A Single Man

Tags

2000's, A Single Man, Colin Firth, Drama, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult, Tom Ford

Film Title

A Single Man

Director

Tom Ford

Starring

• Colin Firth as George Falconer
• Julianne Moore as Charley
• Nicholas Hoult as Kenny
• Matthew Goode as Jim

An emotionally rich and soulful debut from fashion supremo Tom Ford, A Single Man is a film not to be missed, as it delves into themes of grief, contemplation and love.

It is 1962; George Falconer is a gay British professor living in California, who lost his partner Jim to a car accident eight months ago. His grief is very strong and he just attempts to get through the days, which is becoming more and more difficult as life without Jim is completely unbearable in George’s eyes. A Single Man unravels across a sole day in which George is faced with a decision that could be final. George is so haunted by the memories he shared with this soul mate that on the day in which the film takes place, he is contemplating suicide to end his suffering. Throughout the day, he comes into contact with many people who populate his life and could potentially sway his decision of committing suicide. There is his boozy friend Charley, who he once had a relationship with but she is now somewhat lonely and craving any sort of attention and love. We also have Kenny, one of George’s students who pines for his professor’s attentions after hearing him give a rousing lecture which is different from his usual style of teaching. Through these respective meetings, George starts to see things differently for possibly the very first time since losing Jim. But will any of these encounters or events truly persuade George that he should go on with life, instead of ending it all?

Tom Ford, in what was his debut as a director, suffuses A Single Man with both beauty(gorgeous black and white flashbacks of happier time with Jim ) and wealth of emotion(George’s morning routine of putting his clothes on in an armour like fashion, while he narrates his struggle of presenting himself). Ford is a visionary to be sure, but his greatest talent lies in his exploration of the central character’s journey and seating us right at the heart of it, giving us the full clout of it all. Also worthy of note is the way that sexuality is resented in A Single Man. The setting is the 60’s when homosexuality was still a taboo and while there are coded references to this knowledge, the character of George is presented in a very matter of fact way. His romance with Jim is shown with the respect and love of any other relationship in movies, which is how it should be. Kudos to Tom Ford for displaying he relationship like this and not sensationalizing it. The premise of A Single Man sounds like a real downer and yes it does have an air of sorrow throughout, but it also feels very alive and vibrant as George considers opening up to possibilities and beauty in the world, just as he does battle with thoughts of ending it all. The stupendous cinematography clearly enriches this, capturing the grey parts of George’s world that quite literally become golden when he opens his eyes to life’s possibilities the last time in his life. Colour is key is this film and it just adds another layer of sophistication and beauty to this moving story that refuses to let go of you once it has pulled you in. The visuals have to be some of the best that I’ve seen in a movie for a while, because of powerfully they accentuate the narrative and drive the events along with scrupulous depth. A powerful music score evinces the emotions at play with degrees of shaded nuance to them. The score is sublimely conducted and matches events with nary a wasted note present.

Colin Firth is astonishingly fantastic in a role that fits him like one of the character’s suits. He is a master of restraint and burrows quietly into the devastation and contemplation of George. He is put quite simply, a marvel in the part of stoic sadness and rumination that reveals so much with the tiniest of gestures. Firth has rarely been better than he is here and this for me is a defining role for him that I won’t forget in a hurry. Julianne Moore provides sterling support acting as the drunken party girl, who covers her crushing loneliness with bravado while still carrying a torch for George, despite knowing that nothing will come of it. Nicholas Hoult sensitively stars as the love struck student who wants his professor to open up more and makes the character quite sweet and supportive in the long run. Matthew Goode plays the deceased partner of George’s in vivid flashbacks with a charm and ease that it isn’t hard to grasp why George’s world is falling apart without his shining light.

A deeply moving and sensuous piece of cinema, A Single Man brings out a whole array of thoughts that leaves you feeling so many different things. Anchored by the composed work of Colin Firth, A Single Man is a beautifully rendered and haunting film that grips and moves you in every conceivable way.

Easy Virtue

Tags

2000's, Ben Barnes, Colin Firth, Easy Virtue, Jessica Biel, Kristin Scott Thomas, Period Comedy, Stephan Elliott

Film Title

Easy Virtue

Director

Stephan Elliott

Starring

• Jessica Biel as Larita Whittaker
• Ben Barnes as John Whittaker
• Colin Firth as Major Jim Whittaker
• Kristin Scott Thomas as Mrs. Veronica Whittaker

Based on the Noël Coward play and boasting a witty screenplay and fine performances, Easy Virtue is a period comedy that examines the clashing of cultures in the 1920’s revolving around a middle-class Englishman’s hasty marriage to a forthright American woman and the subsequent reactions of his stuffy family.

1920’s; John Whittaker is the only boy of a middle class family. Whilst vacationing in Monaco, he falls for the beautiful American racecar driver Larita, who is much older than him. After a brief courtship, they marry and John decides to take his bride back to the English countryside to meet his family who live in a large and grand house. Larita is greeted with an icy reception by John’s imperious mother Veronica; a steely, dragon like woman of order and stability and his two sisters. John’s father Jim, a former major in the war is a shadow of his former self and feels no love for Veronica. He does however come to appreciate the breath of fresh air that Larita brings to the dreary house. Although she attempts to get along with her in-laws and adapt to English culture, the free thinking and feisty Larita finds it difficult because of how different her upbringing is to the high-ranking family’s and the continuing opposition from Veronica. Can her marriage to John last with all the hostility around her? Cue vicious and caustic dialogue and a humorous insight into the machinations of the upper class in the 20’s as Easy Virtue unravels with hilarious and sizzling results.

Praise must to go to the period design which accentuates the glamorous era of the 20’s which is sometimes at odds with Veronica’s attempts at tradition. The manor in which the family lives is designed with a keen eye for period detail and really is a stunning sight to behold. The costume design is gorgeous, especially in the various gowns worn by the glamorous Larita that set pulses racing around the inner circle of the household. The jazzy score helps add to the period atmosphere, including a sultry rendition of “Mad about the boy” sang by Jessica Biel.

The witty screenplay captures the conflicting emotions that run high as a result of Larita’s arrival into the household. It humorously cuts through the facade of civility with a sword like wit that gives the audience room to laugh. Stephen Elliott directs with a brisk pace that keeps the one liners and scenes that mock society values coming thick and fast. Only occasionally does the film feel uneven when it tries to add some serious undertones. The cast of Easy Virtue are ideally chosen to flesh out this story of social disorder and how the life of one family is turned upside down by the eldest son’s marriage. In the role of Larita, Jessica Biel is vivacious, sexy and convincing. I’m not usually the biggest fan of Biel’s acting, but I can’t fault her work here. She conveys the forthright manner of Larita whilst showing us subtle insights into the depths of this woman with charm and sophistication. As the lovestruck John whose impulsive marriage disrupts the order of things, Ben Barnes is effectively wide-eyed and naive as his character begins to question the resentment thrown Larita’s way. Colin Firth is marvellous as the dishevelled father, he really shows us the crushed pride and happiness that were once within this man, which the war took from him. Kristin Scott Thomas flat-out nails the role of the stony Veronica, delivering her lines with mendacious wit and astonishment like a hornet protecting its nest.

A funny period film with style, wit and great performances, Easy Virtue is marvellous viewing for its satire on middle class values.

Love Actually

Tags

2000's, Alan Rickman, Andrew Lincoln, Bill Nighy, Billy Bob Thornton, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Joanna Page, Keira Knightley, Kris Marshall, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Love Actually, Martin Freeman, Martine McCutcheon, Richard Curtis, Romantic Comedy, Rowan Atkinson, Thomas Sangster

Film Title

Love Actually

Director

Richard Curtis

Starring

• Alan Rickman as Harry
• Bill Nighy as Billy Mack
• Colin Firth as Jamie
• Emma Thompson as Karen
• Hugh Grant as David
• Martine McCutcheon as Natalie
• Laura Linney as Sarah
• Liam Neeson as Daniel
• Thomas Sangster as Sam
• Keira Knightley as Juliet
• Andrew Lincoln as Mark
• Martin Freeman as John
• Joanna Page as Judy
• Kris Marshall as Colin
• Rowan Atkinson as Rufus
• Billy Bob Thornton as US President

Over the Christmas period, I only got chance to see a couple of movies. Love Actually happened to be one of them. I’m not the biggest fan of romantic comedies but decided to watch it because of the all-star cast. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Sure there were parts that were clunky and lagged in terms of pacing, but for the most part, I enjoyed it for its cosy look at romance.

Love Actually focuses on various people in the run up to Christmas in London and how love affects them in different ways. We have Billy Mack, an ageing rock star trying to make a comeback with the help of his put upon manager. Harry, the manager of a designing agency who has his head turned by his provocative secretary  and whose wife Karen begins to suspect something. Jamie, a writer who vacations in a French cottage after catching his wife cheating on him. He begins to fall for his Portuguese housekeeper Aurélia, although he can’t profess his feelings as he doesn’t speak Portuguese. David, the newly elected Prime Minister begins to develop feelings for Natalie, a junior member of staff in 10 Downing Street. Sarah, a worker at Harry’s agency is left with the difficult decision as to whether she make a move on an enigmatic worker or care for her mentally ill brother. Daniel is grieving for his late wife while finding out about his stepson Sam’s crush on a girl in school. Mark records the wedding of his best friend to the stunning Juliet, who he has always adored but has never spoke. And the stories just keep on coming as love changes the lives of the characters in the seasonal time of year.

Writer and director Richard Curtis creates a film that is unabashedly sentimental but this does add some charm to it. With so many stories, Curtis manages to keep most of them interesting. Although some fall flat and don’t engage as much as the others. The whole segment with the character Colin, who travels to America in the hopes of attracting woman, could have been cut as it is funny in parts but a little needless in comparison to the rest of the tales on show. Also, some of the actors are not really used in effective ways to make them interesting to the audience. Martin Freeman and Joanna Page are both talented but their story of two body doubles falling in love never really goes anywhere.

Now, on to the positives of Love Actually. Despite being saccharine, it does have a bittersweet tone to various chapters. Mark’s pining for Juliet, who finds out when she watches the wedding video he recorded and finds it is composed of footage solely of her, is a bittersweet tale . This story may have its limitations in terms of character development, but is still an enjoyable segment none the less.  Out of the star-studded cast, Bill Nighy, Emma Thompson and Laura Linney are the standout performers. Bill Nighy is absolutely hysterical as the washed up rocker attempting to reach Christmas number one. Emma Thompson is natural and moving as Karen, the wife of Harry who feels sadness for the fact her husband is attracted to his secretary. The scene in which she stands in her room, tears falling from her eyes after expecting to get a necklace as a present ( it is in fact for the secretary) , but instead receiving a CD is touching and melancholy to say the least. Laura Linney is luminous as the conflicted Sarah, caught between her caring side that wants to help her ill brother and her lonely side that wants love from someone. That isn’t to say the rest of the cast isn’t good, but these three stars are the ones you will most remember. Colin Firth is excellently suited to the role of Jamie, who is enchanted by his housekeeper. Liam Neeson managed to be warm and caring as the grieving father, helping his son as he feels the neglect love can inflict and he tries to impress his crush at school. Thomas Sangster excels as the pining Sam, head over heels for the most popular girl in school. Andrew Lincoln and Keira Knightley rise above the limitations of their tale to give us the now memorable scene of him professing his love for her through cue cards. Hugh Grant and Martine McCutcheon are good as the lovestruck PM and the junior member of staff who are drawn to each other in a reversal of the Notting Hill formula. Fun cameos are provided by Rowan Atkinson and Billy Bob Thornton.

It may be sentimental and cloying, but Love Actually does manage to warm the heart and doesn’t fall into the same old convention of everyone ending up happy. The fact that some of the relationships in the film don’t work makes it more interesting and not as clichéd as many a romantic comedy. Not for everyone, but cosy and festive viewing for romantics.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Tags

2010's, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ciarán Hinds, Colin Firth, David Dencik, Gary Oldman, John Hurt, John Le Carre, Kathy Burke, Mark Strong, Simon McBurney, Spy, Stephen Graham, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Thriller, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Toby Jones, Tom Hardy, Tomas Alfredson

Film Title

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Director

Tomas Alfredson

Starring

• Gary Oldman as George Smiley
• Colin Firth as Bill Haydon
• Tom Hardy as Ricki Tarr
• John Hurt as Control
• Toby Jones as Percy Alleline
• Mark Strong as Jim Prideaux
• Benedict Cumberbatch as Peter Guillam
• Ciarán Hinds as Roy Bland
• David Dencik as Toby Esterhase
• Simon McBurney as Oliver Lacon
• Kathy Burke as Connie Sachs
• Stephen Graham as Jerry Westerby
• Svetlana Khodchenkova as Irina

Based on the classic by John Le Carre, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a labyrinthine spy thriller with a perfect eye for detail and intelligent plot full of puzzles and mysteries. Boasting an all-star cast, precise and articulate direction by Tomas Alfredson and hauntingly scored by Alberto Iglesias, the film proves that the intelligent spy film that favours covert affairs and deception over shoot em up action are not dead.

The time is the 1970’s and London is a dour place of muddy yellows and muted mauve. Control, the elderly head of British Intelligence( commonly nicknamed “The Circus”) sends agent Jim Prideaux on a mission in Hungary to uncover information. The mission goes wrong when Jim is shot, captured and later presumed dead. In the ensuring crisis, Control and his right hand man, George Smiley are pushed into retirement. A year later, Control has died and Smiley is contacted by Oliver Lacon, a civil servant with a particularly interesting case. It appears that Ricki Tarr, an agent who was believed to have defected, has unearthed knowledge of a Soviet mole at the top of British Intelligence. It is either one of a few men including; the new aggressive chief Percy, the suave deputy Bill Haydon, the slimy Toby Esterhase or the silently menacing Roy Bland. Before his death, Control had the same suspicions about one of these men and as a result George accepts the difficult task of finding who the mole is in a web of lies, covert information, shifting identities and Cold War intrigue. Prepare for a spy thriller with a precise plot and genuine sense of suspense as Smiley uncovers many things as he nears the mole he is so desperately searching for.

One word of advice before watching the film is to not expect an action-packed narrative, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy relies more on secret meeting, cryptic code names and shifting loyalties to keep the meticulous plot going. It is the kind of film that demands your attention, if you blink you could miss an important plot point or something of significance. There are those that will say it is boring, but if you like intrigue with intelligence then watch this. Tomas Alfredson directs with an inventive eye for detail and framing, capturing the weary existence that these characters occupy in this distrustful world. The complicated plot is carefully handled and you are really left wondering who the mole could be. The evocative score by Alberto Iglesias compliments the melancholy time and the many revelations uncovered in the course of Smiley’s investigation.

The biggest draw of the piece has to be the exceptionally talented cast assembled. Leading the cast is Gary Oldman in a restrained performance as George Smiley. Oldman excels at showing the rather unassuming looking and seemingly cold man but quietly revealing the immense intelligence that lies within him. His voice rarely rises above a whisper, but you can sense the emotions within him because of Oldman’s excellent portrayal. Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Ciarán Hinds and David Dencik all rivet the attention as the men suspected of being the Soviet mole within the high-ranking part of the service. Mark Strong is very effective as Jim Prideaux, the rather unlucky agent whose shooting opens the film. Strong imbues Jim with both a desolation and a determination that compliments his character’s journey in the complex narrative. Tom Hardy is another person who makes his part his own, as Ricki Tarr who wrestles with his duty whilst falling in love with a beautiful Russian woman in Istanbul. Benedict Cumberbatch is utilized to great effect as Peter, who becomes George’s right hand man in the search for the mole. The ever reliable John Hurt, commonly seen in flashback, is a great choice for the part of the elderly Control. In smaller parts, Kathy Burke and Stephen Graham appear as two staff members who were removed from the service. Simon McBurney has his moments as the pompous civil servant drawing Smiley into the ring of deception. Svetlana Khodchenkova is luminous and mysterious as Irina, the woman who steals Ricki Tarr’s heart whilst holding some valuable information.

As scrupulous as the mechanics of a prized watch and as twisting as a serpent, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a classy, stylish and complex spy film. There are those that will become lost in the many turns and become confused by the many facts thrown at them, but the film succeeds none the less at capturing a specific time and creating interesting characters who populate a labyrinth of uncertainty and intrigue.