...And Back To Catwalks
A Single Man was launched, it has to be said, like a fashion collection. Rather than distributors being sent DVDs, they didn’t get their first sight of the film until the 2009 Venice Film Festival.
The film’s startling blend of style and substance wowed buyers and judges alike; while Firth was busy winning the Festival's Best Actor award, Harvey Weinstein (who else?) picked up the U.S. rights, an eye already on Oscar.
While only a modest success (just over $6 million in America to date) the film is sure to recoup Ford and Weinstein’s investment, and those awards noms keep coming for Firth... Golden Globe, BAFTA and – yes – Oscar.
The film has been well received by critics, too, with the only criticism coming from the gay community, slighted that the suicide subplot weakens George’s status as a pioneering figure in homosexual literature.
Ford’s retort is priceless: “I like chocolate cake. Do I define my life by the fact that I like chocolate cake? For me, that’s what sexuality is. I didn’t think of making a movie with gay characters.”
Judge for yourself: here's the film's trailer.
It’s clear that Ford has beaten his detractors with a powerful, subtle and cinematic debut. According to Firth, "He has put his heart and soul into this. He's told a tale with courage and honesty....
"Yes, people are fascinated because it's Tom Ford, and some people are sceptical because it's Tom Ford, so he's going to have to brave some knives which are out to scalp him—but this film deserves to be judged solely on its merits."
Ford is still buzzing, back where he always belonged – on top and in charge - but what does the future hold? “I have a few more ideas in the pipeline but I’ve only just finished this one so I need to get some distance on it and decide what to do next."
Until then, all eyes are on the BAFTA and Oscar ceremonies to see if Firth’s single man can be paired up with another statuette.
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