JPF Home Page Forums Creative Arts Forums Acting, Theater, Film and TV Forum "G-A-C" Review: "THE SAVAGES"/ Laura Linney/ Philip S. Hoffman

Prepare for Entertaining Irony as you witness "The Savages", a Quirky Comedy-Drama about 2 grown-up-kids dealing with the impending departure of their aging, formerly-abusive father.

Starts out in Sun City, AZ with "Location Shots" that bring to mind "Edward Scissorhands'" studying parts of Lakeland FL Subdivisions: "Weirdness..among The Everyday"..Shrubbery & Seniors, wittily called-upon to focus your attention...

SOMETHING IS WRONG IN "ELDERLY-TOWN"...(& here comes "The Interior Shot")...Abusive-Father (Philip Basco as Kenny Savage) won't flush his crud down the toilet.

His elderly "Main Squeeze" has a Male Assistant who's hired to help ONLY her..& the Assistant insists DAD do the business of flushing his business. Dad leaves his newspaper on the sofa, stolls to the commode, & we last see Dad writing the word "P-r-i-c-k" on the wall..in excrement.

This...sets the tone for the REST of the movie--it's irreverent, occasionally-disgusting, but often very-humorous & filled with painful insight into kids & parents facing The End-Game of Life.

The Phones Ring for Laura Linney as Wendy Savage, (Who hasn't communicated with Dad for years) and her physically-abused brother (Philip Seymour Hoffman as Jon Savage), as a PhD College Professor who has little guilt about placing Dad in a Rest Home..soon-after Dad's "Squeeze" expires. (Turns out, Dad's LadyChum had a Contract that HE had NO Claim to any of HER Property when she died.)

Daughter Wendy wants Dad moved to a "Rehabilitation Center"..but Dad's dementia's getting worse..(& you'll see how Daughter's Guilt Trip magnifies along the way.)

BOTH Siblings have their OWN Life Issues to deal with: Bro's doing a Scholarly Book his career badly-needs; Sis is seeking Grants..to quit her Temps Jobs and write Plays based-on (you guessed it) his & her Dysfunctional Childhoods.

As the setting changes to Up-North Wintry Buffalo, NY locales, there's very little glamor to this struggle. Tired Taxis, Fleeting Trains, Slush-filled Streets, & even Love Relationships..(Hers to a Married-Man, Peter Friedman as Larry), His to a departing Polish Lady-on-an-Expiring-Visa (Cara Seymour as Kasia)..ALL are "Not in the Best-of-Circumstances"..and these "Kids" are Un-Married, late 30's, Mid-40's..I'd guess.

I admired the way Writer-Director Tamera Jenkins slowly peeled-away all the layers of Life's End-Game Onion to reveal how Time & The Human Spirit CAN end up with as Happy-an-Ending as is Humanly-Possible..(Under-The-Circumstances!)

Fine Acting, Interesting Plotline (Though Pretty-Predictable). I felt compassion for all the Main Characters..YET there's also a Morose Overtone that Child-Beating Dad IS finally "Getting-What's-Due"... Even with nice doses of humor, this isn't a "Fun Movie". "6 1/2-outta-10"..but maybe rates Higher for Those who've Not-Yet Buried a Parent. (It's a Good "Primer")

JMO...(Keep-or-Sweepit)

Big Hugs,
Stan

This got a lot of Oscar play.. but it rates lowest out of the movies you've rated recently.. interesting.

Brian

HiDee Bri!

Maybe I'm in an Up-Cycle lately..but I think the Movies last week were Lots Better than a While-Back.

This Flick was, overall, a real Downer..BUT I didn't give it a "5", which is Coin-Tossin' Territory.

Sorry if I can't love 'em All...but I don't.

DID call that Best Male Actor Oscar right-on, tho, Didn't I? ;-)>

Thanks for the Kind Visit, Amigo!
Big Guy-Hugs,
Stan