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A Single Man

A Single Man

Drama · Romance · 2009

Set in Los Angeles in 1962, at the height of the Cuban missile crisis, is the story of a British college professor who dwells on the past and cannot see his future. We follow him through a single day, where a series of events and encounters ultimately lead him to decide if there is a meaning to life after the death of his long time partner, Jim.

Movie details

A Single Man

2009 Drama · Romance 1h 40m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

Set in Los Angeles in 1962, at the height of the Cuban missile crisis, is the story of a British college professor who dwells on the past and cannot see his future. We follow him through a single day, where a series of events and encounters ultimately lead him to decide if there is a meaning to life after the death of his long time partner, Jim.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over A Single Man?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Where it lives

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Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.

Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Tom Ford

Written by

Tom Ford · David Scearce

Colin Firth

Colin Firth

George

Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore

Charley

Nicholas Hoult

Nicholas Hoult

Kenny

Matthew Goode

Matthew Goode

Jim

Jon Kortajarena

Jon Kortajarena

Carlos

Paulette Lamori

Paulette Lamori

Alva

Ryan Simpkins

Ryan Simpkins

Jennifer Strunk

Court is in session

Put A Single Man on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.