On G List of Movie Reviews

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Gods and Monsters (1998)

Rate: 9
Viewed: 5/24

5/24: Gods and Monsters has nothing to do with homosexuality but is rather about euthanasia.

When the erstwhile director of Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, James Whale, eyed Clayton Boone mowing the lawn, he envisioned him pulling off the stunt. Sure, he had ideas of reviving his gay past, but that's long gone. Mixed in are James' memories of the Great War, so they're stories just to pass the time.

After a while, James went for the jugular by pushing Clayton's heterosexual buttons until he became enraged enough to want to kill Whale. After the plan didn't ultimately work out, Whale decided to forget about it and then killed himself. In some ways, the fictional story is reminiscent of Prick Up Your Ears.

Ian McKellen steals the show, and that's why he was Oscar-nominated. Lynn Redgrave deserved hers, too. Before starting the film, I thought Brendan Fraser was miscast, but after watching it for a while, I've come to see how great he is, having terrific conversations with Ian McKellen. I think it's Brendan Fraser's 50's face that sealed the deal. Regardless, he may have been robbed of an Oscar nomination. The cinematography goes a long way along with Bill Condon's Oscar-winning adapted screenplay that's based on James Whale's son's book Father of Frankenstein.

All in all, Gods and Monsters is a superlative picture with strong acting performances by Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, and Lynn Redgrave.

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