A Single Man is the critically acclaimed film directed by Tom Ford, a fashion designer who also supplied much of the wardrobe. It is the story, brilliantly conceived and executed, of a gay college professor who's lost the love of his life, and how he saves himself and is saved from despair and suicide. Based on Christopher Isherwood's novel about an English professor grieving the loss of his partner of 17 years (a relationship never recognized by the partner's family), this film, set in October 1962, has beautiful period sets, architecture, wardrobe, and lifestyles -- and makes clever use of color and close-ups to tell the story. In a more than Oscar-worthy performance, Colin Firth (The English Patient, Bridget Jones' Diary, The Importance of Being Earnest, Love Actually, Girl With a Pearl Earring) plays George the professor, Matthew Goode (Watchmen, Match Point, The Lookout) his longtime partner, Jim; Julianne Moore (Hannibal, Boogie Nights) plays George's best friend Charley.moreless