Far From Heaven | | Cast : | Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, Dennis Haysbert | | Director : | Todd Haynes | | Studio : | Universal Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound | | Released Date : | November 22, 2002 | | DVD Released Date : | August 24, 2004 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Spanish (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | April 30, 2005 | | Summary | For all true movie fans | Content
 | An excellent story about a 1950s familiy.It's a story about a way of life, that isn't that much different from today, 'couse when it comes to marriage and children everything has to look perfect, no matter what lies under the surface. That is just what Cathy Whittaker, (Julinne Moore)is doing. She is doing everthing she can to save her marriage after having found out about her husband's " accident ". OOOps! he's a homosexual. Hush!While fighting for her familiy, she finds herself becomeing close to her gardner, who is black.OOOOps! Hush! hello, It's the '50s. What I want to say is that everyone has a secret or two, no matter how much we try to convince ourselves otherwise.And, naturally, we hate to be exposed.We fight,'couse that's what life really is about.Haynes did an excellent job by placeing the story in the 1950's, becouse much of what the movie is about, was a taboo back then ( it still is...) and it gives the story much more reality!!! Don't miss it.
P.S. Julianne Moore will always be my one and only. She is a godess. Bye and thanks. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 31, 2005 | | Summary | nicely acted, but | Content
| that's really all you can say about FFH. Yes, the themes it tackles are crucially important, but at the same time, I'm forced to agree with others here ... they've been covered countless times, and often better, before. Understand; this remains a very watchable movie, largely for its performances, but, even if you don't wanna, you walk away from it wanting something more plot-wise that never happens, if that makes sense. Not necessarily a different ending, just some more meat on its bones overall. Some parts dragged, it seems, others were handled much too quickly. Worth seeing overall, not owning. |
| Rating | | | Date | January 20, 2005 | | Summary | Close to Heaven | Content
| With 201 reviews online, I am not about to summarize this film. But for those who say they "hated it," it is clear that they have no clue what Todd Haynes was trying to do. It is a very stylized film meant to evoke certain films from the 1950s, and if you watch all the extra features on the DVD, you will understand that is what the goal is. The difference, which makes this film absolutely stone cold brilliant, is that Haynes does what filmmakers in the 1950s could not do: address homosexuality. Anyone who is gay or sensitive to gay people will quickly grasp that many films in the 1950s had "veiled" themes, and that some of them could have been gay love stories or had gay themes, had the times allowed. Haynes shows what may have really been going on in the "Donna Reed" world of Cathy Whitaker, behind closed doors, so to speak.
The acting of the leads and the supporting cast is stellar, and Julianne Moore, in particular, conveys emotions in such an incredible way that it is impossible not to feel connected to her. When she admits to her best friend Eleanor that she feels the only person she can talk to is the black gardener, and that she feels somehow "alive" -- you can almost see a woman who has felt true, honest human affection for the first time in her adult life.
Other reviews commented on the bad camera shots/angles/what not -- I don't know what they're talking about. It is clear that everything in this film was thought out in minute detail and there was a deep love for the period, for the specific films being emulated, and that even the composer, the brilliant Elmer Bernstein, felt connected to the film, from his mesmerizing score, to his insightful comments that he offers on the DVD.
One of the tragedies of being young is not having lived through certain things, and yet making the assumptions that something is dumb, cliche, stupid, or any other sort of bizarre commentary that I have read about this film. I lived in this era, I saw these movies, those colors were in my house, and people said those things -- because movies influence us in ways that we cannot even begin to imagine.
This movie is not perfect; there are a couple of scenes, which, if watched too many times, border on the hysterically funny -- but even those have to be considered in light of the whole undertaking, which is absolutely brilliantly conceived.
I think that Dennis Quaid, who seemed uncomfortable discussing his part in the DVD extras (maybe he didn't want to give away the "secret"), was superb. Knowing men from that era, I can recognize the look in his face, and his posture, his clothes, everything about him said "closet case." He was fantastic. I find it odd that everyone is making a hysterical big deal out of the male-male kiss in "Alexander" -- and yet, look at Dennis -- he went for it. He is totally believable, and when their relationship really starts to fall apart, it's tragic -- two people living a lie, keeping up appearances, for what? This is one of the messages, if there were any, that I got. And the other is where Dennis Haysbert, as the gardener, has a moment with Julianne Moore in front of the theater -- an incredibly honest moment which he says a few things that make so much sense -- and yet, all around them was a world of fear, a white world with white people, all living in some fantasyland that they were the only people in it, and that black people were somehow "extras" or "atmosphere people" that showed up and did the dirty work, and were then bussed out of town at night.
Todd Haynes wanted to express these and other things within the very specific and stylized framework of certain 50s' films, and I think he did so with absolute, total brilliance. |
| Rating | | | Date | December 30, 2004 | | Summary | Heaven Knows She's Miserable Now! | Content
| What Can I say? Back in 2003 and after leaving the Cinema I was amazed by this piece of art! Good in all the aspects! I am already Todd Haynes fan! And Julianne Moore are so intense in this movie (well, all her movies are intense)!
In the same year I saw The Hours! And the role wich Julianne plays in the two movies are so antagonistic, although in the same decade, the 50s! Here we see a lovely housewife taking care of her children and husband (great Dennis Quaid), organising parties and women meetings. Everything is under control! But as soon as she discovers her husband to be homosexual her life fall to the ground like a castle of cards... Only the comfort she needs - the ONE we all ever need is a true friendship that is given by her gardener (Dennis Haysbert) wich caused tremendous shock in the "world" she lives! Only because the friend is black...
She played so well in both movies! Although I prefer this one! It's dramatic and it's story is different from all we ever expect from a film related with the 50s! The beauty colors of the film, the Elmer Bernstein score evoques the 50s so well... It's perfect! Todd Haynes is apted to film whatever he wants just because he is one of the greatest US directors of the last years! |
| Rating | | | Date | December 22, 2004 | | Summary | Wow! | Content
| It's 1957. Cathy Whitaker (Julianne Moore) has it all: a charming and successful husband, Frank Whitaker (Dennis Quaid), two adorable children, fashionable friends and she is the perfect housewife and mother with impeccable manners. Yet, the dark and unfair side of 1950's perfection is revealed in this moving and touching drama. Mr. Whitaker has a secret that crushes Mrs. Whitaker. She finds comfort in her intelligent and calm gardener, Raymond Deagan (Dennis Haysbert) and feelings grow between the pair. However, she causes an uproar because her confidant is black.
Positive Points
Julianne Moore was absolutely delightful and bloody brilliant! The way she portrays her character's genuine and kind heart is beautiful; her soft-spoken manner that betrays her inner pain is vivid and heartbreaking. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2003 for this role (only losing to Charlize Theron for her role in 'Monster'). I have not seen Monster but judging from Far From Heaven, this category must been one of fierce debate.
Dennis Haysbert was impressive in his dramatic role as the kindred spirit that Moore is attracted to and while their scenes together are ones of delicacy, there is great chemistry between the two. He is now widening his scope from not only acting in African-American films like 'Love & Basketball' to the acclaimed TV series, '24' and now this feature, 'Far From Heaven'.
Dennis Quaid? Hmm, I think he'll grow on you. At first, his performance is hard to comprehend - is he truly sorry for his secret or is he just biding his time? Then at the end, he does deliver a great show of the emotional guilt and turmoil he is experiencing because of leading a double life.
The costume and art design is bloody wicked! The dresses, the hair, the makeup look brilliant but it doesn't feel modernised at all, it looks like you have been transported to a posh neighbourhood in 1950s America. The use of light, dark and colour is excellent. The colour is rich and vibrant but yet when it is dark, it adds to the sombre and tragic tone of the film. 'Far From Heaven' is in the league as 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' when it comes to the usage of colour - captivating to look at for the artistic flair.
Negative Point
One negative is the lack of character development: Sybil (Viola Davis) could have been an integral part of the story and so could have Eleanor (Patricia Clarkson) as she was Cathy's best friend but instead they were peripheral figures who weren't as strong as they should have been.
Last Thought
The message of this film is multi-layered, exposing the attitudes towards inter-racial relations and homosexuality and portraying that betrayal lurks everywhere even behind the smiles of the perfect couple. |
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