"Julianne Moore at her best. Definitely an Oscar worthy performance."
Todd Haynes previously known from Velvet Goldmine and Safe (which also starred Moore) wrote and directed Far From Heaven. He assembled a fabulous team of artists for this movie which uses color and light the way they were meant to be used. Every character has a color palette all their own. It was like stepping into a 1950s fantasy world. This film is award worthy for the sheer technical aspects of it. But guess what? The story is great too. It tackles some pretty hard hitting issues as well; Racism, Homosexuality and a woman’s place within her family.Far From Heaven tells the tale of the Whitaker Family. Cathy (Julianne Moore) and Frank (Dennis Quaid) are Mr and Mrs Magnatech. The quintessencial 1950s family an all American ideal. Then one day whilst being the oh so caring wife Cathy decides to bring Frank dinner because he is working late at the office. Uh oh not such a good idea - she finds him kissing another man. Tossing her tupperware and flinging her skirts to the wind, Cathy runs and wonders what to do now.
Frank attempts therapy, while Cathy becomes a little too friendly with their black gardener Raymond Deagan (24's Dennis Haysbert). She even GASP goes so far as to be seen in public with him. Big mistake, the town gossip spys Cathy and Raymond going into a typically 'black' diner/bar and soon spreads the word all over town. Cathy can't even bring herself to confide in her bestfriend Eleanor Fine (Patricia Clarkson) about her troubled marriage or her blossoming friendship with Raymond.
Frank and Cathy try everything to revive their failing marriage even a trip to Miami, where Frank ends up in the arms of another man. It all comes to a head at a cocktail party where Frank has a little too much of the hooch and lets his tongue get the best of him.It's interesting to note that the townsfolk are more accepting of Frank's homosexual urges, than they are of Cathy befriending a man of color. Oddly enough that's what makes this film so beautiful COLOR. Haynes did a fabulous job and I for one will be purchasing the DVD and rooting Julianne Moore on at the Oscars!
OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2002 Vancouver Film Festival. For more in the 2002 Vancouver Film Festival series, click here.
OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2005 SXSW Film Festival. For more in the 2005 South By Southwest Film Festival series, click here.
User Comments
11/04/15
David Hollingsworth
Amazing film!
7/31/08
Ramone
Haynes' academic approach doesn't neglect real emotion here
6/20/07
fools♫gold
Almost as SHOCKINGLY flawless as "Yes."
5/31/07
Anton
Though the story was a bit flat, Julianne gives another incredible performance.
12/27/06
Rob H
Felt like an academic exercise or parody. Could not get into it.
10/26/06
Matt H.
Flawless cinematography, really amazing, however I do believe the story was a bit flat.
8/16/06
anthonyuk
when will the oscars recognize julianne moore as one of the best ever
1/02/06
Daveman
Hammy, even by melodrama standards.
6/01/05
JFK
great actings, great plot. Bad ending
12/11/04
Charlene Javier
Julianne Moore was robbed!
9/25/04
NJ Cup Winner 95-00-03
Not as good as I had hoped, tho I respect Moore & Dennis a lot
10/04/03
Darryl
Seen all this before. Just maybe not in 1957 Hartford. Nothing special. J. Moore is good.
10/01/03
Jinnvisible
People have Gay and Interracial love problems-- YES WE KNOW-beautifull photography though
9/11/03
filmfatale
Excellent and riveting movie - Julianne did a great job!
8/27/03
Chris
The film's not perfect but very good none the less. The actors were all excellent.
8/14/03
Ayla
much better than expected
7/24/03
Léo parent
I LOVE THIS MOVIE I THINK IT,A GREAT MOVIE
6/02/03
brentley
The acting, the cinematography, the set design, everything - was all top notch.
5/30/03
Jack Sommersby
Familiar ideas directed and performed with flair and power. A wonderful film.
5/25/03
Gil Carlson
Hopelessly over rated and highly improbable
5/11/03
Artist Freak
Not as aweomse as I thought it would be. Nice cinematography tho.
4/19/03
Boo
Splendid
4/05/03
gay man
who's sirk
3/22/03
Kyle
Not bad. Didn't meet my expectations, though...
3/19/03
regy
A quiet gem of a movie.
3/04/03
James Renwick
Touching and moving motion picture. Society is still like in som many ways
2/21/03
Jim the movie geek
Slow and unreal in parts, but some powerful bits.
2/13/03
Andrew Carden
Excellent film, with great performances. Kudos To Julianne Moore
2/12/03
Joe
Tackled these subjects poorly, go rent a Sirk film instead
2/12/03
kz
Cinema at its Best
2/12/03
alien assassin
If you don't like this, dust off your collection of "happy days" videos.
1/10/03
Goofy Maxwell
*sniff* The style is just so beautiful. *sniff* Disillusionment is oh so painful.
12/31/02
Mitchell Morris
It's not a movie, it's something better—a "picture."
12/25/02
Marshall
Among the 21st century's first classic films.
12/25/02
gg
excellent but a bit overstated; technical mastery of late 1950's look is worth going for.
12/23/02
Donna
Horrendous propoganda in which no character is remotely close to the 50's.
12/23/02
anna
an incredibly artistic piece of work
12/22/02
laura
This film is so heavy handed and lacking in subtlety, it's offensive. I'm shocked as well.
12/21/02
take1
Very enjoyable
12/21/02
RS
This could and should have been a good film. It wasn't.
12/18/02
geekLove
disturbed. Not a good date movie = the husband (me) turns gay, wife (date) loves gardener.
12/17/02
steve
interesting film for those that love "film," but honestly, it left me feeling cold.
12/16/02
Cory Phaeus
Moore and Quaid's "acting" is so patently phony, I am astounded the "critics" loved them.
12/16/02
This Charming Man
perfect period piece - excellent acting
12/16/02
Stephen
Essential viewing
12/15/02
john
Score detracts, attempts at saluting sirk distracts, story is weak
12/14/02
Mike G
Julianne Moore's acting and the set design is amazing!
12/12/02
VINCENT LOCASCIO
THIS FILM SHOWCASES DENNIS QUAID'S AMAZING ACTING ABILITIES BUT JULIANNE MOORE IS THE STAR.
12/10/02
renegade mike
the struggle to achieve in atmosphere got in the way of a really compelling story
12/09/02
AgainstTheGrain
This movie was an academic exercise. Save money, rent a Douglas Sirk movie!
12/08/02
Flora P.
Re establishes racial boundaries, Negro as spiritual help for troubled white woman
12/07/02
David Hogan
Stunning in every respect, and a movie that makes me understand why I love movies.
12/06/02
Suzz
beautiful looking film; fine performances; but flat and uninvolving
11/25/02
marzio arigoni@rtsi.ch
What a nice surprise: good film, superb cinematography, Julianne Moore and Dennis Quaid sim
11/20/02
Kenmeister
Well-made, well -acted melodrama. The only part that rings false is Raymond.