Far From Heaven
Cast
Julianne Moore as Cathy Whitaker
Dennis Quaid as Frank Whitaker
Dennis Haysbert as Raymond Deagan
Patricia Clarkson as Eleonor Fine
Viola Davis as Sybil
Directed by Todd Haynes
Rater #2 has description and Review
Rater #1
Has Not Seen Movie
Rater #2
8/10. In Todd Haynes' beautiful melodrama, Julianne Moore plays Cathy
Whitaker, a well-to-do 1950's mom of picture-perfect David and Janice
(Ryan Ward and Lindsay Andretta) (except when they use strong
language like "Geez") and housewife of Frank (Dennis Quaid). Frank is
a businessman of a TV company, and also their spokesman of sorts. But
there's trouble in paradise.
Their gardener died, so his son Raymond Deagen (Dennis Haysbert) is
taking over. Frank is becoming a homosexual, so they go to a doctor
to try and cure him. During this time, Cathy goes to Raymond to lean
on, and maybe a little more? So the perfect life breaks apart, even
after a relaxing trip to Miami.
I've never enjoyed reviewing movies like this, because I can never
use many different words. But Far From Heaven was beautiful and
heartfelt; everyone gave 110%. Lots of painstaking effort. It was
heartful yet heartbreaking. Don't come here looking for relief,
you'll only find grief. Hey, I like that. Acting was top notch. Moore
was, well, moore good than I expected (sorry, just HAD to). She
rightly deserved her Golden Globe nom. Quaid was somewhat creepy and
subdued, adding to his already good acting ability (and thankfully
it's Dennis and not Randy acting here). Haysbert adds more of my
repect towards him (he's awesome on 24), and I'm glad he's getting
more roles. Viola Davis (last seen in Solaris), who plays a maid,
seems to have tried to come from the 1800's, but she was still good.
As I said before, it's heart breaking, but not hankie-warranting.
Despite what it looks like, it isn't a chick flick. It's not a "guy
movie" either, but it's a well rounded movie, with some flickets of
humor in there. Ugg! I can't think of much else to say, so I'll just
say...see it!
Rater #3
Has Not Seen Movie.
Rater #4
Has Not Seen Movie
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexual content, brief violence and language.
Running time: 107 minutes
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