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DVD Gods and Monsters
One of the most critically acclaimed films of 1998 and winner of several awards including the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, Gods and Monsters is a compassionate speculation about the final days of James Whale (1889-1957), the director of Frankenstein and 20 other films of the 1930s and '40s, who was openly gay at a time when homosexuality in Hollywood was discreetly concealed. Adapted and directed by Bill Condon from Christopher Bram's novel Father of Frankenstein, the film stars Ian McKellen in a sublime performance as the white-haired Whale, who is portrayed as a dapper gent and amateur artist prompted by failing health into melancholy remembrance of things past. Flashbacks of lost love, World War I battle trauma, and glory days in Hollywood combine with Whale's present-day attraction to a newly hired yard worker (Brendan Fraser) whose hunky, Frankenstein-like physique makes him an ideal model for Whale's fixated sketching.
The friendship between the handsome gardener and his elderly gay admirer is by turns tenuous, humorous, mutually beneficial, and ultimately rather sad--but to Condon's credit Whale is never seen as pathetic, lecherous, or senile. Equally rich is the rapport between Whale and his long-time housekeeper (played with wry sarcasm by Lynn Redgrave), who serves as protector, mother, and even surrogate spouse while Whale's mental state deteriorates. Flashbacks to Whale's filmmaking days are painstakingly authentic (particularly in the casting of look-alike actors playing Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester), and all of these ingredients combine to make Gods and Monsters (executive produced by horror novelist-filmmaker Clive Barker) a touchingly affectionate film that succeeds on many levels. It is at once a keen glimpse of Hollywood's past, a loving tribute to James Whale, and a richly moving, delicately balanced drama about loneliness, memory, and the passions that keep us alive. --Jeff Shannon
A promising movie, that never finally delivers. The acting is very good, most of the time. The use of a few moviestar look-alikes was fun. Brendan Fraser was ok. He could have had more depth and more presence. Ian McKellen was terrific. His devilish, weak-lipped, wry smile carried the film, as it does in his other films. The Frankenstein myth was interpolated into a grander metaphor to some extent, but not to complete satisfaction. I pretty much "got it" by the middle of the movie and was expecting the movie to traverse some higher plateau on the back of the conflict and metaphor, but it never really got there and the second half didn't add a whole lot of sparkle. I was disappointed. It didn't live up to being what I had been expecting from all the glowing reviews. Like the monster, it had all the parts, but there wasn't any transforming thunderclaps, no touch of the gods. The ending was rather simple, not at all profound, and the last scene was a bit contrived, even silly, in an amateur film-school kind of way. I suspect others are taken with this film more by the nostalgia it conjures than by the dramatic resolution of its storyline. It's just not the great film of its reputation. It's worth watching, but there are many films worth watching, and many others I'd much more recommend for your time. This one, you could easily go without, unless maybe, you're a real Frankenstein or gay buff, but even then, it's not sufficiently strong on either of those themes. It had great potential. It was "close, but no cigar"--or maybe, that should have been Mr. Whale's line.
Waste of Money
It was a waste of money. In my opinion, it was just shy of being labeled a porno film.
"He's never met a princess before, only queens."
The 1998 film "Gods and Monsters" is a thought-provoking film that speculates on the final days of an early Hollywood film director named James Whale (1889-1957), who had directed two classic Hollywood monster films: "Frankenstein" (1931) and "Bride of Frankenstein" (1935). Portrayed by the brilliant actor Ian McKellan (best known for his portrayal of the character Gandalf in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy between 2001 and 2003, as well as the character Magneto in the "X-Men" films of 2000 and 2003), James Whale lived a relatively solitary life in his later years, except for the companionship of his housekeeper Hanna (Lynn Redgrave). James Whale was also gay and found his new gardener, Clayton Boone (Brendan Fraser), quite attractive. After talking with Clayton, James was able to convince Clayton to model for him, as James was also an artist. However, James was always reluctant to show Clayton what he had drawn. Not being gay himself, Clayton didn't always feel comfortable around James; but the relationship that developed between them was one of mutual. Clayton was interested in James' stories about his early Hollywood years, as well as his military career during World War I, and James even invited Clayton to go with him to a posh Hollywood party. Unfortunately, James was not as healthy as he wanted to be (having survived a stroke). This became an increasingly pressing issue for him as time passed, but he had not shared this issue with Clayton until an intensely emotional night.
To its credit, "Gods and Monsters" won the Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. Ian McKellan received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and Lynn Redgrave received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. With a fascinating cast of characters, wonderful acting and an engaging plot, I rate "Gods and Monsters" with a resounding 5 out of 5 stars. Other memorable characters include Edmund Kay (Jack Plotnick), Boris Karloff (Jack Betts), Princess Margaret (Cornelia Hayes O'Herlihy), and the young James Whale (Brandon Kleyla).
Despite a slow weird beginning I enjoyed this movie more than words can say. It was funny weird, thought pervoking and it left me feeling really good despite some real life situations that were not always happy. I could identify with the mormon dude since I know well his pain having come from a strict hardcore Bible Thumping BAPTIST family myself. Trust me "Baptist's" are no more accepting or tolerant of gays or gay friendly folk than the religious neanderthals seen in this movie.
Despite the religious homophobic downers this was my kind of movie it had a happy ending I could honestly beleive. This movie left me happy and filled with hope. The unrated version has the steamier sex scene but what you see is pretty tame by todays standards. I would not recommend this... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Steve Sandvoss - Wes Ramsey - Amber Benson - Jacqueline Bisset - Mary Kay Place Director(s): C. Jay Cox DVD Release Date: Released the 07 September 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Colin Farrell takes a break from action flicks (S.W.A.T., Alexander) to make A Home at the End of the World, an intimate film based on a novel by Michael Cunningham (author of The Hours). As a boy, Bobby (played as an adult by Farrell) loses both parents and his beloved older brother, ending up more-or-less adopted by the family of his best friend, Jonathan (played as an adult by Dallas Roberts). Jonathan's feelings for Bobby go beyond friendship; Bobby is open to the possibilities. Bobby follows Jonathan to New York and falls into a relationship with Clare (Robin Wright Penn, The Princess Bride). The three form an alternative family, move out to the country, and discover that even alternative families have their dysfunctions. Bobby is so innocent and... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Sissy Spacek - Colin Farrell - Dallas Roberts - Robin Wright Penn Director(s): Michael Mayer (VI) DVD Release Date: Released the 02 November 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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An indictment of the British class system dressed up like a Ralph Lauren ad, Another Country is the movie that made a very young and very gorgeous Rupert Everett a star. Whatever other ideas it has knocking around its head (and there are quite a lot of them), director Marek Kanievska's adaptation of Julian Mitchell's play is first and foremost a star vehicle for Everett, who played the openly gay main character with a vigor, flair, and smoldering appeal that was rarely seen onscreen in the early '80s. Everett is Guy Bennett, a charming, confident schoolboy in 1930s England who yearns to climb to the top of the social strata at his Eton-like school. His ambitions, however, are waylaid by the young and equally gorgeous James Harcourt (Cary Elwes), with whom he begins a passionate yet... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Rupert Everett - Colin Firth Director(s): Marek Kanievska DVD Release Date: Released the 07 September 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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The second of the three Merchant/Ivory films adapting E.M. Forster novels (between A Room with a View and Howard's End), Maurice deals with a theme few period pieces dare mention--a young man's struggle with his homosexuality. It's not just a gay coming-of-age story, however. The hero wrestles with British class society as much as his personal and sexual identity.
The film opens on a stormy, windswept beach, as an older man awkwardly instructs young, fatherless Maurice Hall (James Wilby) in the "sacred mysteries" of sex. The same turbulent, wordless struggle with passion lasts throughout this slowly evolving, beautifully filmed story. Novelist E.M. Forster's brainy, British melodrama hinges on choice and compulsion, as the pensive hero falls for two completely... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Rupert Graves Director(s): James Ivory DVD Release Date: Released the 24 February 2004 Special Order
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This could possibly be the cheesiest movie I have ever seen (and I have seen a lot of movies!) Do not waste your money on this low-budget, low-acting-ability, low-camera-experience movie. I enjoy a good "gay movie" every now and then and this was not it. Sorry to disappoint! More Info about this DVD Director(s): Michael D. Akers DVD Release Date: Released the 27 January 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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