Gods And Monsters (1998)

Set in the 1950s, retired film director James Whale (Ian McKellen in an Oscar nominated performance) becomes obsessed with his newly hired gardener (Brendan Fraser). While the aging Whale is homosexual, the gardener is not and a tense and often ambiguous relationship between the two ensues. Based on the novel FATHER OF FRANKENSTEIN by Christopher Bram and directed by Bill Condon (DREAMGIRLS). A highly fictionalized view of James Whale's final days (he committed suicide) who is best known for his Universal horror films like FRANKENSTEIN, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN and THE INVISIBLE MAN. It's an absorbing study even if it's all supposition but Condon's emphasis (he also wrote the screenplay) on Whale's WWI memories and the effect of the war on him are often repetitive and unnecessary. McKellen's Whale is a rather sad old queen and often creepy which I hope is not what Condon intended but that's how it comes across. Fraser is very good but the scene stealer here is Lynn Redgrave (also Oscar nominated) as Whale's disapproving Scandinavian housekeeper. The casting is quite good in the smaller roles including Rosalind Ayres as Elsa Lanchester and Jack Betts as Boris Karloff. With Lolita Davidovich, David Dukes and Martin Ferrero.