Funny how a couple of Oscar nominations can give a movie a wider audience, isn't it? Over two months after I saw the brilliant film Gods and Monsters (Rating: 9 of 10) at Dallas' Inwood Theatre, it is finally showing in Norman, at the AMC Robinson Crossing Theater.
Gods and Monsters offers an explanation of the events leading up to the death of James Whale (played by Ian McKellan of Apt Pupil), the gay director of Frankenstein. Whale becomes infatuated with his new gardner, Clayton Boone (Brendan Fraser, in one of his better career choices) and offers to pay him to model as Whale draws his portrait.
The modeling sessions lead the two to embark on an unusual friendship, delving into the pain of Whale's past and exploring the limits of Boone's compassion.
Gods and Monsters shows an early Hollywood that few other films dare to portray: a world filled with gays whose privacy was not violated by the tabloids of the present day. More importantly, the movie highlights a gay perspective on World War I.
The film has earned three Oscar nominations: Ian McKellan for Best Actor, Golden Globe Winner Lynn Redgrave for Best Supporting Actress and Bill Condon for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Fellow Oscar nominee Edward Norton has said that Ian McKellan was one of the reasons he became an actor. If McKellan's performance in Gods and Monsters is any indication, it is obvious why: The man is brilliant.
McKellan's screen presence commands attention no matter who is on screen with him.
A win for McKellan would make him the first openly gay man to win the Best Actor Oscar and would be an important step for gay film in general. With the performances of Stephen Fry (Wilde) and Ally Sheedy (High Art) being snubbed, McKellan is one of two actors up for an Oscar portraying a homosexual, the other being Kathy Bates for Primary Colors.
If other awards are any indication, he just may have his chance. None of the actors nominated with McKellan won Globes, and McKellan has already won Best Actor awards from a number of other groups.
If he does win the Oscar, he'll have to make some room for it on his mantel. I'm sure he wouldn't mind, though.
Jonathan Ray is a film and video studies sophomore.
hello there & you too
The Oklahoma Daily is pleased to provide you the opportunity to share your thoughts about this article. We encourage lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask you refrain from using profanity or other offensive speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting advertising, or straying from the topic at hand. To comment, you must be a registered user of OUDaily.com. Thanks for taking the time to offer your thoughts.
You must be logged in to leave a comment. Log in | Register