Gods and Monsters
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Actor: Brendan Fraser, David Dukes, Ian McKellen, Lolita Davidovich, Lynn RedgraveBrand: Lions Gate
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Collector's Edition, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 105 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-06-17
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Reviews of Gods and Monsters
DVD Review: A Funny, Informative, And Moving Film
Summary: 5 Stars
GODS AND MONSTERS(1998)---Sir Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, Lynn Redgrave, Lolita Davidovich, David Dukes, Kevin J. O'Conner.
This film is based on Christopher Bram's fictionalized novel about James Whale, the English director who made FRANKENSTEIN; BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN; THE OLD DARK HOUSE; and THE INVISIBLE MAN, among other films. Although not a true biography of Whale, the film is historically accurate in many respects. We learn that Whale was born to poor, lower-class parents(a fact which deeply affected him as an adult), that he served in WWI(the horror of which was something else that left an indelible mark on him), that he began his career in the theater and had an enormous stage success with the play, "Journey's End", which resulted in his being summoned to Hollywood to direct films, and that he was openly homosexual at a time in Hollywood when doing so could be disastrous for one's career---his long-time "companion" was David Lewis, who had a successful career as a producer---first at MGM, then at Warner Bros.---among the films he produced/co-produced were: RIFFRAFF; CAMILLE; ALL THIS AND HEAVEN TOO; KING'S ROW; IN THIS OUR LIFE; and RAINTREE COUNTY.
Sir Ian McKellen was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Whale and he is wonderful to watch in this film. Fraser plays a young ex-Marine who works as Whale's gardener and Redgrave plays Whale's devoted, but devoutly Catholic, housekeeper who fears for his salvation due to his homosexuality. Among Whale's avocations is painting and he asks Fraser if he would agree to let him paint his portrait in return for being paid to do so. Aware of his sexual orientation, Fraser agrees but makes it clear that he won't do any of that "nude stuff". Whale suffers a stroke(historically true) which leaves him physically unaffected but affects his mind so that he begins to have flashbacks to events from his past, primarily from WWI. Over time, McKellen and Fraser develop a friendship and we learn much that is historically true about the making of some of Whale's classic horror films and the sexual proclivities of some other famous Hollywood figures(most prominently, director George Cukor, who was a "closet homosexual").
As Whale's flashbacks become more frequent, his doctors confirm that he will eventually sink into a "mental twilight", unable to live in the "present". In the climactic scene of the film, Whale pours out his terror of losing his mind and not being able to do anything creative---even paint. In an attempt to comfort his friend, Fraser agrees to let Whale paint him in the nude, but stresses that there is to be no "hanky-panky". Whale begins to suffer one of his flashbacks and begins to think that Fraser is the young lover he met while serving in the trenches. He begins to try and make love to Fraser, who becomes angry and throws Whale to the floor, bringing him back to reality. Whale is horribly embarrassed, begs his forgiveness, and assures him that nothing like that will ever happen again. The next morning, Fraser discovers Whale's lifeless body floating in the swimming pool---a suicide who can't live with the thought of losing his mind. Whale's body was found in his pool in 1957 and was ruled a suicide.
I think this is a wonderful film---by turns funny, informative, and deeply moving. In addition to McKellen's superb performance, both Fraser and Redgrave are completely convincing in their roles and the cinematography is beautiful. Highly recommended
Description of Gods and Monsters
Ian McKellen delivers a riveting award-winning performance as Hollywood horror director James Whale. It's 1957 and Whale's heyday as the director of Frankenstein Bride of Frankenstein and The Invisible Man is long behind him. Retired andia semi-recluse he lives his days accompanied only by images from his past. When his dour housekeeper Hannah (Lynn Redgrave) hires a handsome young gardener Clayton Boone (Brendan Fraser) the flamboyant director and simple yard man develop an unlikely friendship. This powerful and poignant relationship will change their lives forever.System Requirements:Starring Brendan Fraser Ian McKellen Lolita Davidovich Lynn Redgrave Directed by Bill Condon Running time: 105 minutes Copyright Lion's Gate 2003Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: R UPC: 031398833222 Manufacturer No: 71872One 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
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