Far From Heaven Review
by Robin Clifford (robin AT reelingreviews DOT com)November 6th, 2002
"Far From Heaven"
During the 50's director Douglas Sirk made his name as the master of melodrama with such classics as "Written on the Wind" and "Imitation of Life," as he examined romantic relations and intrigues that showcased leading man Rock Hudson. In what can only be called heartfelt homage, writer/director Todd Haynes captures the interpersonal angst of Sirk and updates it to the new millennium in "Far From Heaven."
Sirk propelled Rock Hudson to movie icon status as a regular player in many of the director's popular flicks using, I think, the actor's secret sexual preference to create characters that had a certain ambiguity about them. With "Far From Heaven" writer/helmer Todd Haynes seems to be doing the same for Julianne Moore. This is the second film that Haynes and Moore have worked together, the first being "Safe," and in this latest collaboration we see a professional relationship that may not be so far from heaven.
Moore plays Cathy Whitaker, an upper middle class housewife who tends to her beautiful home in Hartford, Connecticut for her hard-working TV sales exec husband, Frank (Dennis Quaid), and her two young kids. Life is idyllic with Cathy able to demonstrate her liberal attitudes and voice her mind on the time's civil rights issues. She is startled one day, though, when she sees a stranger, a black man, looking around her yard. She soon learns that he is the son of her gardener who has recently died and the son, Raymond Deagan (Dennis Haysbert), the owner of a gardening business, has taken over for his late dad. A friendship soon blooms between the two.
Cathy takes for granted that husband Frank is, as usual, working overtime when he's late for a dinner party or drunkenly abuses her verbally in front of friends. But his increasingly surly behavior isn't because he is working long hours. It's because Frank has doubts about his sexual orientation. When Cathy decides to drop off dinner at the office one evening when Frank is working late she catches him in the arms of a man! Suddenly, the solid foundation of her marriage and life starts showing some pretty significant cracks. Frank breaks down and promises to go into therapy then takes her on a vacation, just themselves and no kids, to Miami. Of course, we the audience see that Frank isn't cured of his homosexual sickness. Not by a long shot. Cathy's life, as she has known it, is quickly falling apart.
Controversial filmmaker Haynes, considered by some as a leader in queer cinema, has never drawn back from producing provocative films such as "Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story," his three-part AIDS allegory "Poison" and his first Julianne Moore vehicle, "Safe." Throughout his career his gay-themed works have always garnered interest, debate and a solid following. But these films have been a learning experience for the writer/director leading up to his latest, most fully drawn effort in "Far From Heaven." Haynes has transcended his previous works in what can be considered a masterpiece of modern cinema that reps the maturing of an artist into world-class filmmaker.
Haynes shows an incredibly detailed understanding of the films by Douglas Sirk, taking the ambiguity that the social mores of the 50's required of such filmmakers and opening it up in an honest, sometimes painful way through his central character, Cathy. Instead of leaving such controversies as racial prejudice and homosexuality in the closet, so to speak, writer Haynes lays them bare for our examination. "Far From Heaven" starts out light and perky as Cathy leads her perfect, liberal life with her perfect husband and kids. She sees nothing wrong as her friendship with Raymond blossoms but there are storm clouds gathering on the horizon as personal and public events unfold.
Cathy's heartfelt feelings for good and kind Raymond, as innocent and chaste as they are, represent a threat to her white bread society. When they are seen together visiting a black-owned restaurant and bar by Hartford's foremost gossip, Cathy's secure life begins to fall apart. Her shocked discovery of husband Frank's alternative lifestyle furthers the breakdown in her life and we watch the always pleasant Cathy begin to lose the security that she had taken for granted.
Julianne Moore gives her best performance to date as she gives dimension and feeling to Cathy. You understand and respect her liberal feelings, but the society of the day decidedly does not. This realization shatters her images of what her life really is. There is no turning back for Cathy as the die has been cast and the ugliness of prejudice, rumormongering and malicious gossip shape her future. Moore performs brilliantly.
Her costars also give full-fledged measure to their individual roles. Dennis Haysbert (a superb though underutilized acting talent) makes Raymond a believable, likable and very human character. He sees the warmth and love that emanate from Cathy's heart and soul and offers her the friendship and respect she deserves. Haysbert establishes Raymond as a gentle and kindred spirit who struggles against the stigma that white society has placed upon him and his people - keep in mind that the period of the film precedes the upheaval of the civil rights movement that the country would soon face.
Dennis Quaid, who has made a career as a handsome ladies' man, departs from his usual persona and delves into the desire and guilt that make up Frank Whitaker's life. He is honestly ashamed of what he is doing to his marriage and tries to make things right for his wife and partner, Cathy, but his unrequited desires take hold and he, quite literally for the time, seeks love in all the wrong places. It's a tough, unsympathetic role but Quaid gives his all.
The rest of the supporting cast also help give depth to the characters of "Far From Heaven" with Patricia Clarkson noteworthy as Cathy's best friend Eleanor Fine. Eleanor fervently declares that she is Cathy's "dearest and closest friend," but shows her true colors as the story, and Cathy's plight, unfolds. Viola Davis, as the Whitaker family maid, comes across as both a loyal friend to Cathy and a member of the family. Bette Henritze, as Hartford gossip columnist Mrs. Leacock, is dead on as the ever-present eyes and ears of the town's white community.
Acting, alone, does not always make a film great (though it does not hurt) and first class production values also contribute to a film's overall quality. The behind the camera crew that Haynes gathers provides exemplary craftsmanship to "Far From Heaven." Lenser Edward Lachman provides high quality camera work that equals the onscreen talent. Production design and art direction, by Mark Friedberg and Peter Rogness respectively, help create the mood and tone that are the film's period hallmark. Costume design, by Sandy Powell, is brilliant, especially in clothing the star, Moore, in a series of fashionable dresses that smack of the 50's. Think of June Cleaver in color and with a big budget.
"Far From Heaven" is as near perfect a film that has graced the big screen this year and richly deserves all the attention it should garner come year's end. Rarely does their come along a movie of such quality on so many levels. I give it an A.
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