A Single Man (2009)

Director:

Tom Ford

Writers:

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

Release Date:

17 December 2009 (Israel)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Professor | Friend | Student | Suicide | Accident

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 21 wins & 27 nominations

Cast

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
Lee Pace	...	Grant
Adam Shapiro	...	Myron
Marlene Martinez	...	Maria
Ridge Canipe	...	Young Boy
Elisabeth Harnois	...	Young Woman
Erin Daniels	...	Bank Teller
Nicole Steinwedell	...	Doris
Tricia Munford	...	Cashier
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Don Bachardy	...	(uncredited)
Brad Benedict	...	Tennis Player (uncredited)
Richard Buckley	...	Man in Waiting Room (uncredited)
Janelle Gill	...	Rifle Girl (uncredited)
Brent Gorski	...	Walter (uncredited)
Jon Hamm	...	Hank Ackerley (voice) (uncredited)
Janet Leigh	...	Marion Crane (archive footage) (uncredited)
Patrizia Milano	...	Faculty Member (uncredited)
Mimi Page	...	Party Girl (uncredited)
Elizabeth Reynolds	...	History Teacher (uncredited)
Bria Sherinian	...	College Student (uncredited)
Gary Sievers	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Sarah Smick	...	Bookstore Cashier (uncredited)

Directed by
Tom Ford

Writing credits
Christopher Isherwood		(novel)
Tom Ford		(written for the screen by) &
David Scearce		(written for the screen by)

Produced by
Jason Alisharan	....	co-producer
Tom Ford	....	producer
Andrew Miano	....	producer
Robert Salerno	....	producer
Chris Weitz	....	producer

Original Music by
Abel Korzeniowski

Cinematography by
Eduard Grau		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Joan Sobel

Casting by
Joseph Middleton

Production Design by
Dan Bishop

Art Direction by
Ian Phillips

Set Decoration by
Amy Wells

Costume Design by
Arianne Phillips

Makeup Department
Linda Arnold	....	hair stylist
Kristin Berge	....	key hair stylist
Kate Biscoe	....	department head makeup artist
Cydney Cornell	....	department head hair stylist
Alan D'Angerio	....	hair stylist: Julianne Moore
Marie Larkin	....	key hair stylist
Elaine L. Offers	....	makeup artist: Julianne Moore (as Elaine Offers)
Michael S. Ward	....	hair stylist
Gigi Williams	....	key makeup artist
Michael White	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Craig Ayers	....	production supervisor
Tim Pedegana	....	post production supervisor
Robert Salerno	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Brian Avery Galligan	....	additional second assistant director
Richard Graves	....	first assistant director (as Richard N. Graves)
Matt Rawls	....	second second assistant director
Eric Sherman	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Ricardo Baez	....	greensman
Cliff Berns	....	painter
Adolfo Castanon	....	greensman
Vincent Dery	....	greensman
Edward Guerrero	....	greensman
William Kelly	....	set dresser
Florencia Martin	....	art department assistant
Lisa Mayor	....	props production assistant
Keith McCarthy-Smith	....	set dresser
Mike McCleneghan	....	set painter
Wendy Murray	....	additional buyer
Jaudi Negri	....	greensman
Geoffrey Nightingale	....	set dresser
Fred M. Ortiz	....	assistant props (as Fred Ortiz)
Mark Pallatt	....	set dresser
Alexander Panov	....	set painter
Jose J. Peraza	....	laborer foreman
Gay Perello	....	property master
Lars Petersen	....	construction coordinator
Danny Rea	....	greensman
Jill Rolie-December	....	set decoration buyer
Lee Ross	....	lead scenic (as Lee Steven Ross)
Keith Sale	....	leadman (as Keith F. Sale)
Grant Sawyer	....	assistant props
Brian Seccombe	....	assistant property master
Pilo Silva	....	stand by greensman
Jordan Steinberg	....	on set dresser
Sean Leroy West	....	greensman
Robert Williams	....	painter
Elizabeth Colomba	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Robert Grbavac	....	painter (uncredited)
Geoffrey Mandel	....	graphic designer (uncredited)
Robert 'Cass' McEntee	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Steven C. Voll	....	general foreman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Wade Barnett	....	adr recordist
Jeff Blehr	....	boom operator
Ed Casares	....	sound utility (as Joe Eddie Casares)
Lori Dovi	....	production sound mixer
Brian Dunlop	....	foley editor
David Esparza	....	sound effects editor
Jack Heeren	....	foley mixer
Robert Jackson	....	supervising sound editor (as Robert C. Jackson)
Goro Koyama	....	foley artist
Travis MacKay	....	adr mixer
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Laura Rush	....	utility sound
Gabriel J. Serrano	....	sound mix recordist (as Gabe Serrano)
Leslie Shatz	....	sound designer
Leslie Shatz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Callie Thurman	....	assistant sound editor
Don White	....	foley mixer
Jenna Dalla Riva	....	foley recording assistant (uncredited)
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York (uncredited)
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Rick Gould	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Brooke Graeff	....	foley assistant (uncredited)
Philip Young	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Lori Baillie	....	special effects office coordinator
Jared Baker	....	special effects technician
Darrell Burgess	....	special effects technician
John E. Gray	....	special effects coordinator
Morgan Guynes	....	special effects foreman
Roland Hathaway	....	snow effects
Arthur G. Schlosser	....	snow effects

Visual Effects by
Ken Busick	....	digital artist: Engine Room (as Kenneth Busick)
Michael Caplan	....	visual effects executive producer: Engine Room
Padraic Culham	....	digital artist: Engine Room (as Padriac Culham)
John Egli	....	digital artist: Engine Room
Jay Frankenberger	....	digital artist: Engine Room
Eric Heavens	....	senior digital compositor: Engine Room
Craig Hilditch	....	digital artist: Engine Room
Steven Lloyd	....	digital artist: Engine Room (as Steve Lloyd)
Don Osborne	....	visual effects editor: Engine Room
Shalena Oxley-Butler	....	coordinator: Engine Room
Sherry Price	....	digital dirt removal: Company 3
Dan Schmit	....	visual effects supervisor: Engine Room
Jeff Varga	....	digital artist: Engine Room
Cyrena Vladish-Addison	....	controller: Engine Room
Seb Caudron	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)
Thomas Kuo	....	digital film scanner (uncredited)
Prasanna Siddharthan	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Jeff Danoff	....	stunts
Rick Marcus	....	stunts
Rife Sibley	....	stunts
Patrick J. Statham	....	stunt coordinator (as Pat Statham)
Rick Marcus	....	stunt double: Colin Firth (uncredited)
Derick Pritchard	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jason Andrew	....	best boy grip
Michael Berger	....	lighting technician: night (as Michael J. Berger)
Christopher Blauvelt	....	camera operator
Tom Boyd	....	underwater camera operator
Lloyd Campbell	....	lighting technician: night
Marty Carrillo	....	best boy electric
George M. Chappell	....	lighting technician (as George Chappel)
Andrew Chojnacki	....	grip (as Andy Chojnacki)
Manny Duran	....	key grip
Jason Fitch	....	lighting technician (as Jason H. Fitch)
Greg Flores	....	grip
John Garrett	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Chuck Harrington	....	librahead technician
Matt Horochowski	....	dolly grip
Eric Jensch	....	camera loader
Rene Jimenez	....	lighting technician
Peter Lee	....	first assistant camera: underwater
To Lee	....	second assistant camera: underwater
Amber Maahs	....	grip
Stephen MacDougall	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Stephen Macdougall)
Cedric Martin	....	steadicam operator
Jason McCormick	....	first assistant camera
Paul Metcalf	....	second assistant camera
Greg Mitchell	....	video assist operator
Tim Molina	....	lighting technician
Melissa Moseley	....	still photographer
David Newbert	....	grip
Daniel Ochoa	....	lighting technician (as Daniel J. Ochoa)
James Plannette	....	gaffer (as Jim Plannette)
Claudio Rodriguez	....	rigging electric
Joseph Ruiz	....	grip (as Joseph H. Ruiz)
Alec Shepherd	....	grip
Scott C. Williman	....	lighting technician (as Scott Williman)
Douglas L. Yonker	....	lighting technician
Adam Meltzer	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Ashley Pavicic	....	grip (uncredited)
Juan Gabriel Perez Arjona	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Lyle Robbins	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Tineka Becker	....	casting associate
Mariann H.W. Lee	....	extras casting (as Mariann Lee)
Wendy Washbrook	....	extras casting (as Wendy Treese)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert Iannaccone	....	key costumer (as Bob Iannaccone)
David Page	....	key set costumer
Maida Pirich	....	seamstress (as Maida C. Pirich)
Wendy Polutanovich	....	cutter/fitter
Reiko Porter	....	set costumer (as Reiko Ann Endo Porter)
Jonny Pray	....	costume supervisor
Carin Richardson	....	assistant costume designer
Christian W. Snell	....	costume production assistant (as Christian Snell)
Lizz Wolf	....	costumer
Emily Dominguez	....	costumer (uncredited)
Liz Larson	....	set costumer (uncredited)
Anne Sweeney	....	costume assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
J. Cody Baker	....	digital intermediate assist: Company 3
Zoe Bower	....	post production coordinator
Jim Eberle	....	on-line editor: Company 3 (as James Eberle)
Dan Goslee	....	digital intermediate assist: Company 3
Annie Johnson	....	digital intermediate producer: Company 3
Jerimiah Morey	....	digital intermediate assist: Company 3
Stephen Nakamura	....	digital film colorist: Company 3
Stefan Sonnenfeld	....	digital intermediate executive producer: Company 3
Ofe Yi	....	first assistant editor
Daniel Boccoli	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Tricia Chiarenza	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearance
Vincent Cirilli	....	pro tools operator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor (as Sandy De Crescent)
Greg Dennen	....	music recording stage crew: Warner Bros
Jennifer Hammond	....	music copyist
Joel Iwataki	....	music score mixer
Randy Kerber	....	featured pianist
Mina Korzeniowska	....	composer's assistant
Abel Korzeniowski	....	score producer
Bryan Lawson	....	music editor
Bryan Lawson	....	score producer (as Bryan Elliot Lawson)
Julia Michels	....	music supervisor
Mike Nowak	....	conductor (as Michael Nowak)
Jamie Olvera	....	music recording stage crew: Warner Bros
Julie Pearce	....	music editor
Ryan Robinson	....	music recording stage crew: Warner Bros
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor
Lauren Shotwell	....	music legal and clearance
Andrew Shulman	....	featured musician: cello
Stephen Trask	....	music consultant
Shigeru Umebayashi	....	composer: additional music
David Walther	....	featured violinist (as Dave Walther)
Matt Ward	....	assistant engineer
Rich Wheeler	....	music recording stage crew: Warner Bros (as Rich Wheele)
Booker White	....	music copyist
Roger Wilkie	....	featured violinist

Transportation Department
Noam Amram	....	driver
Michael Baird	....	driver (as Mike Baird)
Joe Baker	....	driver
Kirk D. Barton	....	driver
Byron Carter	....	driver
Daniel Conte Sr.	....	driver (as Dan Conte)
Bob Cope	....	driver (as Robert Cope)
William Cope	....	driver
Jonathan Curtin	....	driver
Mark Dobkousky	....	driver
John Dybdahl	....	transportation co-captain
Ronald P. Dyer	....	driver (as Ron Dyer)
Clark Farrell	....	driver
D'Aldo Fazzone	....	driver (as Dal Fazzone)
Rene Guy	....	driver
Jeremiah Hauser	....	driver
Josh Hauser	....	driver (as Josh M. Hauser)
Michael Highfield	....	driver
Jeff Honicky	....	driver (as Jeffrey Honicky)
Lee Jennings	....	driver
Kenny Lacross	....	driver
Melissa LaFon	....	driver (as Melissa M. LaFon)
William P. Lafon	....	driver
Cody Lies	....	driver
Jason Messersmith	....	driver
Miguel Navarrete	....	driver
Sergio L. Olvera	....	driver
Michael F. Pierre	....	driver (as Michael Pierre)
Edward Porras Jr.	....	driver
Thomas Powers	....	driver (as Thomas J. Powers)
Derick Pritchard	....	driver (as Derik Pritchard)
William Smallwood	....	picture car coordinator
William Smallwood	....	transportation co-captain
Paul Vlachos	....	driver
Harry Zabounian	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Jeremie Adkins	....	stand-in
Miguel Arroyo	....	set production assistant
Don Bachardy	....	creative consultant
Elida Cerda	....	set medic
Jennifer Clark	....	first assistant accountant (as Jennifer L. Clark)
Mark Cross	....	production coordinator
Tristan Daoussis	....	key assistant location manager
Guin Dill	....	animal trainer: Paws for Effect
Dinesh Fernando	....	assistant cook
Cori Galpern	....	public relations
Michael George	....	marine crew (as Mike George)
Michael Glaser	....	assistant location manager
Karen Golden	....	script supervisor
Christopher Hall	....	set production assistant
Jim Hartz	....	studio teacher
H. Alex Hernandez	....	assistant craft service
Hernan A. Hernandez	....	craft service
Jake Hicks	....	marine crew (as Jake T. Hicks)
Elizabeth Himelstein	....	dialect coach
John Jabaley	....	location manager
Sherman Kaplan	....	immigration
Virginya Keehne	....	accounting clerk (as Virginia Keehne)
Ivan Kerum	....	assistant cook
Tony Kerum	....	caterer: Tony's Catering
Dora M. Komura	....	immigration: Gonzales & Harris
Richard Kopenheffer	....	labor attorney: McDermott, Will & Emery
Shaun Laird	....	marine crew
Jessamyn Land	....	set production assistant
Jackie Lee	....	vice president feature sales: Company 3
Heather Longerbeam	....	production secretary
Bryan Macrina	....	stand-in
Kent Matsuoka	....	key assistant location manager
Ryan McGonnigal	....	office production assistant
Shane McGonnigal	....	office production assistant
Jorge Menjivar	....	assistant craft service
Robin E. Michels	....	medic: construction (as Robin Michels)
Michael Miller	....	second assistant accountant
Kevin Mills	....	marine crew
James Mitchell-Clyde	....	marine crew
Meghan Mowery	....	assistant post-production accountant
Michael Neipris	....	marine coordinator
Alexandra Rose Nourafchan	....	assistant: Tom Ford
Julie M. Philips	....	production attorney
David Roker	....	assistant: Chris Weitz
Nick Rufca	....	assistant production coordinator
Antonio Caetano Santos	....	assistant: Robert Salerno
David Scearce	....	creative consultant
Lisa Schiek	....	public relations
Tim Shuler	....	office production assistant
Ivan Siebel	....	assistant location manager
Steve Solomon	....	animal trainer: Paws for Effect (as Steve M. Solomon)
Caroline Stephenson	....	production secretary
Jack Stern	....	studio teacher
Mary Sunshine	....	production accountant
Sean Taylor	....	body double: Kenny
Chris Vargas	....	set production assistant
Brenda Vogel	....	assistant: Andrew Miano
Liam Waters	....	set production assistant
Bob Weber	....	post-production accountant
Larry Wells	....	medic: construction (as Larry A. Wells)
Josh Wever	....	key set production assistant (as Joshua Wever)
Subhashan Withanage	....	assistant cook
Patrick Albani	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Nicholas Beard	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Brad Wm. Clark	....	assistant post-production accountant (uncredited)
Angie Conners	....	international marketing (uncredited)
Adam Green	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Charles Heaphy	....	production financing (uncredited)
Peter D. Johnston	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tim Shuler	....	water safety (uncredited)

Thanks
Joan Aguado	....	the producers wish to thank
Michael Anderson	....	the producers wish to thank
David Bamber	....	the producers wish to thank
Doug Braunstein	....	the producers wish to thank
Richard Buckley	....	for
Michael Clyne	....	the producers wish to thank
Kristin Dewey	....	the producers wish to thank
Eric Eisner	....	the producers wish to thank
Jay Fiondella	....	the producers wish to thank
David Geffen	....	the producers wish to thank
Jaqui Getty	....	the producers wish to thank
Judy Herwig	....	the producers wish to thank
Tony Hoffman	....	the producers wish to thank
Peter Ireland	....	the producers wish to thank
Chez Jay	....	the producers wish to thank
Harry Lumer	....	the producers wish to thank
Peter Marshall	....	the producers wish to thank
Buster McCoy	....	the producers wish to thank
Steven R. Molen	....	the producers wish to thank
Lynda Obst	....	the producers wish to thank
Wally Park	....	the producers wish to thank
Ariel Penn	....	the producers wish to thank
Simon Perry	....	the producers wish to thank
Kathy Ruff	....	the producers wish to thank
Chuck Shapiro	....	the producers wish to thank
Stacey Snider	....	the producers wish to thank
Shelly Strong	....	the producers wish to thank
Matt Tambor	....	the producers wish to thank
Donna Washington	....	the producers wish to thank

Production Companies

• Fade to Black Productions (presents) (as Fade to Black)
• Depth of Field (in association with)
• Artina Films (in association with)

Distributors

• Weinstein Company, The (2009) (USA) (all media) (presents)
• Archibald Enterprise Film (2010) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2010) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Cinéart (2010) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Diamond Films (2010) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2010) (Finland) (theatrical) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
• GAGA (2010) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Mars Distribution (2010) (France) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (2010) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2010) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Weinstein Company, The (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance (2009) (Canada) (all media)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2010) (Switzerland) (all media)
• Aurum Producciones (2009) (Spain) (all media)
• CatchPlay (2010) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Festive Films (2010) (Singapore) (all media)
• Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Forum (2009) (Israel) (all media)
• Gulf Film (2009) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• HBO Hungary (2011) (Hungary) (TV)
• Icon Film Distribution (2009) (Australia) (all media)
• Icon Film Distribution (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Icon Home Entertainment (2010) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• MultiVision Plus (2009) (Singapore) (all media)
• Nu Metro Productions (2009) (South Africa) (all media)
• PVR Pictures (2009) (India) (all media)
• Paris Filmes (2010) (Brazil) (all media)
• Pias (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Prisvídeo - Edições Videográficas (2010) (Portugal) (all media)
• Prisvídeo (2009) (Portugal) (all media)
• SF Home Entertainment (2010) (Sweden) (DVD)
• SF Home Entertainment (2010) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Senator Home Entertainment (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sundream Motion Pictures (2010) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Sundream Motion Pictures (2010) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Village Roadshow Greece S.A. (2009) (Greece) (all media)

Special Effects

• Engine Room (digital visual effects by) (as Engine Room Visual Arts)

Other Companies

• AGM Productions  French dubbing (uncredited)
• Act One Script Clearance  clearances provided by
• American Humane Association, The  monitored the animal action: AHAD 1645
• Beebee  night lights provided by
• California Film Commission  the producers wish to thank
• California State Parks  the producers wish to thank
• Central Casting  extras casting by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies and cranes (as Chapman Leonard)
• City of Los Angeles  the producers wish to thank (as The City of Los Angeles)
• City of Santa Monica Film Office, The  the producers wish to thank
• City of South Pasadena, The  the producers wish to thank
• Company 3  digital intermediate by
• DeWitt Stern Group  production insurance
• Designer Wardrobe Trailers  wardrobe trailer (uncredited)
• Entertainment Partners  payroll
• Estee Lauder Archives  the producers wish to thank
• Film LA  the producers wish to thank
• Go For Locations  locations equipment rentals (uncredited)
• Gonzales & Harris  immigration
• Intralink Creative  title graphics
• J.L. Fisher  cranes and dollies
• JNH Studios  music mixed at
• King's Gunworks  the producers wish to thank
• Leo Carrillo State Park  the producers wish to thank
• Leonetti Company  grip and electric equipment provided by (as Leonetti)
• McDermott, Will & Emery  labor attorney (as McDermott, Will & Emer)
• Middleton Casting  casting by
• Mr. Pool  water tank provided by
• Nature Trust of the Santa Monica Mountains  the producers wish to thank
• Park-n-Fly  the producers wish to thank
• Pasadena Film Office  the producers wish to thank (as The City of Pasadena Film Office)
• Paws for Effect  animal trainers
• Premier PR  publicity: Venice 2009 and UK (uncredited)
• Relativity Music Group  soundtrack (uncredited)
• Residents of Whiting Woods, The  the producers wish to thank
• Rose Bowl  the producers wish to thank (as The Rose Bowl)
• Runway  avid support
• Sunset Gower Studios  office facilities (uncredited)
• TM Motion Picture Rentals  grip and electric equipment provided by (as TM Motion Picture)
• The City of Glendale  the producers wish to thank
• Tom Ford  wardrobe: for Colin Firth (as Tom Ford Menswear)
• Tony's Catering  catering by
• Vasquez Rocks National Area  the producers wish to thank
• Warner Bros. Eastwood Scoring Stage  music recorded at (as Warner Brothers Eastwood Scoring Stage)
• Whitney Bromberg Hawkings  public relations
• Wildfire Studios  ADR Recording Facility (uncredited)
• Wildfire Studios  post production sound by (as Wildfire Post)

Also Known As:

"Single Man" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some disturbing images and nudity/sexual content

Runtime:

USA:99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45427) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Ontario) | UK:12A | Norway:11 | Ireland:15A | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Finland:K-11 | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/16 (Qualidade) | Hong Kong:IIB | Sweden:11 | Brazil:14 | Singapore:R21 | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | South Korea:15 | Japan:G | New Zealand:M | Colombia:18

Filming Locations:

300 W Green St, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Fade to Black Productions

Trivia:

Cameo: [Jon Hamm]Mad Men's Jon Hamm is the uncredited voice of Hank Ackerley, the man who calls Colin Firth's character at the start of the film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: On November 30, 1962, a full moon is shown. In fact, the moon on that date was a very thin crescent.

Quotes:

George:I always used to tell him that only fools could possibly escape the simple truth that now isn't simply now: it's a cold reminder. One day later than yesterday, one year later than last year, and that sooner or later it will come.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hjelp, vi er i filmbransjen! (2011)

Soundtrack:

George's Waltz 1

Cinema doesn't get much better than this

I attended the North American Premiere of "A Single Man" at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. This is the first foray into film for esteemed fashion designer Tom Ford, directing from his own script based on the Christopher Isherwood novel. In a word, "A Single Man" is a triumph.

It is easily one of the most Oscar-deserving films of the year. Colin Firth's performance screams "Best Actor" (which he did win at the Venice Film Festival), Julianne Moore is exquisite, and Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy, Skins) is on his way to stardom. I was simply awestruck.

The curtain rises on a despondent George (Firth) having lost his longtime partner. Sapped of energy and will, he struggles to wake each day and function as the brilliant college professor he's expected to be. Few notice the change in him, but one student sees George as a magnet pulling him forward to a place even he doesn't understand. Kenny (Hoult) seems to glow like an angel in George's dark world and, yet, is a puzzle and presents a challenge which he doesn't necessarily want to confront at this stage in his life. As is his custom, he turns to Charlotte (Moore) for a warm shoulder but the temperature drops amidst the chill surrounding George's bleak existence.

Everything about this film -- the look, colors, pacing, shots, composition, cinematography, costumes, soundtrack -- says that an extraordinary amount of love and care went into it. Special mention to director of photography Eduard Grau and editor Joan Sobel for their keen abilities to work lockstep with Ford in projecting his vision onto the screen. Abel Korzeniowski's score is haunting and moving. Despite his design genius, Ford was generous enough to entrust costume designer Arianne Phillips with the freedom to work unencumbered. Production designer Dan Bishop, with art direction by Ian Phillips and set decorator Amy Wells, created two worlds -- a cold, stark one in which George sees only hopelessness, and another warm, colorful one in which he has hope.

What stays with the viewer, though, is the enigmatic friendship between George and Kenny. Nicholas Hoult is absolutely mesmerizing in this. The way Ford shot him made people gasp. He's lit, framed, and shot like an Adonis. Of course, that's the idea here. This will definitely be a break out role for the 19-year-old. The camera loves him, and it's a pretty daring performance.

Most of all, this is a tour de force for Firth and a stunning achievement which is destined to be a highlight of his distinguished career. The range of emotions and the extent to which his character must convey them through his eyes and facial expressions, with the copious use of long takes without dialogue, left me wide-eyed with wonder.

This is the stuff of great movies. They don't get much better than this.