Far From Heaven Movie Review:


Todd Haynes' dedication to the 1950's society and film melodrama is the centerpiece of his new film Far From Heaven. Haynes takes certain elements that were considered unacceptable in the 50's, like homosexuality and interracial relationships, and places them into this human story of a different time than the one that we live in today. It is almost like Haynes places the audience in the 50's through a time machine, in which his precisely detailed decisions makes Far From Heaven a great film.

Far From Heaven is a reflective 50's film made in the year 2002, but it is still a very identifiable human melodrama. The story is set during 1957 in a small town in Connecticut. The Whitakers are the typical white American family of their neighborhood. The man of the house is a successful businessman named Frank Whitaker (Quaid). The lady of the house is the elegantly too-nice Cathy Whitaker (Moore), who is a housemother that always has dinner ready on time. The couple are social butterflies that often have parties and social gatherings at their beautiful two-story home. The Whitakers of course have two healthy children and a respectable reputation throughout their suburb and town. However, an unthinkable change occurs between Cathy and Frank. After many late nights at work, Cathy decides to bring her husband dinner one night at his office. She discovers Frank's hidden secret of his struggle with his sexuality, and the questioning of if he is homosexual. Under the sorrows and hiding of the secret from everyone she knows, Cathy develops a release and unlikely friendship with her black gardener Raymond (Haysbert). Raymond is a very knowledgeable and widowed father that turns to Cathy's comfort when he notices her crying. Due to the values and way of thinking in the 50's, Cathy finds that Raymond is the only person she can communicate with understandably. More problems develop, however, when Cathy and Raymond are seen with one another. The characters are left with decisions to make as to whether hide or express their secrets and feelings.

During the times of the 1950's, black and white people didn't mix and homosexuality was never spoken of. The elements that Haynes puts in the so-called perfect society are what make this film construently unique. Haynes shows the pressure of the 50's that were centered more around gossip and people's reputations rather than on one's character. Cathy herself is a part of this society, and the secrets of the story pull her away even though she constantly denies problems between her and Frank to people like her best friend Eleanor (Clarkson).

The work by Haynes is this film is brilliant. The script is well written around the 50's style manners and even language that was spoken. The characters as well are taken from the time period and as an audience we feel for them. Cathy is an emotional basketcase that is in a storm of frustration, anger, perceive unnormal behavior, but she still hides it all. Each time she is questioned she has an immediate answer, an immediate denial or a counterpoint.

Haynes pinpoints every camera angle, color, appliance, hairstyle, and costume to reflect and to be shot in the way of 1950's film. Haynes said that this film is his dedication to the Douglas Sirk films of the 1950s. Everything in Far From Heaven is so detailed to reflect that film genre, from the score by Elmer Bernstein, the camera angles, and even the title sequence of the film. Todd Haynes is an artist and crafty filmmaker that's work in this film should earn him a couple of Oscar nominations.

Oscar talk has begun and should continue to follow the actors in Far From Heaven as well. Julianne Moore delivers a strong and eminent performance as the heroine of the film. She plays a character that has a broken heart and tries to continue to please everyone with her beautiful smile. Moore is a gifted actress that turns in a confined and rational performance. Dennis Quaid delivers the riskiest boldest performance of his career as Cathy's questionable husband, Frank. Quaid's character is also pretty much an alcoholic, which gives the actor just another area to devour in his commanding performance. Dennis Haysbert is simplicity effective as well with his performance as the soft-spoken gardener Raymond. The whole cast of the film is very admirable, which it is like watching these actors fabricate the ways of the 50s, but they were also playing very decent people.

Far From Heaven is hands down one of the best films of the year. Todd Haynes originality and perfectionist direction leads the audience into a story about a time when people are still human and going against the norms means going against your heart. Look for this film to rack up some Oscar nominations come February.

Report Card Grade: A

11/25/02
Copyright

Joseph C. Tucker

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