A SINGLE MAN

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Fashion designer Tom Ford makes a credible filmmaking debut. Ford co-wrote with David Scearce this adaptation of Christopher Isherwood's 1964 novel about a tragic crisis of personality.

Set over the course of one day in the life of tightly-wound British college literature professor George Falconer (Colin Firth), age 52, we witness George's escalating misery at having lost his life partner Jim (Matthew Goode) in a car accident.

George's clock ticks down as he prepares to commit suicide while going about his normal daily routine.

While teaching his English class, George goes into a telling discussion about living as a minority in a deeply bigoted country.

In the parking lot after class George's student Kenny (well played by Nicholas Hoult) engages his teacher in a provocative conversation that seems to go nowhere.

On his way home George shares dinner with his best friend and neighbor Charley Jullianne Moore, an alcoholic casualty of the American dream. Carefully composed flashbacks give clues about George's close relationship with Tom.

Unfortunately, Isherwood's novel breaks a fundamental rule of dramaturgy that doesn't translate from literature to the film's mandatory three-act structure.

I'm sure there's a way to view the film as somehow life-affirming. I just didn't.

Rated R. 99 mins.