.