The Bottom Line
“Far From Heaven” combines fine acting, stunning cinematography, good dialogue, and a lush score in one of the most engaging movies I’ve seen recently.
Pros
- Emotionally powerful
- Fine acting, stunning cinematography
- Provides insight into American society
Cons
- May be too restrained for some
- Pace may be too slow for some
- Not particularly complex
Description
- DVD containing melodrama “Far From Heaven” (2002)
- Movie got 4 Oscar nominations, including Best Actress (Julianne Moore)
- Movie is somewhat like an updated version of a 1950s Douglas Sirk film
- DVD provides a few special features, including an audio commentary track by writer-director
- Excellent picture quality
- Excellent sound quality
Guide Review - "Far From Heaven" DVD Review
I found watching "Far From Heaven" to be a very emotional experience. In the film, the Whitakers—Cathy (Julianne Moore), Frank (Dennis Quaid), and their two kids—seem to be the perfect family in 1957 Connecticut. Then it emerges that Frank is gay, and Cathy befriends an African-American man (Dennis Haysbert). This all leads to heartbreak because repressive Eisenhower-era America was not particularly kind to women, blacks, or gays. I realize this sounds like a 1950s melodrama, but writer-director Todd Haynes has created a movie with 21st-century sensibilities. "Far From Heaven" combines fine acting, stunning cinematography, good dialogue, and a lush score in one of the most engaging movies I’ve seen recently.
