Rating: 
Summary: Everything Important About Life Is Here in G&M......
Review: Well, to start off, Sir Ian (and perhaps Lynn, too) was robbed at the Oscars, but what a thrill to see this incredible film win for Best Screenplay. For an amazingly small budget, this sumptiously detailed and photographed film covers everything important about our lives -- sex, love, jealousy, illness, friendship, beauty (whether literally or figuratively), compassion, seduction, rage, gentleness -- I *could* go on. Thank you, Clive Barker for signing on as producer to get this made, and thank you Lion's Gate (or whatever), for picking up this film as its distributor -- to think that this brilliant film, which is about so much more than Whale's homosexuality, would not have been made or found its audience. McKellen is magnificent, Redgrave is funny and heartbreaking and the glorious Brendan Fraser (who's smart enough to jump with both feet into films like this) proves without a doubt that he is the next very big thing -- the camera absolutely eats him up with every perfectly lighted shot. Um, can you tell I love this film? I think the DVD (which is why I just went out and bought my player) also comes with the director's commentary. Highest recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: The best acting since Fonda in "Ulee's Gold"
Review: I see a lot of movies. I see very few outstanding performances. "Gods and Monsters" is that rare combination of a good story, well-told and brilliantly acted by Ian McKellen. I was nailed to the couch during the entire video and plan to rent it again. It's not light, air-head entertainment. It's strong in subject and substance. For my money, McKellen has turned in one of the most astonishing performances of his (or any) career. Brendon Fraser will surprise you, too. I saw Judy Dench's performances in both "Mrs. Brown" and "Shakespeare in Love". She deserved the Oscar for "Mrs. Brown". She did not deserve it for "Shakespeare in Love". Perhaps too few Academy members actually saw Lynn Redgrave's perfect portrayal of the loyal maid....or perhaps Dench's win was a kind of consolation prize for losing with "Mrs. Brown". Whatever it was, the Academy made a big mistake...huge mistake.... Redgrave was hands down the most obvious choice for Best Supporting Actress this year and her in-nearly-every-scene certainly beats the devil out of Dench's 8-9 minutes on film. When the price goes down, this movie will be on my shelf at home and it has already made my "All-time Top Ten" list....it's that good.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful acting
Review: This is definitely a movie about a subject quite taboo in its respective 1950's timeframe, homosexuality. It explores this subject with long secluded and retired "Frankenstein" director, James Whale. In the process, he also tries to come to terms with his life. I thoroughly enjoyed the acting in this film, especially that of Lynn Redgrave who portrayed James Whale's doting and cynical housekeeper, Hannah. Everytime she appeared on the screen, I had to laugh, even before she uttered a word. This portrayal is one of the finest low keyed comic performances I've ever seen. I was equally impressed with Ian McKellan's performance as well. As he decays and his perception of reality withers away, you feel an awesome pity for this man. This makes the ending almost a relief. Brendan Fraser is your basic Californian young "dude". His performance is very typical of that, but I suppose he fit the part well. You can see the immaturity of his acting in relation to that of his veteran costars. His prime role I think was to be a beautiful inspiration to the man obsessed with him, James Whale. Its far from a romance, but this makes you pity the old director even more.
Rating:
Summary: And he can act, too!
Review: The first time I watched this film on video I was completely drawn in. I found Ian McClellan as James Whale both sinister and appealing in a strange way. His "stalking" of Clay Boone, the gardener, made me extremely uneasy and the revelation of his actual plans for Boone appalled me - he was so unconcerned with what might happen to anyone other than himself. After a second viewing, I realised that this was primarily a movie about loneliness and the unlikely attachments between these three main characters. It's possible to watch this film on several levels and get a lot out of it - very thought provoking, and beautifully shot. McClellan and Redford are consistently wonderful - Fraser finally gets to turn in a non-comic performance with some heft to it. Anyone who has seen "School Ties" knows that Brendan Fraser can act - unfortunately, up until Gods & Monsters he's mostly been tapped for his comic timing. His role in G&M should have given his dramatic career some impetus, although it doesn't seem to have done so just yet. This movie is ultimately about the struggle to connect with others and make sense of our lives. If you feel up to thinking after a movie, get this one!
Rating:
Summary: A moving drama that evokes old Hollywood
Review: "Gods and Monsters," directed by Bill Condon, is an excellent drama with some fine performances. Condon write the screenplay, which was based on Christopher Bram's novel "Father of Frankenstein." The film is a fictionalized account of the latter days in the life of James Whale, the gay filmmaker who directed such classics as "Frankenstein" and "Bride of Frankenstein." As Whale (played by Ian McKellen) copes with a degenerative brain condition, he strikes up a friendship with his heterosexual yard worker (Brendan Fraser). Condon deftly blends together scenes from this relationship with Whale's memories of World War I, recreations of behind-the-scenes action on the set of "Bride of Frankenstein," and other images from Whale's increasingly tormented mind. McKellen is superb in his challenging role: at times delightfully sly and witty, at times torn with lust or despair, Whale is an unforgettable figure. Fraser is also excellent. And Lynn Redgrave is similarly memorable in her role as Whale's devoted housekeeper (who nonetheless disapproves of his "bugger" lifestyle). The film's production values and additional performances are excellent; I was particularly impressed by the recreation of the set of "Bride." And Carter Burwell's moody, elegant musical score really helps to unify and elevate the film as a whole. "G&M" contains some delicious comic moments. But the film is, above all, a serious drama. Condon's intelligent script takes on such topics as the Hollywood "closet," friendship that transcends differences, the trauma of war, and the place of the artist and his work in society. If you have been haunted by some of the images from the real-life Whale's films, you may find yourself similarly haunted, and enriched, by the superb "Gods and Monsters."
Rating:
Summary: sensitive portrait
Review: This film is a reconstruction of director James Whale's last days and thoughts. It is taken from Christopher Bram's speculative novel, "The Father of Frankenstein". Most famous for the two original films about the creation of life (seen as 'monsters'), Whale was found floating in his swimming pool. Officially called a suicide, the circumstances were questionable. Whale was gay in a time when Hollywood, at its most image-conscious and hypocritical, shunned any association with a lifestyle that suffused the industry. "Gods and Monsters" is a sensitive and substantial portrait of two men. Jim, played with elegance, poignancy, and humor by Ian McKellan, has had a stroke and is suffering the indignities of impaired functions and mental state. It is anathema for the formerly vigorous and humorous man to contemplate a future of declining health and increasing dependence. Jim befriends his hunky gardener, Clay Boone. Brendan Fraser is outstanding, as well as sweet and desireable, in the role. The roughly handsome young man models for Jim, preferably shirtless, and they talk. Lonely individualists with secret heartaches, the two men form an intimate, affectionate, and combative bond. Whale wistfully and painfully remembers, in haunting flashbacks, his youth, career, and tragic love for a young soldier in the ghastly trenches of WWI (learning first-hand the 'gallows' humor he brought to his films). These memories become increasingly mixed up with his relationship to Clay, who he begins to confuse with his 'monster'. The younger man, with honor and compassion, sticks by Whale till the end, and remembers his friend in a touching epilogue. This is a loving tribute to a man who contributed to, profited from, and was ultimately "killed" by a heartless studio system.
Rating:
Summary: Touching and Sincere
Review: Although I had some reservations about the movie, due to the whole Homosexual theme, I soon put aside all differences, and truly enjoyed the movie. It was extremily touching, and the ending was sad but sweet. I liked how Clay was able to put aside his somewhat unenjoyable relationship with James Whale, and remember him fondly for many years afterward.
The issue that the movie deals with, has been something of a controversal subject for many years, and I enjoyed how Bill Condon was able to portray this problem senstively and emotionally. A terrific drama for not only Brendan Fraser fans, but also for those that only ever wanted to find love and acceptence.
Rating:
Summary: Gods and Monsters
Review: A dramatic and intriguing tale of the friendship between two men of opposite personalities, backgrounds, and situations. Brendan Fraser shows his range of remarkable acting talent with his delivery of Clayton Boone, a decent, down to earth, blue collar man who earns his living as a gardner. Ian McKellen epitomizes the persona of an English gentleman but with a bit of a twist. 'Gods and Monsters' is definitely a film worth seeing.
Rating:
Summary: a very heart wrenchig tail of friendship
Review: i love the beauty in this movie. ian mckellen is flawless as the late james whale. lynn redgrave is both hilarious and sincere as the made hannah. and brendan fraser as clay boone has the perfoect body, size, and head to remind the audience of frankenstein. james whale was the director of two frankenstein movies and this movie is an exploration of a relationship between him and his gardener. through the whole movie the audience sees this relationship grow from simple friendship to one of love. as the movie progresses the audience understands that both men have internal issues concerning their father. one of the special moments of the movie is the realization that fraser sees mckellen as a father figure and mckellen realizes he is a father figure to fraser. both men found something in each other that both of them needed. there are so many aspects to the friendship between the men that it is hard to delve into all of the different facets. at the end of the movie mckellen tries to make another frankenstein monster out of fraser. i find this incredibly sad yet i understand the motive behind mckellen's actions. the man is sufferring and is ready to leave this world and he knows exactly what to do to try and make fraser turn on hjm. but the bond that is shared between them is too strong and he cannot go through with it. i just love the way this movie transcends stereotypical assumptions and ideas and shows the type of friendship and relationship that can develop between two men from different worlds and have it mean something. this movie is great and shows the depth of the human heart and what it is capable of when you open up the heart and let someone see the real person inside. it really is a beautifjul thing.
Rating:
Summary: Tender, wonderful movie
Review: I can't go on & on in quadruple paragraphs like some reviewers do, but I can say that this movie touched me & brought tears to my eyes several times. Ian McKellan is just wonderful. The scene where he talks about the loss of his friend in WWI is so moving. The ending is bittersweet...you felt that the Brendan Fraser character would never know such a friendship again.
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