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The Savages directed by Tamara Jenkins
Jon and Wendy Savage's father lives in Sun City Arizona with his elderly infirm ladyfriend Doris. When she suddenly dies and Doris's children want him out of their house, Jon and Wendy are confronted by the reality of taking responsibility for their father who has never featured much in their lives, and has now been diagnosed with dementia.
Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a writer and lecturer, Wendy (Laura Linney) is a part time temp and aspiring playwright, both have complicated love lives which adds to the difficulties of dealing with their dad.
I love both these fine actors, who always sit so comfortably in their roles that they're totally believable. Luckily I never had to deal with old peoples homes with either of my parents but we did with my mother in law so the guilt and confusion of feelings that the Savages felt with their father felt real to me.
Jenkin's film is strong on the relationship between Jon and Wendy. Jon, the shambling untidy man unable to commit to his girlfriend, and Wendy the unfulfilled playwright living on the crumbs of her lover's marriage. The realationship between brother and sister is a forthright, easy blend of bickering and unspoken fondness and closeness that comes across so well that this is really what the film is about. The presence of the father who is already fading in this small section of their lives, shows up later much more vividly when Wendy's play goes into production when you realise how much of a shadow he has cast over both their lives.
Well played, quiet appreciation of sibling love.
4.75/5
Jon and Wendy Savage's father lives in Sun City Arizona with his elderly infirm ladyfriend Doris. When she suddenly dies and Doris's children want him out of their house, Jon and Wendy are confronted by the reality of taking responsibility for their father who has never featured much in their lives, and has now been diagnosed with dementia.
Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a writer and lecturer, Wendy (Laura Linney) is a part time temp and aspiring playwright, both have complicated love lives which adds to the difficulties of dealing with their dad.
I love both these fine actors, who always sit so comfortably in their roles that they're totally believable. Luckily I never had to deal with old peoples homes with either of my parents but we did with my mother in law so the guilt and confusion of feelings that the Savages felt with their father felt real to me.
Jenkin's film is strong on the relationship between Jon and Wendy. Jon, the shambling untidy man unable to commit to his girlfriend, and Wendy the unfulfilled playwright living on the crumbs of her lover's marriage. The realationship between brother and sister is a forthright, easy blend of bickering and unspoken fondness and closeness that comes across so well that this is really what the film is about. The presence of the father who is already fading in this small section of their lives, shows up later much more vividly when Wendy's play goes into production when you realise how much of a shadow he has cast over both their lives.
Well played, quiet appreciation of sibling love.
4.75/5