I know we are only in the second week in February but this one is going to take some beating: A Single Man. It is one that critics seem to have been raving about but as I've already found out this year films don't necessarily live up to the hype but this one certainly did.
Colin Firth is on cracking form playing George, a gay professor in early 60's America (nice to see him finally not hiding his acting skills under a rom-com/com-dram). He has recently lost his long term lover Jim (Matthew Goode) in a car crash and the film follows a 24-hour period where he seemingly goes through the motions of getting through a normal day while putting his affairs in order and making final preparation for taking his own life.
He goes to work, he goes to the bank, he even goes to his friend Charley's (Julianne Moore) house for dinner but through it all and even when both men and women are flirting with him, his grief is palpable.
There is no raging or hysterics, it is all in his face.
Having blubbed my way through the wonderful, wonderful Bright Star last November I didn't think there would be a film so soon that would prick my tear ducts to the same extent but this grabbed my heart and squeezed it until I nearly sobbed.
I had to sit through the credits just to compose myself.
I usually post the trailer but it just doesn't adequately represent the film I saw last night (at the marvellous big screen at the Mayfair Curzon).