Far from Heaven

It's obvious that director Todd Haynes used the work of Douglas Sirk as a reference point with "Far From Heaven". It's a homage of Sirk that isn't reduced to parody unlike the work of, say, Brian DePalma and his Hitchcock obsession. Granted, the film is set in the white picket fence suburban fifties but strip away the beehives and the tailfins there is alot here that can be reflected in contemporary society. Haynes succeeds in using Sirk as a template but distinguishing himself in the process. As daring a director that Sirk was he couldn't fully explore certain themes that Haynes has the luxury of. Where Haynes succeeds best is in his handling of race relations and not just the platonic one between Kathy Whitaker (Julianne Moore) and Raymond Deegan (Dennis Haysbert). Not to diminish the work of Moore and Haysbert because they are excellent here particularly in the heartbreaking final scenes of the movie. Two scenes come to my mind that put the nature of racism under the microsco... Read more

What would you do to keep your seemingly perfect life in tact? What if it was the 1950's and you find out your husband is a homosexual? Dennis Quaid is said husband and Julianne Moore is the perfect housewife, trying to stabilize an unspeakable situation. It may seem stereotypical, and in some regards, it is, but this is a solid film with wonderful performances that should not be missed. The plot is simple. Julianne Moore's character catches her husband in act of unfaithfulness, and not just that, but with another man-at work. She doesn't freak out too much. Quad's character promises to get help, and she smiles and says thank you. Throughout the film, she attempts to put on a happy face. Her character is very popular-she has many good-standing friends, she have 2 children, a gorgeous house-basically, everything anyone could ever want. Her fascade soon starts to crumble, especially when she becomes friends with her gardener, who happens to be black. People stare, gossip and worse... Read more

"Far From Heaven" is like a perfectly cut cubic zirconium. It looks like a diamond--but it's not. In the same way,"Far from Heaven" is a '50s "women's film" a la Douglas Sirk,but it's not. It's Todd Haynes' homage. Julianne Moore is luminous as a '50s housewife caught between the two men in her life--her beloved husband (Dennis Quaid) and her black gardener whom she befriends (Dennis Haysbert) "Far from Heaven" is retro with an edge--Dennis Quaid embodies gay issues as the closeted husband. Dennis Haysbert embodies the racial issues of the time that still exist. There's a timelessness, but also a contemporary slant. Dennis Quaid,usually macho,is perfect as the closeted,conflicted husband. Haysbert is wonderful as Moore's wise friend. Julianne Moore is especially poignant and powerful in her portrayal. As a woman, she loses everything due to societal taboos. She becomes a stigmatized divorcee because of her husband's forbidden inclinations; she is isolated once Haysbert says their ra... Read more

If you ever asked yourself as we all have done. Why do people treat each other the way they do ?...you need look no further ! Watch this film ! You won't have to ask your therapist, your girlfriend or anyone else. What ever your going through... I understand now why bad things happen to good people !

'Far from heaven' the film throws light on situations, secret affairs and taboos. The film takes you right to the mid 50's, the costums, the settings, the whole atmosphere is that of the late 1950's. Julianne Moore gives an outstanding performence, you can see her expressing so much through her eyes alone. Dennis Quaid was excellent too, you can see the plight in which the charecters are. Nevertheless, Dennis Haysbert delivers an excellent performence as well, the chemistry between Haysbert and Moore is quite strong in the film and you can smell the attraction in the air. The conclusion is reasonable. One of the very few drama based films worth appreciating, watch it for the strong charecter developments and chemistries, watch is specially for Julianne Moore, words alone wont describe this wonderfull film.

A pretty good movie. It takes place in 1957. In the beginning of the movie we are introduced to a family a mom, dad and two children. they look to be the ideal family of the fifties they even have a magazine article done on them as the perfect family type. It turns out things are not as they appear. Cathy the wife walks in on her husbands office to see him with another man in a passionate embrace. He goes to a psychiatrist to cure him .{yeah right} meanwhile she becomes friends with a kind intelligent black man who does the gardening for them. This is the 1950s and so being friends with an african american was frowned onespecially if they are the opposite sex.the towns people are quick to gossip about this friendship.Now this perfect family is quickly falling apart. A good movie that shows how vicious prejudice can be. makes people think that the 1950s was not such an ideal time to live in. If you are looking for a movie with a happy ending, this is not it. yet it is a good movie.Julia... Read more

Very disappointing - and what happened to the ending - did they run out of money???

The best part of this film is the acting of the cast. Julianne Moore is vulnerable and beautiful as the paragon of a 50's housewife. Dennis Quaid and the supporting actors were also terrific. There is a wonderful, sad undertone to this film. Underneath the bright colors and perfect score, it shows the problems of the idolized time period that were swept under the rug. Issues such as homosexuality, biracial relationships (friendships and otherwise) and divorce. Too often parts of history are clouded by nostalgia and put on a pedestal. This film is a sad, beautiful, realisitc look at real life.

This movie was pretty good, but I thought it was overrated. It was kind of slow, actually. There are alot of better dramas out there.

I really loved this movie. Almost every detail is perfect. The cast, the cinematography, the score, the costumes, and of course the script and the directing. I think Julianne and Todd are one of the greatest teams in Hollywood. It's sad that Far from Heaven didn't get as much recognization as it deserved. However it will always be one of my favorites.

This movie is moving up my favorites list everytime I watch it. The cast is terrific (although, how can you go wrong with Julianne??). It is a wonderful film and definitely deserves more credit and attention than it has received.

"Far From Heaven" uses superb craftmanship to make this film look and feel like a film from the 1950s. It plays like a powerful 1957 drama we've somehow never seen before. One detail is particularly true to the time: interracial love and homosexual love are treated as being on different moral planes. Contemporary movies take so many subjects for granted that they never really look at them. Director Todd Haynes, by stepping back in time is able to bring these issues into focus. Cinematographer, Ed Lachman faithfully reproduces the lush 1950s studio style and every shot has the studied artiface of 1950s "set decoration". The musical score, by Elmer Bernstein, is true to the time, with its underlining points and its punching-up emotions.I don't wish to give a synopsis of the movie's scenes except to say it is packed with power, incredible acting, and images that hit home. I had to find it showing in an "art" theatre as it never made major marquees. Catch if you can!!