Colin Firth (Mamma Mia!, Easy Virtue) gives an impressive performance as a closeted gay, British ex-pat, literature professor in 1962 Los Angeles. He has decided that today will be his last; he can no longer contain the grief over the death in a car crash of his long-time lover (Matthew Goode) many months earlier. His unremarkable day follows its usual pattern, teach class, run some errands, talk to a neighbor, visit an old friend (Julianna Moore), meet up with a promising student (Nicholas Hoult). At the day’s end, he intends to kill himself. Based on the landmark Charles Isherwood novel, this first film from fashion designer Tom Ford is thoughtfully restrained, stunningly beautiful and powerful. *ONE OSCAR NOM: Best Lead Actor.