Linbeymusol
Wonderful character development!
Zlatica
One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
Philippa
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
eduardo ramirez
Hartford, Connecticut, 1957. Frank and Cathy Whitaker are what people might name "The American Dream come true": he's a successful salesman, she's a devoted housewife in charge of a perfect house in the suburbs and two lovely children, and committed to the social causes of the time. But this will fall apart when Cathy discovers a shocking truth about Frank, and she finds solace in Raymond, the black gardener, which will make her the center of the town's gossips.Todd Haynes has declared himself as a great admirer of the highly stylized melodramas made back in the 50's (especially the ones directed by Douglas Sirk: Imitation of Life and All that heaven allows). His third feature Far from heaven is an open homage to these movies, and it's also a compelling approach for younger audiences to an often forgotten genre. Haynes' splendid screenplays offers a sharp gaze to social troubles that sadly still remain just like in the 50's: sexual preferences treated as a disease and racial discrimination towards black people (let's remember they basically had zero rights at that time). In addition to this, tells a poignant story about forbidden love following the rules of melodrama (a plot that appeals to the heightened emotions of the audience, suffering protagonists (usually heroines) facing tremendous social pressures, threats, repression, fears, etc), escaping its clichés and conventionalities skilfully. As mentioned, in Far from heaven, Haynes' intention is to accomplish a faithful recreation of the old-fashioned period dramas in which production values become another character of the movie (an essential one). Thus, Haynes' creative team is able to put together a visually-striking gem: from Edward Lachman's exquisite cinematography, Sandy Powell's alluring costumes and Elmer Bernstein (in one of his final works) and his evocative music (it's not an accident the fact that Haynes chose him to score the movie, since he worked in several of those period pieces): all of them are perfectly assembled without overshadowing the final result. The third element that makes this movie so powerful and compelling is the acting: Haynes trusts in Julianne Moore's tremendous range and she portraits Cathy's tribulations with an affecting honesty (this is one of her top performances, for which she won the Best Actress Award at the Venice Film festival and received an Oscar nomination, among many other awards). Then there's Dennis Quaid, delivering the best performance of his career: as Frank he embraces his confusion and pain brilliantly, and creates empathy for a man whose "sin" to live a lie and hide his true desires. And behind them, there's a firs-rate supporting cast, including Dennis Haysbert as Raymond, the gardener who will comfort Cathy (even though this might cause him some pain) and Patricia Clarkson and Viola Davis in strong turns. With this movie, Todd Haynes let us know his superb skills as director by taking in a misunderstood genre, infuse it with new life and keeping its essence at the same time.
Irishchatter
I found this movie was quite disturbing since it was all to do with problems they had back then in the 1950's - homosexuality and racism. I swear, the way they talk about how disgusting it was, it just was so cruel and horrible!Julianne Moore's character Cathy Whitaker would have been better off with the gardener Raymond Deagan (Dennis Haysbert) because honestly, their chemistry was so uplifting and sweet. I honestly wish they both had a happy ending together because I would be giving this movie another star if that scene ever happened but it didn't, so it lost one star from me! I wish we could look more on the husbands life. I say that would be interesting since it wasn't talked about in the 50's! I have to say folks, the music in the movie is great! So if you need a Sunday night movie, watch this!
AfroPixFlix
Great film that transplants modern day complexities into the idyllic settings of 1950's films. Actually, it brings to the surface issues that were greatly suppressed, yet existent, in that era. Of course, everyone should know that racial discrimination was both overt and pervasive in every corner of America. But what about homosexuality? Probably so, but hardly tackled by the cinema. Borrowing heavily from Douglas Sirk's 1955 film ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS, starring, ironically, the closet gay Rock Hudson, FAR FROM HEAVEN has a deliciously saturated color palette and languishing camera lens to tease out the storyline. Well-acted by the trio of Moore, Quaid, and Haysbert and a bevy of idiosyncratic bit players, this is one film you shouldn't avoid. ALL THAT HEAVEN was a good template for Haynes to use, as it gave white viewers an opportunity to have a "black experience," by showing the lunacy of discrimination based on things that make no difference. FAR FROM HEAVEN brings that experience to a new level. Six-forked AfroPixFlix says don't let this gem stray far from your queue.
Elsie Grant
For this film I think that you have to be in the right mood to watch a very 50s cinema escape. What I have found when watching this movie is that the action is less intense compared to today's films. When the film reaches high tension plot points it has little impact because the music sets it up perfectly but the action is not as equal. In this uncensored generation of film watchers, it is a breath of fresh air to see a movie that can tell the emotions and subtext without all the gore and horror that can be found on today's screens. This is a very American film because it takes off the American film techniques from the 50's. If you are thinking of watching this film be aware that you might be pleasantly surprised or bored, you take the risk.
