A Film about a famous Director- that's pure Oscar bait. Is it good though?
Gods and Monsters is sort of a Biopic of Director James Whale...albeit mostly fictional. The broad strokes are true, but this 1998 Film is actually based on a Book.
The Film follows Whale in his (literal) final days as he struggles with his declining mind and health. Can a new person in his life be the spark that brings him back?
I mean, no. Did you not read the previous sentence?
The Film actually won an Oscar, which is a rare thing on this Site! Sadly, it also was not a hit in Theaters.
Before Ian McKellen was Magneto and Brendan Fraser fought a Mummy, they teamed up in this very different Film...
It is 1957. Famous Director James Whale has been retired since 1941 and living his final years in retirement.
Notably Whale did not hide his sexuality, back when people very much lived in the closet.
As such, his 'open secret' is one that he can deploy at will.
However, his body is failing him.
He had a stroke (IRL it was in 1956) and it has been causing his old memories to overtake him.
In function, it is a creative way to include the Flashbacks.
He sets his eyes on his new Gardener- a man named Clayton (Brendan Fraser)- and says that he'll pay him to let him draw him.
All above board, of course.
His stroke is also causing him to see things, which can't be good.
I'm also not a Doctor, but is that how they work?
Whale continues to befriend Fraser and obviously has some sort of feelings for him.
That seeps into his dreams, where he begins to see himself as the Monster and Fraser as the Doctor.
Fraser eventually learns Whale's open secret and tries to be calm about it.
In the next drawing session, however, Whale really pushes him and they have a big argument, ending with him storming out angrily.
Fraser realizes that he overreacted and they reunite. Whale takes him to a Garden Party to meet his former friends and gets depressed when he realizes that he and his contemporaries (like Elsa Lanchester and Boris Karloff) are seen as relics.
He makes Fraser sad and he agrees to pose nude for him. Whale gets very aggressive and tries to incite Fraser into kill him, explaining that his mind is going and he wants to die!
He doesn't, so Whale drowns himself in his own pool the next morning.
In the aftermath, Fraser moves on and makes a family, showing off his one piece of memorabilia from Whale- a signed copy of his original Frankenstein Monster drawing.
The End.
A really good Film that is not that much like what I usually see. Have I even done another Bill Condon Film here?
Well, yes, apparently, but not the ones you'd hope (Candyman 2, Twilight: Breaking Dawn 1 and 2).
Everyone does a really good job here. Ian McKellen is obviously the Star attraction here and he really disappears into the role.
To his credit, Fraser does a great job reacting, which is arguably the hardest job as an Actor. Redgrave also walks a fine line between being too dramatic and too silly.
Just know that this is a highly fictional version of Whale's final days, as it is an adaptation of a fictional account. His real ending was less dramatic, but still tragic.
It was fun seeing them recreate the Bride of Frankenstein set/make-up. They did a good job all around.
Do note that the Film can get pretty intense at times and does deal with subjects that some people- even 27 years later- are still shy about.
So long, Boris.
Next up, let me changes things up again. I never gave the bad Jaws Sequels a proper review in 2009, so let's do it right!
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