Product: Gods and Monsters (1998)
Rating: 5.0
No Gods, Just Monsters
Only at the very end does it become abundantly clear exactly what this film is all about. Initially "Gods and Monsters" just seems like a mild mannered tale between an old movie director and his gardener. Even if the film were that simple it would still be great. Fortunately there is something bigger at work here, a sly genius that only really seems clear when Brendan Fraser is walking around in the rain at the end and the credits roll up. When "Gods and Monsters" finally reveals exactly what it's trying to say then it can really be seen as a classic Hollywood picture.Ian McKellen is unquestionably the star of the show here. He is so vastly superior to everyone on the screen that he alone carries the picture. He plays film director James Whale who has just had a stroke and is reaching the end of his life. After a while he begins to take an interest in his gardener, Clay Boone, played excellently by Brendan Fraser. Initially you wonder if Mckellen, a homosexual, is only interested in Fraser for gay purposes. In one scene prior to his arrival Mckellen takes great delight in forcing a film student to undress for him. That isn't the case though as Mckellen seems to be genuinly interested in Fraser's friendship. The two talk, Mckellen is very nostalgiac and tells Fraser stories about his time in lower class England as a child, his experiences in the war and his eventual exile from the Hollywood community.As the film progresses Ian Mckellen starts to gradually deteriorate. Overcome by memories of the past he eventually takes his own life by drowning in a swimming pool. His death, although saddening seems strangely appropriate given the circumstances of the film. In one great scene before his death, Brendan Fraser escorts Mckellen onto his former battlefield and lays him to rest next to other dead soldiers. While watching James Whale's most famous movies (The Frankenstein pictures) there is emphasis on one scene which intentionally runs paralels to the Fraser/Mckellen relationship. In one scene of "Frankenstein" the monster comes to the door of a blind man who claims that he is alone "and no soul has spoken to me for years." It is obvious at this point that Fraser's sole purpose was to provide happiness and companionship to this agening man and evtually lead him into death.Well, enough ranting, "Gods and Monsters" is carried off in fine style. Some may find it long winded and slow, but Mckellen's charm and great scripting should be enough to get most film fans through. Vanessa Redgrave also turns in a great role despite it being significantly smaller than Mckellen's or Fraser's. There is one scene of reminiscing about boys in a swimming pool which maybe is a tad over the top but on the whole Gods and Monsters is a very effective and a very intelligent piece of work.