Review of The Savages (2007) by Megan G — 03 Jun 2009

Not really close to the similiar themed Away From Her. I think Julie Christie's performance really put that over the top. Shame because The Savages is a great idea, with a fine cast and some moments (Sun City) that really differentiate it from other films on the subject matter.

But by focusing on the siblings rather than the father it takes away from the core of the situation. With Away From Her the main focus was on the sufferer and the husband. With the kids it doesn't have the same emotional resonance.

And it's a lesser film because of it. It helps that Away From Her had that amazing script from Sarah Polley. This is a much lighter look at the subject matter though and Laura Linney is great.