Review of Far from Heaven (2002) by Andrew A — 30 Aug 2007
It was funny that the movie Claire and I were going to watch was actually Vertigo, a movie from the 50's. When watching one of those, you have to expect overly sincre dialogue, fade-away cuts, and a cooly dramatic score.
Well, little did we know when we decided to watch Far from Heaven instead, a movie from 2002, that it would have all of those things. It fits fairly well, considering that the theme is set in 1957; in an upper-class segredated suburban neighborhood.
The little boy says "shucks," the little girl calls her dad "father" every time, and the mother doesn't like it when they use language like "aw jeez." Oh yeah, and there's gay shit too.
Sounds corny, but it's actually a very serious and well-drawn out film; highlighting the racial tension of the time by pairing it with an even more taboo subject at the time: homosexuality. Haynes isn't trying to make any sociological protest or example with this movie, but the clash of the two taboos definitely takes both down to Earth, which allows them to be used as simple plot devices rather then directoral activism.
The story itself makes a great movie. I won't spoil the story, but I'll just say that the characters all mean well, but usually just end up making it worse. I myself find it to be very realistic.
This review of Far from Heaven (2002) was written by Andrew A on 30 Aug 2007.
Far from Heaven has generally received very positive reviews.
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