 | |
List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Lions Gate
Salesrank: 8610
Released: June 17, 2003 |
| Our Price: $8.36 |
| Used Price: $4.81 |
|
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
McKellen plays the director of the Bride of Frankenstein, James Whale, who after two successful films becomes a recluse and forms an unlikely friendship with a young gardner.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: R
Release Date: 17-JUN-2003
Media Type: DVD
Description of Gods and Monsters:
One of the most critically acclaimed films of 1998 and winner of several awards including the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, Gods and Monsters is a compassionate speculation about the final days of James Whale (1889-1957), the director of Frankenstein and 20 other films of the 1930s and '40s, who was openly gay at a time when homosexuality in Hollywood was discreetly concealed. Adapted and directed by Bill Condon from Christopher Bram's novel Father of Frankenstein, the film stars Ian McKellen in a sublime performance as the white-haired Whale, who is portrayed as a dapper gent and amateur artist prompted by failing health into melancholy remembrance of things past. Flashbacks of lost love, World War I battle trauma, and glory days in Hollywood combine with Whale's present-day attraction to a newly hired yard worker (Brendan Fraser) whose hunky, Frankenstein-like physique makes him an ideal model for Whale's fixated sketching.
The friendship between the handsome gardener and his elderly gay admirer is by turns tenuous, humorous, mutually beneficial, and ultimately rather sad--but to Condon's credit Whale is never seen as pathetic, lecherous, or senile. Equally rich is the rapport between Whale and his long-time housekeeper (played with wry sarcasm by Lynn Redgrave), who serves as protector, mother, and even surrogate spouse while Whale's mental state deteriorates. Flashbacks to Whale's filmmaking days are painstakingly authentic (particularly in the casting of look-alike actors playing Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester), and all of these ingredients combine to make Gods and Monsters (executive produced by horror novelist-filmmaker Clive Barker) a touchingly affectionate film that succeeds on many levels. It is at once a keen glimpse of Hollywood's past, a loving tribute to James Whale, and a richly moving, delicately balanced drama about loneliness, memory, and the passions that keep us alive. --Jeff Shannon
Gods and Monsters Reviews:
Rich Film, Though a Bit Strong on the Gay Element 
2009-11-28 - Interesting film that won the Academy Awards back in 1998. James Whale was a director known best for his horror pictures such as Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. We look at a fictional gardener and how he interacts with Whale and how Clay (played by Brendan Fraser) deals with his own inner demons.
The film plays best when it deals with Whale's World War I experiences and a few scenes where he is creating Bride of Frankenstein. Especially touching is the party he goes to and drags his gardener along. The actors who portray Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester were nearly the spitting image (though I imagined Karloff as taller than that).
The film is really about Whale's homosexuality and in the Fifties America this is a taboo subject. The naked young guys and the nude Fraser may be hard for some to bear (and easier for others I assume).
I was hoping for more of a docu-drama and less of a concentration on Whale's sexual orientation (of which 75% of the film seems to be) and wanting more horror movie-making.
McKellen plays the role straight and Fraser's emotional range as an actor are pushed to the limit. Loneliness, memories and compassion with wry sarcasm played well by the housekeeper Lyn Redgrave. Great to see.
The DVD also has a "making of" with the cast interviews, commentary, language subtitles and trailer.
And just as in the early Universal films, the end credits say "a great cast is worth repeating". Little chestnuts like that were fun.
Here's the original book:
Father of Frankenstein
A Funny, Informative, And Moving Film 
2009-11-16 - GODS AND MONSTERS(1998)---Sir Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, Lynn Redgrave, Lolita Davidovich, David Dukes, Kevin J. O'Conner.
This film is based on Christopher Bram's fictionalized novel about James Whale, the English director who made FRANKENSTEIN; BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN; THE OLD DARK HOUSE; and THE INVISIBLE MAN, among other films. Although not a true biography of Whale, the film is historically accurate in many respects. We learn that Whale was born to poor, lower-class parents(a fact which deeply affected him as an adult), that he served in WWI(the horror of which was something else that left an indelible mark on him), that he began his career in the theater and had an enormous stage success with the play, "Journey's End", which resulted in his being summoned to Hollywood to direct films, and that he was openly homosexual at a time in Hollywood when doing so could be disastrous for one's career---his long-time "companion" was David Lewis, who had a successful career as a producer---first at MGM, then at Warner Bros.---among the films he produced/co-produced were: RIFFRAFF; CAMILLE; ALL THIS AND HEAVEN TOO; KING'S ROW; IN THIS OUR LIFE; and RAINTREE COUNTY.
Sir Ian McKellen was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Whale and he is wonderful to watch in this film. Fraser plays a young ex-Marine who works as Whale's gardener and Redgrave plays Whale's devoted, but devoutly Catholic, housekeeper who fears for his salvation due to his homosexuality. Among Whale's avocations is painting and he asks Fraser if he would agree to let him paint his portrait in return for being paid to do so. Aware of his sexual orientation, Fraser agrees but makes it clear that he won't do any of that "nude stuff". Whale suffers a stroke(historically true) which leaves him physically unaffected but affects his mind so that he begins to have flashbacks to events from his past, primarily from WWI. Over time, McKellen and Fraser develop a friendship and we learn much that is historically true about the making of some of Whale's classic horror films and the sexual proclivities of some other famous Hollywood figures(most prominently, director George Cukor, who was a "closet homosexual").
As Whale's flashbacks become more frequent, his doctors confirm that he will eventually sink into a "mental twilight", unable to live in the "present". In the climactic scene of the film, Whale pours out his terror of losing his mind and not being able to do anything creative---even paint. In an attempt to comfort his friend, Fraser agrees to let Whale paint him in the nude, but stresses that there is to be no "hanky-panky". Whale begins to suffer one of his flashbacks and begins to think that Fraser is the young lover he met while serving in the trenches. He begins to try and make love to Fraser, who becomes angry and throws Whale to the floor, bringing him back to reality. Whale is horribly embarrassed, begs his forgiveness, and assures him that nothing like that will ever happen again. The next morning, Fraser discovers Whale's lifeless body floating in the swimming pool---a suicide who can't live with the thought of losing his mind. Whale's body was found in his pool in 1957 and was ruled a suicide.
I think this is a wonderful film---by turns funny, informative, and deeply moving. In addition to McKellen's superb performance, both Fraser and Redgrave are completely convincing in their roles and the cinematography is beautiful. Highly recommended
Ian McKellan was robbed!!!
2009-11-11 - To me, the best films are those whose essence remains with you long after you've seen them. Chaplin, The Quiet American, and Gods and Monsters are dramatic films that remained with me long after the movie was over. After first seeing in in 1999, it has remained in my mind as a dramatic film to which I compare all others. I find myself thinking, "That performance or movie was ok, but it wasn't as good as Gods and Monsters."
What a Wonderful Treasure.
2009-09-18 - How easily this story could have been sensationalized and cheapened, but instead, it was provocative without hardcore graphics and glamorous without the usual "Hollywood Gay Man's Abode" surrounding a story. It was a visual, as well as dramatic delight from the start untill the last moments, as seen through the tears in my eyes.
I will rewatch it often and I'm sure I'll see things in each viewing I may not have seen before.
View this movie for what it is
2009-07-31 - I have read the majority of customers reviews of this movie good and bad, and I would like to start by saying, take out the homosexual component of the movie. Every review centers on that aspect. If this had been between a man and a woman and the theme was identical, would it make it any better or worse. This is a human story, about lonliness and last days of life, not a happy topic I admit. If you remove the local and drop Ian and Brendan in any other setting and have them perform, it would still be an amazing movie. James Whale is handled with empathy by Sir Ian. Mr. Frazier shows he can act...in fact this is the only movie in which he shows this and it is truly a shame. Who knew he ever had talent other than acting like an idiot. Hollywood has missed the boat with Mr. Frazier's ability. The chemistry between the two men comes out of the screen. Yes, this movie is a bit slow, but this is not an action film, it is not meant to be. Not to be overlooked is Lynn Redgrave. She does play the character a bit over the top, but it creates a great balance to the bleakness in both male charcters lives. The final scene between Whale and Clay is nothing short of "heart stopping", not because Frazier is naked, but because of the way it unfolds. The emotionals are raw and real...and you feel it.
This is one of my favorite films, superbly written, directed and acted. It is what film making should be, it should move you not always entertain you. So forget the gay aspect and view this as two people with lonely lives, shattered dreams and a need to end it all.
