Gods and Monsters

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Andy B A fictional account of the last days of the director James Whale. His life story is told in flash backs, showing us his involvement in World War I and the filming of Bride of Frankenstein. The majority of the film is about the relationship between Whale (Ian McKellen) and the man employed to trim his lawn, Boone (Brendan Fraser). We always expect a considered and powerful performance from McKellen, but at the time Fraser was not really known for serious acting. This shows his range as he virtually matches McKellen and the scenes between the two are both compelling and convincing. Amazing film and I’m glad I finally watched it. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/08/24 Full Review Leaburn O There are good scenes but generally it’s a pointless film that seems very unlikely. Watched on DVD. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/04/24 Full Review Farah R It's difficult to dislike a film when the performances are so stellar. Gods and Monsters may be slow and uncomfortable at certain parts, but it's undoubtedly well-crafted and a surprising showcase of Brendan Fraser's terrific acting. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/13/24 Full Review Jerod S No idea that Fraser could actually act. H's befriended by old Hollywood director James Whale (Ian McKellen). Whale created the Frankenstein movies but is trying to hang on to significance as he ages. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/04/23 Full Review Katya V Ian McKellen gets a bit much, but Brendan Fraser is excellent! Great script and interesting cinematography. And it does have the air of old Hollywood about it. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/12/23 Full Review Taylor L Gods and Monsters is the story of a suicidal former director, haunted by his greatest successes and the ghosts of his past, featuring a desolate lead performance from Ian McKellen. Did I mention that it was adapted and directed by the same man who directed multiple Twilight films? He won an Oscar for it. Movies about friendship are nice. Movies with layered characters are nice. So why does Gods and Monsters feel a little bit hollow, even though both McKellen and Brendan Fraser are putting in some fine performances? It's because the bond seems a bit unearned. The film is a rousing success at diving deeply into the character of James Whale, famed director of early monster films and a notably early open homosexual celebrity, as the film reflects on his past relationships to both individuals and his own work; he's been reduced to either complete irrelevance or a simple name attached to his movies, rather than his own person. The character gives an odd first impression, particularly with his tendency to try to convince other men to take off their clothes, but the script gradually reveals that this is more than your standard Weinstein-casting-couch perversion - it's tied deeply into a sense of reconnecting with his past, and doesn't make him a predator. Despite that though, there doesn't seem to be much given to actually establish his friendship with Fraser's Clayton, a gardener in his employ and a stand-in for Frankenstein's monster (simple, towering, with a good heart). The friendship grows but the individual steps taken to get there seem like they haven't been climbed. Regardless, as a story of reflection and aging with a backdrop in film, Gods and Monsters is still worthwhile thanks to McKellen, even if it probably received the standard critical boost associated with any movie that casts a kind eye back towards the early days of Hollywood. Fraser and Lynn Redgrave, who plays Whale's longtime maid (with whom he seems to share a much more legitimate connection) are both very solid. (3/5) Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Gods and Monsters

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