A Single Man

99 minutes

Set in Los Angeles in 1962, at the height of the Cuban missile crisis, A SINGLE MAN is the story of George Falconer, a 52 year old British college professor who is struggling to find meaning to his life after the death of his long time partner, Jim. George dwells on the past and cannot see his future as we follow him through a single day, where a series of events and encounters, ultimately leads him to decide if there is a meaning to life after Jim. George is consoled by his closest friend Charley, a 48 year old beauty who is wrestling with her own questions about the future. A young student of George's, Kenny, who is coming to terms with his true nature, stalks George as he feels in him a kindred spirit. A SINGLE MAN is a romantic tale of love interrupted, the isolation that is an inherent part of the human condition, and ultimately the importance of the seemingly smaller moments in life.

81% on the CINEMETER

82% - Dec 6, 2009

A poetic, cinematic triumph.
Washington, DC Member

An artsy film! Shots are reminiscent of many fashion advertising campaigns. Interesting use of sepia tones to show depressed mind and color to show connection to the world around you. Colin Firth manages to bring a lump to your throat by bringing a few tears to his eyes.
Washington, DC Member

Colin Firth was simply amazing and I loved his character. I hope people don't get hung up on his sexuality for all the wrong reasons.
Washington, DC Member

STL

71% - Dec 13, 2009

Academy Award performance by Colin Firth, who has finally broken out of the period pieces. A very difficult film to watch. I cried as I felt George's pain.
St. Louis Member

Beautifully filmed and edited... the pain of what was not said was compelling.
St. Louis Member

Seamless... attention to detail superb. Great writing, editing, use of slow motion and sound.
St. Louis Member

91% - Dec 6, 2009

This film tore my heart out! Gay or not, it's a story of great loss - which we all face.
San Francisco Member

The isolation and loneliness of grief was exquisitely portrayed by Firth. A moving, memorable film reminding us all of the bittersweet beauty of the small moments in life. Beautiful period detail!
San Francisco Member

An art film in the best sense of the term. Beautifully shot and visually conceptualized/communicated. Made me realize how rarely films take advantage of what can be done visually.
San Francisco Member

74% - Dec 6, 2009

Incredible performance from Colin Firth. Imprint of Tom Ford as an artist in the way it was filmed.
Greater New Haven Member

Good acting, excellent cinematography, set design, and excellent use of color all make this an exceptional film. The pacing and cuts back and forth in time worked, and the score, including the use of silence, really carried the story through.
Greater New Haven Member

Thoughtful, with a slow pace appropriate for the story - though I fear that someone in the group will call it 'Schultze meets his gay lover.' (I liked Schultze.)
Greater New Haven Member

MIL

83% - Dec 13, 2009

A wonderful timely love story--how disappointing that 40 year old stereotypes are still alive and well but the point that love comes when it does with whom it does is still missed and feared. Very moving.
Milwaukee Member

Just amazing! Honesty I'd recommend it to just about anyone, short of my parents who might not get past the subject content.
Milwaukee Member

The acting was superb but it was too slow--a little bit of trying too hard to be artistic.
Milwaukee Member

BOS

76% - Dec 6, 2009

Such a deliberate and perfect color palatte.
Boston Member

Excellent movie with great acting.
Boston Member

Music very prominent and effective in creating mood.
Boston Member

BOCA

75% - Dec 20, 2009

The most romantic and maturely depicted movie about homosexuality that I've ever viewed.
Boca Raton Member

It very well addresses the loss of a loved one and the feelings of the survivor. It is not a homosexual movie but a universal one.
Boca Raton Member

Super art direction. Every detail was perfect. The performances were magniificent.
Boca Raton Member

ATL

93% - Dec 13, 2009

An acting tour de force by Colin Firth. Maybe he can finally kiss goodbye to Darcy and be recognized as the terrific actor he is.
Atlanta Member

Best film I've seen in 2009. Academy Award to Colin Firth. Art direction was outstanding too. The premise is clear from the film's beginning and you know where George is going but you can't tell where it'll end up until the very end. It's like a road movie, but it's a journey of understanding rather than a geographical journey.
Atlanta Member

A real knockout. A film of great beauty and great compassion for the human spirit. Colin Firth handles his character with such skill, inserting a wide range of emotions with great subtly and nuance. It's the performance of the year. In his first directional outing, Ford paints the canvas of his film with a variety of textures and techniques: bleak, cold, warm, stark black and white, slow motion, polished and grainy. Ford throws all these in and they help to color the emotional weight of the film.
Atlanta Member

The Weinstein Company