Review of A Single Man (2009) by David T — 05 Aug 2011

Cinematically perfect.

This thing is just bursting with style, every shot looks like it's been laboriously captured to look and feel as picture perfect as it's humanly possible.

The tones of colour are masterfully put together and the "sunshine" effect everything the mood lightens in a scene is truly beautiful.

It's very hard to pick any faults with this, Colin Firth is a revelation (too me) and shrugs off that posh English smarminess that I've always associated him with.

If Firth is trying to see the light at the end of a traumatic tunnel then Julianne Moore's character is the complete opposite - A total wreck of a women hanging on dearly to the past good looks that are fading by the year - Like watching a car crash - You want to turn away but the drama is just too much to ignore, her husband has gone, her son has gone and she left with nothing but memories and a drink problem - Moore's performance is very powerful in a very understated kind of way.

One of the major factors in this movie being a success is it's ability to suck you in without a great deal happening and despite it following a fairly predicable linear path, it is the realism of it all - The tender moments, the everyday moments. It feels real.

To become a great film you need a equally great soundtrack and again, the score is fab and fit's the mood.

All in all a superb and gripping movie.