Rated R for some sexuality and language.
114 Minutes
Written and Directed By: Tamara Jenkins
Staring: Laura Linney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Bosco, and Peter Friedman
Staring: Laura Linney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Bosco, and Peter Friedman
Dad’s not the one that has a problem with the Valley View. There’s nothing wrong with Dad’s situation. Dad’s situation is fine. He’s never gonna adjust to it if we keep yanking him outta there. And, actually, this upward mobility fixation of yours, it’s counterproductive and, frankly, pretty selfish. Because it’s not about Dad, it’s about you and your guilt. That’s what these places prey upon. -Jon Savage
Review
The Savages omitted such a realistic quality it was actually a difficult movie to watch. Difficult as in uncomfortably honest. The story is structured around a brother and sister who have been estranged from their father, who can no longer care for himself, and determine what the right choices for him to finish his final days, weeks, or years are. The conflict of not being close to their father, having their own lives interrupted, and having clear consciences at the end of the day are real life issues that people face everyday. Writer and Director Tamra Jenkins made no quarries about making this film exceptionally bold and intensely intimate.
The middle-aged brother and sister are not only overwhelmed by the responsibilities of their father, but are forced to view their own mortality. Both are alone, fighting careers or relationships that are not satisfying. It suddenly becomes obvious to Laura Linney’s character, Wendy, that she may end up alone just as her father has. The combination of her guilt and her fear becomes a journey that is painful and dejecting to watch. It’s so vivid in it’s honesty, that her conflict is truly palpable.
By the films finale there is no neat little bow to tie things up, but an apparent lesson is learned, and both character’s have not necessarily changed, but have changed their perspective on life, which in turn has made small changes that may eventually lead to a path of happiness for them. The naturalism of each of their character’s and the relationships they create is intriguing and a candid glimpse into the real stuff life is about.
I say it is time someone hands Laura Linney her Oscar. She is one of the most simplistically talented actresses available today. Her ability to convey emotions, subtly and naturally and still emote so strongly is incredible. So many times in The Savages she just floors you with her eyes alone. Both her and Seymour-Hoffman are such talented and focused actors, that at moments where there was no dialogue, there almost seemed more was being said. It was amazing to watch them both work, and engage so profoundly together. Two other actors may not have been able to convey Wendy and Jon to the screen so clearly. Both performances were overwhelmingly sincere.
Akwardness Realized
The Savages was a tough movie to sit through, because it does make you think, and perhaps even join the character’s in their contemplations. There is no pizazz, or shocking revelations, or obvious lessons learned. It’s a real story, with real character’s that has the ability to affect or touch everyone who watches it in a different way. The best part of The Savages was watching Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman together. It was poignant film, but it’s main appeal is the main actors performances.
I loved Laura Linney in this movie. She was really dynamic, and had such a simple emotional presence. I think she should have gotten more oscar buzz than she did.
Philip Seymour Hoffman just played the supporting role well as well. Their performances definitely make it worth the journey.
Univarn recently posted..
I love Laura Linney in any movie!
Castor recently posted..
I’m with you Castor, she has this quiet elegance that proceeds her characters. I even liked her in Congo.
AMY JUNGLE!
AMY GOOD GORILLA!
Heather recently posted..Review- A Town Called Panic 2009
I think it’s her voice to some degree. Very regal.
Encore Entertainment recently posted..Encore’s Greatest Voices- 20-11
It doesn’t thrill me as much as Linney’s other sister/brother pairing but it’s still good even if it’s uncomfortable at times. I fairly good effort from all involved, and almost annoyingly honest.
The honesty is so truly discomforting. I felt like a fly on the wall.
Heather recently posted..Review- A Town Called Panic 2009
I felt a bit cheated by this movie as it was marketed as a dark comedy but was definitely more of a grim emotion-fest. Linney was so absolutely hot in this, given her age – definitely out-milfed the SATC girls! Great acting by all involved though.
http://paragraphfilmreviews.com/2009/08/04/the-savages/
Paragraph Film Reviews recently posted..War
Frankly, I’m a big fan of the dark comedy, and I agree with you, there wasn’t anything funny about it.
Heather recently posted..Review- A Town Called Panic 2009
It WASN’T a comedy, I don’t get why it was marketed as such. As you said above, it’s like being a fly on the wall. This is about as funny as Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf…
…that being said I DID find that to be quite funny…
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The only way I could imagine someone laughing through this is quite literally, uncomfortable laughter, not hahaha Patrick Bateman just went on a crazy rant about Huey Lewis, or Lester Burnham brought home an 70′s Firebird to piss his wife off, this was serious business, and brutally so.
Great review! I love this movie! Laura Linney was wonderful in it and should have won the Oscar, although she might not always be my pick though, because I need to rewatch all of the nominees.
Anyway, great review again!
I wish Angelina would have been nominated and won, that was a strong year for the women (and yet Juno was up there. Ugh)
Encore Entertainment recently posted..Encore’s Greatest Voices- 20-11
I would have never seen this movie if it wasn’t nominated at the Oscars that year.
I agree with your words about this film. It’s a quiet story about a brother and sister that have to tolerate each other in order to take care of her father.
Doesn’t Linney character remind you of hers from “You Can Count on Me?” I thought it did.
Branden recently posted..Inception 2010
I think there are some similarities, but there is certainly variation enough that I wouldn’t specifically note the two as “alike”, but I get your meaning.
Heather recently posted..Groovers & Mobsters Present- 복수 삼부작 The Vengeance Trilogy
I think it’s because we so rarely see a film about brother/sister relationships in detail. Coincidental two of the best star Linney.
I like it. Its a simple story about siblings trying to find the best way to care for their aging father. Its an issue faced by many people in this aging society we live in today. Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman have great chemistry as the siblings. They act and talk like real siblings and were thoroughly believable as they try to navigate through their and differences and disagreements and find a solution that was not only best for their father but for them too, which I thought was pretty honest.
Agreed. The honesty was discomforting because these aren’t qualities about ourselves that we openly want to admit or talk about. It was a fair depiction of the selfishness of human nature, or perhaps American nature. It does seem the most simple things nowadays, to toss our elderly in a nursing home and away with them, but to be fair to the siblings, their lack of relationship with their father anyway made them seem more human and less villainous. I liked that there was no big revelation at the end either. The events changed both of them, but didn’t make them new people.
Heather recently posted..Groovers & Mobsters Present- 복수 삼부작 The Vengeance Trilogy
That was kind of a key thing. Them changing would have made the entire film a bit silly.
Yeah… Laura Linney is one of the most underrated working actresses. She’s been turning in solid work for the past 8 years or so. I’m kind of bummed to see her take on a series cuz we won’t get as many movie roles from her.’
As far as The Savages, good not fantastic. It was the performances that carried it but they didn’t have much to carry.
Kai B. Parker recently posted..Groovers & Mobsters Present- 복수 삼부작 The Vengeance Trilogy
I actually thought the script was the ace in the hole.
Encore Entertainment recently posted..Encore’s Greatest Voices- 20-11
For some reason, this film never gripped me. I was never interested in the characters or caught up in their conflicts. I don’t know if that makes it a bad film, but it made it an alienating film for me and one I could never get a good hold of.
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