--- title: "A Single Man: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/a-single-man/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/a-single-man" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 18 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # A Single Man (2009): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 18 reviews: 12 positive, 5 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics come down in favour of A Single Man, and the praise is almost unanimous about where it belongs: Colin Firth. Nearly every review singles out his restrained performance as the film’s anchor, with his portrayal of George’s grief mentioned repeatedly. Several also admire Julianne Moore, and more than one picks out the evening George spends with her as a highlight. Tom Ford’s first film as a director is found more sensitive and substantial than many expected. The reservations cluster on Ford’s visual style. Several reviews describe the period design as too polished, the colour shifts as conspicuous, and the dreamy presentation as self-indulgent; a few feel the plot is slight. The spread is fairly wide. Slant Magazine finds the style intrusive enough for a middling verdict, and the lone negative review, from the Evening Standard, argues the gloss smothers the human drama, leaving Firth to supply the feeling the rest lacks. ## The AV Club — Nathan Rabin Rating A-. 10 December 2009. Rabin finds the film stylish yet genuinely moving, praising its substance beneath the polished images. He singles out Colin Firth’s affecting lead performance and the tenderness of the central relationship. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/a-single-man-1798207637) ## The Hollywood Reporter — The Associated Press Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 13 September 2009. Festival review. The review finds Tom Ford’s directing debut surprisingly successful and sensitive, with mainstream appeal. It especially praises Colin Firth’s restrained, moving performance and the film’s intelligent dialogue. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/single-man-film-review-93508/) ## Empire — Ian Freer Rating 4/5. 27 January 2010. Freer praises the film as emotionally alive, thoughtful filmmaking, despite occasional overuse of colour. He singles out Colin Firth’s restrained, deeply affecting performance as the film’s anchor. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/single-man-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 11 December 2009. Sharkey praises the film as a warm, visually striking character study, with Colin Firth’s performance giving it emotional depth. She singles out Firth’s careful portrayal of George, while noting that the film’s polished perfection sometimes threatens to become a flaw. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-11-la-et-single-man11-2009dec11-story.html) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 4/5. 9 February 2010. The page identifies this as a film review, but the review text is unavailable. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be established from the accessible material. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/a-single-man-1) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 3/4. 9 December 2009. Ebert gives the film a positive assessment, praising its visual style and Colin Firth’s performance. He highlights the careful rendering of the protagonist’s grief and isolation. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-single-man-2009) ## IndieWire — Eric Kohn Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 December 2009. Festival review. Kohn finds the film’s visual style deepened by witty writing and strong performances, especially Colin Firth’s. He notes that some visual flourishes feel overbearing and the film’s artiness may put viewers off. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-depth-in-beauty-tom-fords-a-single-man-55665/) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). The review finds the film’s plot too slight and its presentation overly dreamy, but ultimately praises it. It singles out Colin Firth’s portrayal of grief and Julianne Moore’s performance in a memorable evening together. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/a-single-man) ## Variety — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2009. Festival review. Felperin finds the film luminous and treasurable despite imperfections. She praises the emotional nuance of Colin Firth and Julianne Moore, while noting that the immaculate period design can feel overly polished. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/a-single-man-2-1200476287/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 11 February 2010. Bradshaw finds the film a poignant, compassionate portrait, though its style can feel self-indulgent. He especially praises Colin Firth’s nuanced performance and singles out a surreal encounter with a neighbour’s child as a memorable directorial touch. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/feb/11/a-single-man-review) ## Screen Daily — Lee Marshall Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 13 September 2009. Festival review. The page identifies this as a review, but its verdict is hidden behind a paywall. The visible text does not reveal what the critic praised or criticized. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/venice/a-single-man/5005572.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page contents are unavailable, so the critic’s verdict cannot be confirmed. Its specific praise or criticism likewise cannot be established from the displayed text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/movies/11singleman.html) ## Slant Magazine — Andrew Schenker Rating 2.5/5. 7 July 2010. The critic finds the film’s emotional core worthwhile but faults Tom Ford’s intrusive, overworked visual style. Colin Firth’s expressive performance is singled out for praise, while the DVD commentary is mocked as self-absorbed. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/a-single-man-dvd/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the film overly polished and emotionally unconvincing, with its visual gloss overwhelming its human drama. Colin Firth’s earthy performance and a scene between George and Charley briefly provide the feeling the rest of the film lacks. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/all-surface-no-feeling-in-a-single-man-7418594.html) ## HeyUGuys — Jon Lyus Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2010. The critic calls the film sublime and praises Tom Ford’s direction and Colin Firth’s performance. Firth’s restrained portrayal of George’s grief is singled out as especially powerful. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/review-a-single-man/) ## Eye for Film — Jeff Robson Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2009. Robson finds the film accomplished, moving and full of heart, despite a few quibbles about tone and focus. He especially praises Colin Firth’s subtle, deeply affecting performance. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/a-single-man-film-review-by-jeff-robson) ## Digital Spy — Stella Papamichael Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 January 2010. The review is positive overall, though it finds some character relationships unconvincing. It singles out Colin Firth’s quietly powerful performance as the film’s anchor. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a200224/a-single-man/) ## Collider — Andre Dellamorte Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2010. The critic finds the film appealing but ultimately uneven, with its ending feeling pat. He praises Colin Firth’s performance while criticizing the conspicuous color shifts. [Read the review](https://collider.com/a-single-man-blu-ray-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/a-single-man.md