The Single Man (2009)

I just heard that this movie is up for an Oscar and it's no wonder because I stopped in to see this on a quiet Monday night with just a few others watchers and thoroughly enjoyed the beautifully sad story. Fashion designer, Tom Ford, wrote the screenplay of the Christopher Isherwood novel and directed the stylish film with the help of the production design team who created the look of MadMen.

Colin Firth is an actor I have seen over and over in ensemble productions with more notable stars. Here he portrays George Falconer, a trim British English professor at a small southern California college 1962. Flashbacks show us his younger self during the 1940s meeting a handsome sailor (Matthew Goode). Sixteen years later, Jim and George share a cozy home by the beach until a car crash leaves George alone to grieve quietly at a time when there was no open gay life. He struggles to find meaning through his encounters with others until his own fate is revealed. His performance is completely engaging. Julianne Moore is the glamorous loving woman friend next door. I especially loved the scene where they dance together to the 1962 hit song by Booker T & The MGs, Green Onions. For what it's worth...Rolling Stone ranked this #181 of the 500 greatest songs of all time.