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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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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Movie,
By
This review is from: Gods & Monsters (Widescreen Collector's Edition) (DVD)
I view this movie years ago on television and have seen it numerous time since, both in English and with the French transalation. I FINALLY BOUGHT IT! I remember the first time I watch it that I was greatly touch and move by it. Each succeeding viewing, I obtain more. Ian McKellen is a marvelous actor! He manages to transmit his feelings and the problems with his brain after a stroke in small unsuspecting way. After watching the movie several times, I finally saw or imagine that McKellen/Whale started working on Brendan Fraser/Clayton Boone from his very first meeting with the yardman. When Whale find out that Boone, never actually was in the marine and wouldn't have their killer instinct, that he first thought he might have, his subtility in changing his plan is barely apparent, but he does change it, by using Clayton Boone's slight aversion to homosexuality!I'll stop there, don't want to give you the ending as there is lots more to see. Just enjoy the movie. Ghislain Desjardins
5.0 out of 5 stars
A modern classic about the classics,
By OverTheMoon (overthemoonreview@hotmail.com) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Gods & Monsters (Widescreen Collector's Edition) (DVD)
Forget the dreadful "Shadow of a Vampire". This is the one to watch.Here Ian McKellen possibly does his best performance to date (Yes, it is better than Gandalf but not by much!) and so does Brendan Fraser. So two actors have their best roles ever in this movie and that says a lot about the quality of this film. This one has also got a few Oscars, even though that might not say much, it is still quite an achievement given that this film is pretty much a medium budget movie with limited locations and sets. The story is about the director James Whale who was primarily a horror director in the 1930s and 1940s. This is the story about the perils of old age, sexual discrimination, lust, anger, manipulation and love - all played out to the tune of a film that documents the reasons for this director's status as one of the all time greats. McKellen is frighteningly real at times. He has an old-age seizure on camera that looks stunningly realistic. The man is an impeccable performer and takes on his role here like a bull by the horns. You feel sadness and grossness for him at the same time. He is a manipulator, a conman, a sexual deviant- but also a great heart. Strangely enough this film has similar themes as Lord of the Rings. Tolken wrote many of the battle scenes, especially the Dead Marshes, because of his real experiences during the war. Whale is also attributing much of his own personal horrors that he paints on his canvas (both films and portrait artwork that he makes) to these artefacts of battle. There is a lot of depth to Gods and Monsters and plenty of emotion to boot. It spans across nearly every era between the early 1900s and the 1940s. Much of it is told in flashbacks especially the making of Whale's horror films. The plot is basically about Whale and his gardener (Fraser) and their relationship. It is a bit like asking questions and getting answers and showing a bit of skin in-between. Not only do both these actors stand out but Lynn Redgrave plays Whale's housekeeper in her best role to date too! She is an absolute side-splitting hoot and her cynicism is second to none. It would be hard to tell you much more about the plot without giving lots of it away but let's just say that you will learn a lot about everyone in this delightful film and it does come with a shock attached towards the end as the characters move a little closer to one another. The ending is moving and filled with sadness and loss with the passing of time. You can bring a lot to this movie and take a lot of it away with you too. This is an inspiring movie about talent, friendship and filmmaking. It is hard to find dramas much better than Gods and Monsters...
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting DVD of an interesting film...,
By Nelson Aspen "Author/Journalist" (Los Angeles & NYC, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Gods & Monsters (Widescreen Collector's Edition) (DVD)
The film is so interesting that the DVD capitalizes on the opportunity of further informing the viewer about the real facts behind the "fact-tion" story of director James Whale. Unfortunately the production of the special features seemed a bit rushed and "unproduced," apparently (according to the director) much the same way as the film itself. Interesting insight into the world of indie film and leaves the audience wondering what glorious heights this one might have reached had the filmmakers had ample time and resources to recognize their vision. Nonetheless, it is a beautifully acted and packaged piece...well worth the time and attention!
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