Dorian Gray (2009)

Director: Oliver Parker
Rating: ****

A beautifully-filmed, wonderfully-acted, and brilliantly-horrific adaptation of Oscar Wilde's novel.

Barnes is absolutely perfect as Dorian Gray, beginning the movie as an attractive, naive young man, and ending it as a terrifying monster. Firth is, of course, tantalisingly believable as Henry Wotton.

The wonderful thing about this film is that is portrays so easily how people can become corrupted over superficial things, in this case, staying young and beautiful forever. Yet it also shows that just because you live a life of pleasure, it does not necessarily mean you are happy.

Sexually charged and yet not obscene in the slightest, the film as a whole is a fantastic work of art, with the dark filters used to make it seem more gothic, and a darker film. The camera angles are experimental and sometimes slightly offputting, but this only adds to the layer of mystery and evil nature of Dorian Gray.

Worth seeing, especially if one has a love for darker and deeper films.

A Single Man

Year: 2009
Director: Tom Ford
Starring: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult
Rating: *****

A congratulations is in order for Tom Ford. For directing an absolute masterpiece that has turned out to be my joint-second favourite film (with 'Inception'. Doesn't quite match up the ;The Lord of the Rings', but then again, nothing ever does).

Colin Firth plays George, a gay man unable to get past the death of his lover, eight months previously. The film follows him as he tries to find meaning in life. Set over one day, but including many flashbacks, he encounters several people who bring colour back into his life (literally). These include best friend and previous lover Charley (Moore), and student Kenny (Hoult).

The majority of the scenes included in this film completely took my breath away. The first one that comes to mind is the car scene. The camera looks out of the window of Firth's car, as he drives in slow motion. Mixed with the score, this is a beautifully put-together piece of cinematography which should never be forgotten, and should be seen by everyone.

The film itself has its more humourous moments, as well as the deadly-serious ones that make you want to sob. The right amount of both, in fact. The performances of Firth and Hoult, especially, must be commended. Hoult, best known from television drama 'Skins', proves just how much talent he really has here. I expect good things from him. Firth, glorious as usual, puts the cherry on top of the giant cake of his career. The film is decorated by its stunning soundtrack, and fantastic script. This is more than just a film. It is a work of art.