Aging film director James Whale (Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man) portrayed by Ian McKellan quietly languishes following a stroke. As his life comes to a close, he is haunted by flashbacks. The homosexual Whale strikes up a strange friendship with his muscled gardener (Brendan Fraser).

The film is a patient character study and gives McKellen amble space to work. He offers a detailed performance and manages to bring Whale to life. Fraser, who is primarily known for this catalog of dimwitted action flicks (The Mummy series, Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D) reminds us he has talent behind all of that Hollywood glare. In light of McKellen's all consuming charisma on screen, even Fraser tends to meld into the background somewhat, but he does quite well just the same.

Some may be uncomfortable with the homosexual elements of the film. In my opinion, these concerns are unnecessary. This isn't a gay pride parade put to celluloid. This is a great example on how homosexuality should be presented in film. McKellen's character is gay, but the film doesn't cheer him on and treat him with kid gloves. He's gay but he's human first and it is the humanity that McKellen presents that makes this film so facinating.


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Labels: Brendan Fraser, film, Ian McKellen, Lynn Redgrave, movie review