Gods And Monsters Reviews

Riveting

I started this film determined to dislike it. I don't like Ian Mckellen, which is hard, therefore, to watch a film that centres on that kind of camp, queer role he plays so well. How wrong I was. He is excellent in this film. An aging ex-Hollywood director, he is living his life on his memories - literally as, recovering from a stroke, his brain is firing off with vivid hallucinations of his past. He lusts after young men, and this lust leads him to become friendly with the young ex-marine gardener. Am apparently trite plot then takes an unexpected twist. People are not who they appear to be. Great goodness can be hidden beneath the most unlikely of exteriors. And that is the whole metaphor of the film and the meaning behind the title, as the elderly director, played by Mckellen, is James Whale, who made Frankenstein. Who is the God, who is the monster? A really good, thought-provoking movie.

Excellent movie

This was a fascinating glimpse into the world of James Whale. Well acted all around, good cinematography, particularly the 'recreations' of Bride of Frankinstein, and a really nice job of directing and pulling it all together.

The movie itself centres on the last days of James Whale (Sir Ian McKellen, who is wonderful) in 1957, director of 'Frankenstein', 'The Bride of Frankenstein', 'Showboat', 'The Invisible Man', etc. many years before. He is openly gay and still suffering the effects of a stroke, which cause his mind to flashback in time, to things such as his time in World War I, early lovers, his upbringing. He is attended by his faithful housekeeper Hanna (Lynn Redgrave) of 15 years, a devout religious person who 'looks the other way' in terms of Whale's 'sins of the flesh' with lots of boys having come in and out over the years. Now Whale is lonely, depressed, shunned by many in Hollywood. He befriends a young ex-Marine, Clayton, who gardens for him (Brendan Fraser), with the movie adding layer upon layer in their relationship. Co-writer/director Bill Condon does a wonderful job at bringing together the various elements, and treating delictly the issues of sexuality in the 1950s, Hollywood, and death.

This movie is based on the novel 'Father of Frankenstein', by Christopher Bram.

Lumbering heavy, slow and clumsy

It's as if Frankenstein's monster himself set about explaining the life of his creator.

ughhgh..he's gay...

uughhh..he's old..

uggh...flashback...

Sad because of the talent involved, but a bit a bit of a disaster..

I find there's two types of film the one that makes you veg out and your brain shuts off and the other which makes you think. This film is a thinker. The story is about a retired film director of old horror films (Sir Ian McKellen) who is gay. He befriends his gardener (Brendan Fraser). They both strike up an unusual friendship. Its one of those nice films to watch. It must be quite good as it won an Academy Award,Golden Globe & several others.

Not to be missed

This is a great, 'not to be missed' film. I found it a little slow to begin with but that soon changed as I was drawn further and further into the story.

SPIFFING!

The whole looked superb, real crisp technicolour shots and measured, elegant acting. Perhpas unsurprisingly for our lead Ian McKellern who is marvellous always but Brendan Fraser reaching depth and poignancy. A far cry from George of the Jungle and the Mummy! The film's slowness is more measure to allow you to really feel those dwindling days of late middle age, a real treat and a sensitive empathic study of love and life.

Lovely

A lovely gentle movie which resonates in many ways. If you can get round the fact that in this role Ian McKellen looks like a cross between the Fast Show's 'Rowley Birkin' and Tom O' Connor, it's a memorable wonderful little film

Excellent

I dont know how or why I missed Gods & Monsters, but so glad to have seen it on DVD. It is a superbly crafed, well scripted, brilliantly acted film!

Rent it.......you won't be dissappointed

Story of movie producer, James Whales', last years.

This funny, emotional and intriguing film shows the mental and physical deterioration of the man who made Frankenstein with Karloff.

Homosexual predator, Whale, is forced to look deep into his memories as he reminisces to his young, heterosexual, yard-man on the days of 'old' Hollywood.

The housekeeper is just the best! Remember Julie Walters as Mrs Overall?

[Highly rated reviewer]

Good Gods...

Ian McKellan and Brendan Fraser can act. That's enough for me. The script is very sharp and the direction isn't overpowering.

If you like your drama to be intelligent and considered then you could do far worse than this character driven movie.