Movie Review: Far From Heaven

Far From Heaven

This acclaimed movie was released at about the same time as was The Hours and Adaptation. Like them, it received award nominations and stellar reviews, but only narrow audience acceptance. In large part, that's why I wasn't able to see it until now - it simply didn't come to a theatre in my area, and so I had to wait until my video store could get it on VHS or DVD. I've been wanting to see it for some time, so when I was told the video was finally available, I jumped at the opportunitiy to see it this weekend.

Far From Heaven transports us back to the world of the late 1950's, a time when the unseemly was scarcely acknowledged let alone discussed openly, and appearances were everything. Cathy Whitaker (Julianne Moore) lives very much in those times with a perfect husband (Dennis Quaid) and two children, a beautiful home in the Connecticut suburbs, and a determinedly cheerful demeanor. In fact, Cathy herself is pretty close to perfect. She has gloves to match every lovely outfit, and her most eccentric virtue is, according to the society pages, a penchant for being "kind to negroes."

Amidst carpools and catered parties, Cathy's perfect world begins to fall apart when her husband has an affair with another man, and the only person she feels able to open up to is her black gardner, Raymond Deagan (Dennis Haysbert). Try as she might to keep up appearances, her husband's efforts to repair their marriage are failing, and her friendship with the gardner is damaging to her reputation - and to his. Cathy's best friend Eleanor (Patricia Clarkson) tries her best to understand, but some things are beyond what even she can support. Finally, as the cracks in the facade of her life begin to surface for everyone to see, even Cathy's perennial optimism is tested to the utmost.

Far From Heaven received four Oscar™ nominations: Best Actress (Moore), Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Cinematography. In actuality, while Moore was wonderful in this movie, her performance in The Hours was much better (she was also nominated for that movie in the Best Supporting Actress category, but lost to Catherine Zeta-Jones who won for Chicago). The screenplay was more than worthy of its nomination for its incredible subtlety alone. This is a movie that could have hammered you over the head with its point, but never did and was somehow all the more powerful for it. The cinematography was amazing, and the direction delicately managed. The real shame here is that Dennis Quaid didn't get an Oscar™ nod. Some critics called his portrayal of Frank Whitaker the best performance of his career. If anything, that's an understatement. Dennis Haysbert, in a role very different from that of the US President he plays on television's 24, more than holds his own against Moore's terrific turn, and Patricia Clarkson's performance offers just the counterpoint Cathy's naive housewife needs to give her character the final touches.

Far From Heaven is exactly what it says it is. Behind a seeming paradise, life is about as far from heavenly as it can get. And much of the hell in Hartford, Connecticut in 1957 is of society's own doing. If Far From Heaven doesn't teach you something, it will at the very least make you grateful we've learned a few things over the last 40 years.

FAMILY SUITABILITY: Far From Heaven is rated PG-13. It does have a few moments of violence, but is largely fairly staid. It's the subject matter that I believe makes Far From Heaven almost suitable for an R-rating. I'd keep younger children away from this film, but encourage those of about 14 or 15 and up to see it. Far From Heaven is no feel-good movie, but it is a good one.