A Single Man (2009)

An English professor, one year after the sudden death of his boyfriend, is unable to cope with his typical days in 1960s Los Angeles.

Director:

Tom Ford

Writers:

Christopher Isherwood (novel), Tom Ford (written for the screen by),

Stars:

Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 21 wins & 27 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colin Firth	...	George
Julianne Moore	...	Charley
Nicholas Hoult	...	Kenny
Matthew Goode	...	Jim
Jon Kortajarena	...	Carlos
Paulette Lamori	...	Alva
Ryan Simpkins	...	Jennifer Strunk
Ginnifer Goodwin	...	Mrs. Strunk
Teddy Sears	...	Mr. Strunk
Paul Butler	...	Christopher Strunk
Aaron Sanders	...	Tom Strunk
Aline Weber	...	Lois
Keri Lynn Pratt	...	Blonde Secretary
Jenna Gavigan	...	Other Secretary #1
Alicia Carr	...	Other Secretary #2

Storyline

It's November 30, 1962. Native Brit George Falconer, an English professor at a Los Angeles area college, is finding it difficult to cope with life. Jim, his personal partner of sixteen years, died in a car accident eight months earlier when he was visiting with family. Jim's family were not going to tell George of the death or accident, let alone allow him to attend the funeral. This day, George has decided to get his affairs in order before he will commit suicide that evening. As he routinely and fastidiously prepares for the suicide and post suicide, George reminisces about his life with Jim. But George spends this day with various people, who see a man sadder than usual and who affect his own thoughts about what he is going to do. Those people include Carlos, a Spanish immigrant/aspiring actor/gigolo recently arrived in Los Angeles; Charley, his best friend who he knew from England, she who is a drama queen of a woman who romantically desires her best friend despite his sexual ...

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Plot Keywords:

professor | friend | student | suicide | accident | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some disturbing images and nudity/sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [fr]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

17 December 2009 (Israel)

Also Known As:

Samac

Filming Locations:

300 W Green St, Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£502,009 (UK) (12 February 2010)

Gross:

$9,166,863 (USA) (16 April 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fade to Black Productions, Depth of Field, Artina Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the DVD commentary, Tom Ford says that when Jennifer (the little neighbor girl) speaks to George in the bank, some of what she says is based on Ford's own childhood. For instance, she has a pet scorpion because Ford and his sister also had a pet scorpion when they were little; her older brother is named "Tom" because Ford's own first name is Tom; she speaks of her brother Tom giving her hair treatments with eggs because that was something Ford did for his own sister many times; and she obliviously says that her brother Tom is "light in his loafers" (a slightly derogatory euphemism for being gay) because Ford is himself gay.

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Goofs

Kenny uses the expressions "cool" and "blows my mind" during the bar conversation. "Cool" was an adjective, not an exclamation, in the early 1960s. It and "mind-blowing" were usages that came in with the Hippy era of the late 1960s.

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Quotes

Jim: Do you ever just live in the moment? It's like now, what could be better than being tucked here with you?... I mean, if I died right now it would be OK.
George: Well it wouldn't be OK with me, so why don't you just shut up and go and change the record.
Jim: Good answer.

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Connections

Referenced in The 83rd Annual Academy Awards (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Scène d'Amour"
Written by Bernard Herrmann

User Reviews

The Power Of Love

A stunning outing for Tom Ford. The images are, clearly, out of an aesthete's mind without being shallow, ever. I believe there is a dramatic reason behind every frame. Colin Firth, looking truly handsome, goes through a day of torment with remarkable civility. I felt involved and shaken and couldn't help but make mine his pain. The flashbacks with Matthew Goode are truly vivid and truthful. This is a step forward in explaining through images that love is love no matter who you are, where you come from or what your circumstances are. It could have been a man and a woman, the fact that it's a man and a man is almost irrelevant. We recognize the feel of it and Colin Firth's performance is the magic stroke that makes that not only possible but natural. It is a sensational debut for fashion star Tom Ford. True to himself an artist that promises great, wonderful things for the future. I can't wait.