NekoHomey Purely Joyful Movie!

Comwayon A Disappointing Continuation

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Hayden Kane There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

classicsoncall It's odd, but the entire time I spent watching this film, I never once got the impression that the relationship between the real James Whale (Ian McKellen) and Clayton Boone (Brendan Fraser) ever actually existed. Obviously there are fictional elements added to this story based on the book 'Father of Frankenstein', but I haven't read it so have no other basis on which to rest my comments other than it just didn't feel right. But if even half of the picture is based on real events, it's a compelling look into the declining days of the famed 'Frankenstein' director, even if that legacy is diminished by failing health and the onset of dementia. Sir Ian McKellen does justice to the role of Whale with an almost regal bearing that hearkens back to an earlier day when his stature as a director was more pronounced. I was actually a bit surprised with Fraser's performance here, even though I haven't seen him in a lot of films, most notably in the revived 'Mummy' series. And rounding out the principal cast, I thought Lynn Redgrave was sublimely hilarious as Whale's housekeeper Hanna. In terms of personality, she might have been the most complex character in the story, balancing her notions of sinful homosexuality with a pronounced level of loyalty toward the man she had worked for, for fifteen years.Adding to the ambiance of the Frankenstein theme, it was much appreciated that the film makers included scenes from the three original films dating back to the Thirties. Even though James Whale didn't direct "Son of Frankenstein", it would have been remiss if a clip from that movie was not included along with the original and "Bride of Frankenstein". I about gasped when Boris Karloff showed up at the Cukor party in the movie. Actor Jack Betts was such a dead ringer for Karloff that I thought it was really the man himself until realizing that he had died almost three decades earlier. Actress Rosalind Ayres made for a well cast Elsa Lanchester as well, even without the beehive painted hairdo

blanche-2 "Gods and Monsters" is the beautifully acted and somewhat fictionalized story of director James Whale (Ian McKellan) as he faces the end of his life. The openly gay Whale was the director of some of the great horror films: Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, and The Old Dark House, as well as the definitive Showboat, and one of my favorites, the bizarre Remember Last Night? (which no one in the movie does, by the way). After a debacle over the film The Road Back, his studio thrust him into directing B movies, and by 1941, his career was over. After that, Whale developed a love of painting and directed in theater, where he had started in the '20s.The film begins in 1957, the last year of Whale's life, after he has suffered a series of strokes. In the movie, his only companion is his housekeeper (Lynn Redgrave). (In real life, he was living with the much younger Pierre Foegel, whom he had met in France.) Faced with diminishing mental faculties and unwanted flashbacks from his past, Whale develops a sometimes uneasy friendship with his gardener, Clayton Boone (Brendan Fraser). He asks Clayton to pose for him, and while Clayton does, Whale pours his heart out to him. Some of it is too much for the straight Clay, but over time, the two men bond. Each gets something from the other. But Whale will ultimately want something astounding from his new friend.This a complex film, well directed and written by Bill Condon, who adapted the novel The Father of Frankenstein by Christopher Bram. Whale attempts to create his own Frankenstein monster, in a sense, in Clay, and the stunning images near the end of the film which take place during Clay's dream sequence point this up. The film also demonstrates the loneliness and deterioration of old age, as well as the fear that goes along with it.The cast is nothing short of magnificent, with phenomenal performances by the three leads: McKellan, Fraser, and Redgrave. The late, always excellent David Dukes plays David Lewis, Whale's ex-lover and still friend; Jack Betts and Rosalind Ayres are well made up and vocally correct as Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester, respectively.Gods and Monsters is a sometimes dark, always thought-provoking film about old age, taking stock at the end of life, and the gods and monsters within each one of us.

TheLittleSongbird There were three reasons why I wanted to see Gods and Monsters. One is because it was about James Whale, the director who gave us those innovative classics Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. The second is that I love Ian McKellen, and when I saw he was going to play James Whale I thought expect a great performance from a great actor. The final reason is the late Lynn Redgrave.After seeing the film, I was really impressed. The period detail is sublime, costumes, sets and scenery are gorgeous and the cinematography is excellent. Another delight was the footage of Bride of Frankenstein for example, that were great to watch. The story is very simple but it is very effective and touching, the score is haunting and beautiful and the screenplay is very well written and insightful.The film is also very elegant and poignant set during Whale's twilight years where Whale was ostracised for being a box office failure and homosexual. While there is the occasional drug-addled sexual hallucination and the story is very simple, Gods and Monsters does explore the horror genre with effortless assurance and wit, while making interesting and powerful pointers of friendship for example.And of course the acting is excellent. Ian McKellen as I have said already was one of the reasons why I wanted to see this film, and he gives another brilliant performance in the title role. Brendan Fraser also gives one of his better performances as the heterosexual gardener, while Lynn Redgrave gives a marvellous turn as Whale's housekeeper.Overall, touching and wonderfully acted. 10/10 Bethany Cox

rajah524-3 "Why do you take care of him, Hanna?" "It is my -job-." Hanna -has- a job.Old Jimmy has his -freedom-."I -loved- making motion pictures." He loves his freedom. But he cannot -stand- it.Addicted to creativity, the narcissistic self-stimulator will not so easily come to terms with the loss of his capacities."You must please excuse me, but I am blind." "Alone, -bad-. Friend, -good-." "So what did you think of the movie?" -I- thought it was truthful.