A Single Man (Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult, Matthew Goode) – Colin Firth proves again that he is one of the most versatile actors of his generation in this adaptation of a Christopher Isherwood novel about a gay man whose lover is killed in a car accident. Set in 1962 when homosexuality was totally in the closet, George (Firth) is devastated by the loss of his partner (played by Matthew Goode, most recently on Leap Year, Watchmen and Brideshead Revisited). For eight months, he goes through his life as a middle-aged university literature professor while eventually deciding that suicide is the best answer for his loneliness. He confides in his best friend as well as his ex-girlfriend, Charley (Julianne Moore), an unhappy drunk of a socialite who empathizes with his plight but who still wants him. Her role in the film is more than murky; it seems superfluous. But she does indeed care for George as does one of his students, a young boy with beautiful blue eyes (Nicholas Hoult of About A Boy) who has an interest in his teacher, in what way we know not.
This is a character-driven, dialogue-heavy film with a somniferous soundtrack. There is no denying the award-caliber performance of Firth, whose most recent roles include comedy in Mamma Mia, Lord Henry Wotton in Dorian Gray, and Fred in A Christmas Carol. What a resume he has, and this is likely to be his first Oscar nomination. But that performance can’t disguise a rather shallow script and a slow pace that can only be blamed on first-time writer, director and producer Tom Ford, a fashion designer by trade. For example, as Firth contemplates suicide, at one point, I turned to my wife and said: “Pull the trigger already.” Firth is worth the price of admission but don’t expect any revelations.