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Far From Heaven (2002)
Much of Todd Haynes' film seems to be inspired by earlier works. From the vibrant colors and production design reminiscent of Sam Mendes' American Beauty to the melodramatic performances of David Lynch's Blue Velvet. The film itself is even an homage to Douglas Sirk's 1955 film All That Heaven Allows. While this isn't a bad characteristic, much of Far From Heaven seems like you've seen it before.
The narrative revolves around Kathleen Whitaker, played superbly by Julianne Moore in one of the best performances of the year. Kathleen leads a picture-perfect life in 1957 Connecticut. She throws extravagant catered dinners for friends and has a wonderful house and family. However, we all know that even something perfect can go sour.
Kathleen's heaven begins to fall apart when she catches her husband Frank (Dennis Quaid), a successful advertising executive, engaged in a homosexual act. Frank claims that these feelings have plagued him for a long time and that he has never sought help. The couple decides to see a therapist who can "convert" Frank back to hetrosexuality. The treatment leaves it's scars on Frank and he sinks into an alcoholic depression.
While Frank and Kathleen's marriage crumbles, Kathleen and her black gardener Raymond (TV's 24's Dennis Haysbert) friendship grows. In Raymond, Kathleen finds thoughtfulness and attraction, everything that is absent in her relationship with her husband. However, racial prejudice in the small town drive them apart as Kathleen's situation takes a dive for the worst.
Much of Far From Heaven's success lies in Haynes' powerful script and construction of a nostalgic, hokey suburb. If the melodramatic situations seem a bit heavy handed, this is exactly his point. The perfection of his ideas are brought into the film by great performances from Moore, Quaid, and Haysbert along with beautiful photography and a wonderful score by Elmer Bernstein. What Haynes does is tie all of these elements together and creates one of the most earnest and powerful films of the year.
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