Fridae

Brideshead Revisited is the first gay film we've had in months. Based on the famous 1945 novel by Evelyn Waugh, it stars the classy yet sexy Matthew Goode as Charles, a middle-class young man who goes to Oxford to study history. He meets the closeted gay student Sebastian (Ben Whishaw) and befriends him.

Sebastian is attracted to Charles and invites him to his magnificent family home called Brideshead. There, Charles falls in love too � but not with Sebastian. Charles falls in love with Brideshead and all that its represents: money, power, luxury and travel. Charles becomes obsessed with this high life and will do anything to stay in it.

Will Charles love Sebastian back just for the sake of being in Brideshead? Or will he engineer a different manoeuvre just so he can stay in Brideshead forever? After all, Sebastian does have a sister...

Directed by Julian Jarrold, who helmed gay/female-oriented films like Becoming Jane and Kinky Boots, Brideshead Revisited is the sort of adaptation that won't offend any of the novel's fans. It is lush and lovely. The sets and costumes are gorgeously elegant. And the novel's central novel of religion and materialism are beautifully illustrated.

But the best thing about this adaptation is the acting. Emma Thompson (Angels in America, Sense and Sensibility) is superb in the role of Sebastian's mother, while the beautiful Hayley Atwell holds her own as Sebastian's sister.

Of course, for gay men, the main attraction is Matthew Goode. With his toned body, boyish grin and the greenest Bambi eyes you've ever seen, he is the Total Package. He has that damn sexy British accent, plus he's a good actor. Any thinking homosexual man would be a fool to say no.

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