Product: Gods and Monsters (1998)
Rating: 5.0
The Last Days of the Father of Frankenstein
Based on the intriguing novel FATHER OF FRANKENSTEIN by Christopher Bram, GODS AND MONSTERS is an excellent character study that explores the final weeks in the life of famed 1930s-era film director James Whale. Whale is, of course, best known today for his films like FRANKENSTEIN, THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, and THE INVISIBLE MAN. When Whale quit directing at the peak of his career in the late 1930s, he retired to a somewhat reclusive but comfortable life at his California estate. Nearly two decades later, he was found dead in his swimming pool, and though ruled a suicide, the circumstances of his death have never been satisfactorily resolved. GODS AND MONSTERS seeks to recount those last days of Whale's life by filling in the factual gaps with informed speculation, and the result is a gripping and well-acted drama that won the 1998 Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.As the openly gay and artistically effete director James Whale, Ian McKellen delivers an Oscar-calibre performance (he was nominated but did not win). McKellen, himself candidly homosexual, plays the role with strong insight and conviction. Unafraid to show Whale's weaknesses as well as strengths, he adequately evokes the pathos necessary to make Whale a character that even the homophobes in the audience can learn to care about. Brendan Fraser also gives an affecting performances as Whale's heterosexual and rough-around-the-edges gardener Clay Boone. Though the character Clay is himself homophobic, he eventually develops a more-or-less platonic friendship with Whale and learns to value certain aspects of Whale's world view. Also of note is the appearance of Lynn Redgrave, who delivers an over-the-top--and Oscar nominated--performance as Whale's ultraconservative and disapproving housekeeper.Aficionados of the horror genre are likely to delight in the numerous clips from Whale's THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, as well as the excellent reenactments of certain events involved in the creation of that film. (It is THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, as any horror fan can tell you, from which the title GODS AND MONSTERS is drawn.) Buffs should also enjoy the fictional account of a chance dinner-party reunion of Whale and his "monsters" Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester.Carter Burwell's musical score for GODS AND MONSTERS is truly one of the most beautiful and haunting works from the contemporary cinema. It is at times soothing or melancholy, while at other times it is eerie, mysterious, and even downright spooky. In another era, Burwell's music would have just as easily worked for THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN or THE INVISIBLE MAN.But a word of caution is in order. In spite of all its good qualities, GODS AND MONSTERS is not the type of film that will appeal to all audiences. If you are a person who is easily offended by blatant allusions to the gay lifestyle or homosexual practices, certain bits of dialogue and a few scenes here and there are likely to disturb or upset you. On the other hand, if you are not homophobic and are tolerant of the depiction of alternate lifestyles in the cinema, you may find this film to be an affecting theatrical experience.