Fashion designer Tom Ford proves himself as a born filmmaker with this stunning adaptation of Christopher Isherwood's landmark novel about one man's spiritual journey from despair to redemption. Colin Firth gives the performance of his life as George, a gay British college professor in 1962 LA grieving the death of his partner of sixteen years and contemplating his own. Heartbroken and alone, George drifts during a single day where he encounters an adoring student, commiserates with his best friend and one-time lover Charley (a note-perfect Julianne Moore) and contemplates his impending suicide. This is a sensual, intelligent film bursting with an elegant beauty that aches with the sorrowful pain of lost love. One of the best films of 2009.

A thing of heart-stopping beauty. Colin Firth gives one of the finest performances of his career. The Times