Goodluck Tonight, Mr. Firth

Here's to hoping the incredibly attractive Colin Firth -- who totally scored with the role of George in Tom Ford's A Single Man, and was nominated for an Oscar in the Actor in a Leading Role category -- wins big at tonight's 82nd Annual Academy Awards.

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Nicholas Hoult and Carolyn Murphy for Tom Ford SS 2010

I'm VERY late to the game here, I realize that. These images started flooding the internet about 2 weeks ago...guess that's what happens when you bury your head in the sand...

But I must say, I'm loving these ads. It's no surprise that Tom Ford's current golden boy would also be the subject of his latest ad campaign, and why not? Nicholas Hoult is a very attractive young man. Oh those piercing blue eyes. And in traditional Tom Ford style, he's all primped, fine-tuned, and glossed up for these pictures, quite a stark contrast to his youthful look (still impeccable!) in A Single Man. There's something slightly immature, but all-knowing in his expressions here. Love it.

In this second image, he's sporting a pair of frames I just gotta have. I wonder how similar they are to Colin Firth's pair (that I've previously gushed over) in A Single Man.

And I think it's great Carolyn Murphy is cast as the metaphorical cougar in these images. How befitting as in real life, she's older with a family of her own, and a seasoned tried and true model within the industry. Wearing only her tan lines in these pictures, she definitely comes across as that mature woman who's still fully conscious and in control of her own sex appeal. What a stark contrast to her white collar stepford-esque campaign images for Estee Lauder...sophistication on two totally different spectrums. I applaud her versatility.

What's more, there's a nipple-visible version of the second image that'll be circulating in higher-taste magazines...like VMan...you can view that image online here.

image source: tFS

A Single Man, Landmark Lagoon Cinema, Minneapolis

As predicted, my fears were premature and A Single Man finally made its way to a theater nearby. Earlier this week, I was so excited to learn it was playing at the Lagoon Cinema in Uptown.

Set in the '60s, this movie draws upon the classic aesthetics and style that era, which doesn't hurt, especially in our current Mad Men-enamoured times. The wardrobe, props, and setting all work seamlessly to give the storyline credibility and substance. It also doesn't hurt that the cast of this movie is comprised of very attractive individuals -- Colin Firth, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult, Jon Kortajarena (the face of the Tom Ford ads!), and Julianne Moore. Tom Ford's eponymous line is what dresses Colin Firth's character. And with such style and confidence! Perhaps a commentary can be made that the Tom Ford line transcends time. Perhaps I'm sounding cheesy. In short, this movie is such a work of beauty. Sad beauty. I highly recommend.

I'm not sure how much longer this film will be showing, so get thee to the Lagoon!

A few thoughts:

I must have those frames Colin Firth wears. Yes, yes, I realize there is no shortage of thick black frames on the market right now, but to find one that doesn't feel cheap takes some time (and money!). I'm wondering if the frames themselves are also an extension of the Tom Ford eyewear line -- they're missing the characteristic "T" on the sides, which makes me wonder. What I love about these ones is the fullness/roundness of the eyes -- sometimes that wayfarer look gets too narrow and cat-eyed, don't you think. I personally prefer a bit more "geek" than "cool cat"...


As for the incredibly good-looking Matthew Goode, he is definitely enjoying the spotlight right now. Anybody catch his editorial spread in the current issue of GQ?

I could stare into Nicholas Hoult's blue eyes forever. What's more, his sweater he dons for most of the movie is gorgeous -- mohair blend is my guess? The boatneck works so well, truth be told, I never considered it an option for men's sweaters.

After realizing the role of Carlos was played by Jon Kortajarena, I concluded I definitely prefer how he looks in the film, all James Dean-esque, as opposed to his Tom Ford ads. The ads are sexy and great, don't get me wrong, but there's something attractive about the less glossy, buffed, and polished look he's given in the movie.

I want this Mercedes someday! I definitely have a growing obsession with vintage Mercedes. But I'm no car aficionado, not in the least. That means I don't even know what model this one is. Anybody care to enlighten me?




**SPOILER ALERT**

My last thought has to do with the ending. Throughout the course of the movie, the audience learns Colin Firth has heart disease. Near the beginning of the movie, he's shown gripping his chest in an episode of angina, my guess is unstable angina give he's just walking within the confines of his one-level house. He grips with his right hand over his left chest. Pretty straightforward. Later on, Julianne Moore's character asks him about a incident that sounds more like a prolonged episode of Prinzmetal's angina, perhaps verging on an NSTEMI. Still, nothing surprising. However, did anybody notice that when he meets his demise at the end of the film with his fatal heart attack, it's his right upper extremity that is affected, and he's using his left hand over his right chest? I'm curious what other people's thoughts are on this. Maybe it's just a filming fluke that couldn't be rectified during post-production editing? Or does it symbolize something more?

Nicholas Hoult in A Single Man

Anybody as excited for the release of our generation's film adaptation of Christopher Isherwood's A Single Man, written (screenplay) and directed by Tom Ford? The Tom Ford name alone is reason enough to watch. But, I think I might be especially waiting with baited breath because of this buddy above, Nicholas Hoult. Remember him? Painfully tragic-looking boy from About A Boy? He's turned beautiful now. Such big blue eyes. God works in mysterious ways.

The film premiers in New York this coming Friday (December 11), and it looks like that's the only city that shows up on ticket searches, so sadly, I'm either going to have to wait for it to arrive elsewhere closer to home, or just wait for the DVD release altogether.