Movie Notes: The Savages

January 5th, 2009

= 4 stars

Starring Laura Linney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Phillip Bosco
Directed by Tamara Jenkins

Synopsis

Siblings Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Wendy (Laura Linney) Savage are abruptly forced to care for their estranged, abusive father, Lenny (Phillip Bosco).

The Good

• Brutally honest depiction of middle and old age. Both siblings are caught in the former, with unfulfilled ambitions and failing bodies. Lenny has dementia and is unable to care for himself, forcing his adult children to take responsibility.
• The nowhere land of the twilight years provide an unlikely location for dark comedy. We see the impossibly sunny Arizona with cacti as high as trees, cheesy lounge acts, and golf carts. A nursing home evokes some pathetic observations from Lenny, who has difficulty remembering where is or who put him there, and believes he’s staying at a hotel. The humor recognizes the inevitability of death, points out the awkwardness of life, and our human tendency to ignore our eventual fate.
• Hoffman is excellent as an introverted, pensive intellectual, literally solidifying into middle-aged paralysis before our eyes. Jon is extremely guarded with his emotions, hinting at a dark past that forced him there. Linney is also excellent as the optimistic, but emotionally fragile Wendy, who cares deeply for Lenny but is jaded enough to realize they can’t stave off the inevitable. Linney and Hoffman play off each other well, with alternately humorous and cutting bickering. Ultimately, the shared experience of the crisis brings them closer together.

The Bad

• No grand moments of catharsis or revelation, which might be a bit off-putting for those used to Hollywood conventions of having everything figured out before the end arrives. This isn’t The Bucket List.

Conclusion

The Savages doesn’t hide from its serious subject matter, finds humor and humanity in our hapless human condition, and eventually ends on a pitch-perfect note appropriate to all that came before. Its simple, understated conclusion advocates making the best of your situation, even when things look terminally bleak. Highly recommended.

IMDB: The Savages
Wikipedia: The Savages
Rotten Tomatoes: The Savages 89%