'A Single Man' an outstanding film

Director: Tom Ford

Cast: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult

Cert: 15

This movie features an Oscar-nominated triumph for Firth, turning in a quite brilliant performance as George, an English professor in America who must face life after losing his gay partner.

Directed, in a fine debut from Ford, a fashion industry guru, with remarkable style and originality, the playing of Firth is full of compassion and insight into the nature of loss and the required coming to terms with it, a gay-themed film that is human and observant and with the touching realisation that the loss of love in any form is a terrible thing.

Firth won the Best Actor award at the Venice Film Festival and should carry off the Academy Award, as he has never been better.

Supporting him – as he goes through a day of coping and finding solace – are such equally excellent actors as Moore, who offers him a shoulder to cry on, and Hoult as a disturbing challenge in a bleak world.

It is, in all respects, a truly outstanding film.

Star Rating: 5/5