Based on the classic novel by Christopher Isherwood, A Single Man is Tom Ford's filmmaking debut, with the world-renowned clothing designer directing, cowriting, and producing this story of a day in the life of a 1960s gay man. It's a stunning achievement: emotionally rich, visually inventive, and perfectly rendered, thanks in huge part to Colin Firth, who appears in every scene and gives the year's best performance by an actor in the film's first 10 minutes. (See Movie Times: thestranger.com/film.)