Review of Far from Heaven (2002) by Alex S — 11 Jan 2014

More like an episode of "Mad Men", Todd Haynes' period piece drama "Far From Heaven" tackles some racy issues including homosexuality in the late '50s, interracial relationships, and divorce, all on the backdrop of a picture perfect '50s family.

Julianne Moore plays the matriarch of the family, Cathy Whitaker, a stay-at-home mom with more on her plate than the average professional. Between magazine interviews, party planning, and keeping the household in order, Cathy barely has enough time to gossip with her fellow stay-at-home wives, including Eleonor (Patricia Clarkson).

Her drifting husband, Frank (Dennis Quaid) is kept away from the home by work, or so he would have her think. A late night dinner run to the office to see her husband proves harmful when the truth surfaces of why he actually stays late at work.

Add to that the blossoming relationship between herself and her black gardener Raymond (Dennis Haysbert) and the film is a muddle of a gossiper's delight. Moore steals the show with her reserved nature, powering through the heavy portions of the film, putting the entire cast of "Mad Men" to shame.

However, Quaid and Haysbert never quite bring to the table the same level of awe. And Viola Davis shows her uncanny nature as a maid almost a decade before "The Help". "Far From Heaven" never quite answers a majority of its questions and really does come off like an episode of a television show, but with enough star power and "before its time" content, the film holds together well enough to captivate.