Product: Gods and Monsters (1998)
Rating: 5.0
wonderful!
This film achieves to the fullest extent what it set out to do; To present a portrait of a man during the final stages of his life, and all which that implies. The man in question is no other than legendary Hollywood director, James Whale, who his most famous for doing FRANKENSTEIN. But the film is never really just about James Whale. We don't meet Whale the director, we meet Whale the person, and as I was watching the film I continously thought to myself that this could be any person; We're watching a man who knows that his time here on earth is nearly up, and not a film that just tries to give a biographical account of James Whale's life. The man in question just happens to be James Whale.A problem with biographical films is that they're often too much in awe of the person they depict. GODS AND MONSTERS never attempts to glorify James Whale. We see him through his pros and cons; Clearly he was a genious at what he did and that can't be denied, but he was also at times very selfish and brute, and Bill Condon (the director of the film) doesn't censor these aspects of Whale's character. Again this brings out the person in James Whale and not the director.Sir Ian McKellen is brilliant! He stars as the now retired James Whale, who is living out his final years at his estate, far from the buzzing life of Hollywood. In his house he resides with a small crew of servants, most notably an old housekeeper (Lynn Redgrave gives a great performance) and a newly hired young and handsome gardener, Clayton Boon (Brendan Frasier). James Whale was one of the few celebrities at that time that was openly homosexual, and the film focuses on the relationship between Whale and Boone.Bill Condon has also taken extensive use of the flashback-technique, to show how the past has a way of catching up with an old man.GODS AND MONSTERS is such a tremendous achievement that any attempt at describing it with words seems to fall short. I *loved* this film. It's one of those few films where you stop thinking of photography and directing and music and lighting and editing, and all that, and instead just immerse yourself in the film. It's a fantastic feeling when that happens! When film becomes escapism. I'll end my review by saying this; GODS AND MONSTERS is a must see!