:
Julianne Moore,
Julianne Moore,
Dennis Quaid,
more...
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Todd Haynes,
Todd Haynes
see all cast/crew...
: 
: Universal Studios
: Drama, Independent, Costume Drama/Period Piece
: 108 min.
: English, Spanish, French
: Spanish, French
see additional details...
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Maverick director Todd Haynes embraces the look and feel of classic Hollywood melodramas of the 1950s in this period drama. Cathy Whitaker (Julianne Moore) and her husband, Frank (Dennis Quaid), are a seemingly perfect couple; living in a handsome suburban neighborhood in Hartford, CT, in 1957, Cathy and Frank have a beautiful home and two happy, healthy children, while Frank pursues a successful career in sales and Cathy cares for the home. But Cathy has begun to sense something isn't quite right in her marriage, as Frank begins working late, spending less time with her, and seems cold and distant. One day, Cathy visits Frank's work and discovers something she never expected -- her husband is kissing a man. At Cathy's urging, Frank undergoes psychotherapy, but as she tries to keep up a brave face, the emotional trauma takes a great toll on her, and she finds there are very few people she can talk with. Cathy strikes up a friendship with Raymond Deagan (Dennis Haysbert), an African-American gardener who works for the Whitakers, and as she discovers how intelligent and compassionate Raymond is, she finds herself drawn to him. However, Hartford is in many ways still a small town, and when Mona (Celia Weston) sees Cathy and Raymond alone together, it sets off a wave of vicious gossip that threatens to make the Whitakers' many secrets public knowledge. Far from Heaven premiered at the 2002 Venice Film Festival, where Julianne Moore's performance won the prize for Best Actress. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
You might also enjoy:
All That Heaven Allows
Douglas Sirk's beautiful drama was major inspiration for Haynes' film
Imitation of Life
And some of the racial issues explored in this Sirk classic might also have inspired Haynes
Safe
More suburban malaise with Haynes and Moore, in this disturbing story about environmental illness
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
Rainier Werner Fassbinder's own reworking of Sirkian melodrama
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| Its all about the colors, baby!
by CSullivan
June 20, 2003 - 12:57 PM PDT
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5 out of 8 members found this review helpful
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| I was fascinated that as emotionally stifled as the movie is, the intensely rich, fluid colors ran wild, sung out loud and danced in every scene. The costumes and set designs were beautiful, the acting superb. This movie was difficult for some of my friends to watch because of the rigid and confining social roles, but it made all of us very grateful to be living in our own time period. |
| Don't pass up the original
by consigliere
June 19, 2003 - 8:49 AM PDT
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5 out of 5 members found this review helpful
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| This is a really good movie. But if you liked it, you have to rent the Douglas Sirk film, "All That Heaven Allows". Todd Haynes does a really good job with his movie, but you can see where he was coming from and where he fell slightly short by watching the original. |
| Perfection!
by LJSosa
April 6, 2003 - 4:44 PM PDT
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13 out of 14 members found this review helpful
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This is one of the best films I've ever seen. It's tight and flawless. Everything from the acting to the costumes is sheer perfection. Rarely do I see a film that moves me so completely. Todd Haynes has proved himself to be not just a great director but a true genius.
Sadly overlooked by most awards this year was Dennis Quaid. Perhaps because Julianne Moore was so stellar. Quaid however, plays his role so well you stop feeling sorry for him and start hating him for the spineless wimp that he is.
We come to this site because we love great cinema. This is great cinema. Don't let it get by you. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 6.92)
585 Votes
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