I always get the impression that Colin Firth does not take him-self too seriously, from playing Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice in 1995 Colin Firth has taken on a variety of roles.
He has mixed his light comedy roles with much more serious work appearing in “The English Patient”, “Shakespeare in Love” and “Girl with a Pearl Earring”. He was the only good thing in the awful “Dorian Gray”.
His character was called Mark Darcy in the Bridget Jones movies; the original Mr Darcy was Bridget’s fantasy man in the books. The joke was continued in the St. Trinian's films were the dog is called Mr Darcy, unfortunately Colin Firth accidentally killed the dog, but that’s comedy.
A career high light for Colin Firth must have been “Mama Mia” The producers were delighted to get him and Piers Brosnan to appear, until Colin was asked to sing, the only good thing that can be said about his singing is that it is better than Piers Brosnan's. Which is a bit like saying that Mumps is better than Measles.
Along the way Colin Firth has picked up several awards and nominations for his roles and now he has been nominated for the big one, he has been nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his performance in “A Single Man”
He plays a Gay College Professor living in America in 1962. It is not a Gay film, is it a film about a Gay man and it is completely different from anything he has ever done before, his performance holds the film to-gether.
With very strong support from Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode and Nicholas Hoult, who has grown up since being the boy in “About a Boy” and has arrived via the adult drama “Skins” playing a college student with more on his mind than his studies. “A Single Man” is set to become an Art House Classic.
“A Single Man” is a niche film, it will not appeal to all, but it is not just for a Gay audience, this is a beautifully crafted film with a career defining performance from Colin Firth, who well deserves his Oscar nomination.
In my opinion he will not win the Oscar, which will go to either to Jeff Bridges for the soon to be released “Crazy Heart” or a sentimental award to Morgan Freeman for his performance as Nelson Mandela in “Invictus”
Astoundingly this is the directorial debut of Tom Ford, best known as the fashion designer who turned around the fortunes of fashion house Gucci. He was also the man who dressed Daniel Craig in “Quantum of Solace” Tom Ford has adapted the original Christopher Isherwood book into a screenplay as well as producing the film and I am surprised that he has not received a nod from the Oscars.
“A Single Man” is a very stylish film about loss and grief with sublime cinematography by Eduard Grau that will change your view of Colin Firth forever, worth seeing for that alone.
Now Showing at FACT Cert 12A
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