Product: Gods and Monsters (1998)
Rating: 5.0
And he can act, too!
The first time I watched this film on video I was completely drawn in. I found Ian McClellan as James Whale both sinister and appealing in a strange way. His "stalking" of Clay Boone, the gardener, made me extremely uneasy and the revelation of his actual plans for Boone appalled me - he was so unconcerned with what might happen to anyone other than himself. After a second viewing, I realised that this was primarily a movie about loneliness and the unlikely attachments between these three main characters. It's possible to watch this film on several levels and get a lot out of it - very thought provoking, and beautifully shot. McClellan and Redford are consistently wonderful - Fraser finally gets to turn in a non-comic performance with some heft to it. Anyone who has seen "School Ties" knows that Brendan Fraser can act - unfortunately, up until Gods & Monsters he's mostly been tapped for his comic timing. His role in G&M should have given his dramatic career some impetus, although it doesn't seem to have done so just yet.This movie is ultimately about the struggle to connect with others and make sense of our lives. If you feel up to thinking after a movie, get this one!