A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood

[michaelflanagansf]

Bwaaa!

Well, perhaps the guy is nothing more than a rag salesman with a sense of style and an
overly developed sense of marketing. 

You know "fashion" is interesting. 
Is it art, commerce, or a combination of the two?
Or is it really just something to cover the private parts due to that long ago "apple" incident?

Ford claims to be making a statement here regarding the double standard in popular culture
regarding the male versus the female form in fashion and advertising.
Or maybe he's just trying to sell cologne. 

Well I'm just glad to know that with the picture of him with the fellas in the shower that he knows how to have good clean fun....

[Nikki]

Well I'm just glad to know that with the picture of him with the fellas in the shower that he knows how to have good clean fun....

...and I'm waiting for him to snap that towel at their butts!

[Nikki]

Michael, it occurred to me last night as I lwas thinking about the links you posted:  Is there any comment by Bachardy?  I know he was a co-consultant on the film, but I may have missed it if he publicly commented.  I believe Ford said Bachardy liked it, but then he would if he were the co-consultant, no?

Also, Ford said his boyfriend had a cameo role, do you remember which role?

[michaelflanagansf]

Is there any comment by Bachardy? 

There is a little - not any direct comment on the controversy over the gay content of the film (but then I honestly wouldn't expect that he would step into that).  Here's a bit from the Times:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article7015418.ece

[michaelflanagansf]

Here's a bit more:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article7007706.ece

[michaelflanagansf]

Richard Buckley, who is Tom Ford's boyfriend, does have a cameo, but I haven't been able to figue out what it is.  Here's his picture for those who want those who want to try and figure out where he is when the film comes out:

http://www.life.com/image/96331665

Ford's terriers are the dogs in the film, btw, and apparently Don Bachardy has a cameo as well.

[michaelflanagansf]

^^^ I was a little surprised at the age disparity between the two (gives us old guys hope, however  ) and felt that there might have been multiple reasons that Ford is attracted to Isherwood and his story....

[garyd]

^^^ I was a little surprised at the age disparity between the two (gives us old guys hope, however  ) and felt that there might have been multiple reasons that Ford is attracted to Isherwood and his story....

the age difference is only about 11 or twelve years but there are several interesting parallels in the relationships, don't you think?
Buckley has also been fighting cancer for several years.

[michaelflanagansf]

the age difference is only about 11 or twelve years but there are several interesting parallels in the relationships, don't you think?
Buckley has also been fighting cancer for several years.

Ah!  Well, that makes sense then.  I saw a snippet of something about Mr. Buckley being ill, but was not looking for that so didn't read it.  What's interesting to me is that Ford could really be with anyone he wanted to and he has chosen someone who would not be what I would have expected (it certainly stands counter to his being a shill for the rag trade).  He doesn't look at all like someone you'd snap a towel at in a shower. 

What are the other parallels you're talking about?  Was Buckley instrumental in Ford's career?  Does Ford look up to him as a mentor?

[janjo]

Gary's news about Mr Buckley's cancer makes the fact that Tom Ford chose to make a film of ASM even more poignant!

[garyd]

Gary's news about Mr Buckley's cancer makes the fact that Tom Ford chose to make a film of ASM even more poignant!

Hi Jess:
Yes it does but I need to clarify.
I think Mr. Buckley's cancer has been in remission for quite some time and I certainly do not want to
imply that I might know otherwise.

I also completely understand Michael's and, indeed, the entire community's concern regarding Ford's comments about his sexuality
along with his seeming "detachment" from that community in addition to his seeming misunderstanding of Isherwood's and his work.
To a great extent, these concerns must be all of our concerns since complacency never changes anything for the better.

That being said, I am willing to give Ford this much:
He had the money, the balls, the intellect (he wrote the script), the latent talent (he directed the film), the business savvy (he produced the film),
to bring to the screen an extremely important work of American literature; a feat not accomplished by many other equally talented people for close to fifty years.

The film and the man have some flaws.  Those of the former can not be rectified, the latter perhaps can. 

 

[michaelflanagansf]

Well certainly where there is life there is hope, Gary.  I don't mean to give the wrong impression - I still like the film regardless of what Mr. Ford has had to say regarding it.  I don't really consider it the same as the book - perhaps a close relative.  And I think it has merit as a work of art as well.

Tom Ford isn't someone who dismisses gay identity or gay culture (wisely, given his choice of business) he just doesn't seem to see it as relating to himself.  This makes him a bit less like some of the women of the current generation who dismiss feminism and where it has delivered them as being hopelessly outdated and more like (strangely) people like Liberace and Roy Cohn who saw themselves as defined by their own personality and drive and not by any cultural group.  Ford, unlike those other two, doesn't seem to have the negative political or personal baggage.  He is, certainly, an admirable person in what he has done in his life.  He has, as I said, given tons of money to causes that I support.  So it's a bit hard for me to get too jazzed about his personal beliefs - I don't like them, but he does good work.

What I have problems with, however, is that because he is as rich and powerful as he is that he is able to do things that have a larger cultural imprint - like the film 'A Single Man.'  And when he does that - should he choose to mine the past, as he has here - he inherently recasts the art of someone else by his own view.  And, as I like Isherwood and his work, I don't like what his 'reflected light' has done to the original's interpretation.

He certainly is an intelligent and useful person - if he hadn't made the film it's unlikely we would have discussed the book here, for example.  So I don't mean to give the impression that I'm burning with contempt for him or anything of the sort.  I just disagree with him (and don't like the political implications of his views).

[Nikki]

Well certainly where there is life there is hope, Gary.  I don't mean to give the wrong impression - I still like the film regardless of what Mr. Ford has had to say regarding it.  I don't really consider it the same as the book - perhaps a close relative.  And I think it has merit as a work of art as well.

Tom Ford isn't someone who dismisses gay identity or gay culture (wisely, given his choice of business) he just doesn't seem to see it as relating to himself.  This makes him a bit less like some of the women of the current generation who dismiss feminism and where it has delivered them as being hopelessly outdated and more like (strangely) people like Liberace and Roy Cohn who saw themselves as defined by their own personality and drive and not by any cultural group.  Ford, unlike those other two, doesn't seem to have the negative political or personal baggage.  He is, certainly, an admirable person in what he has done in his life.  He has, as I said, given tons of money to causes that I support.  So it's a bit hard for me to get too jazzed about his personal beliefs - I don't like them, but he does good work.

What I have problems with, however, is that because he is as rich and powerful as he is that he is able to do things that have a larger cultural imprint - like the film 'A Single Man.'  And when he does that - should he choose to mine the past, as he has here - he inherently recasts the art of someone else by his own view.  And, as I like Isherwood and his work, I don't like what his 'reflected light' has done to the original's interpretation.

He certainly is an intelligent and useful person - if he hadn't made the film it's unlikely we would have discussed the book here, for example.  So I don't mean to give the impression that I'm burning with contempt for him or anything of the sort.  I just disagree with him (and don't like the political implications of his views).

Beautifully stated, Michael.  You make it clear and concise.

[michaelflanagansf]

Beautifully stated, Michael.  You make it clear and concise.

Thanks Nikki!

[Nikki]

Here's a bit more:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article7007706.ece

I guess there's no doubt that Bachardy admires Ford and likes his version of ASM.