The Savages is the story of Wendy and Jon Savage, two siblings approaching middle age. Their father (who they’ve never had much to do with) lives on the other side of the country. When their father’s health takes a turn for the worse and he’s not able to live in his home anymore, Wendy and Jon have to fly over and see what they can do. Much to Wendy’s dismay, Jon finds him a place in a basic rest home, close to where Jon lives. Wendy then moves in with Jon to be close to their father. As their fathers health worsens, they both have to come to terms with not only the impending loss of their father, but also the sad fact that they are both essentially not living either.
I can’t really find fault with The Savages, Linney and Hoffman are electric in their roles as brother and sister, the storyline is grounded and well constructed, but in essence the whole thing is slow, sad and depressing.
Sure, there are moments of joy that bring a smile to your face, but overall it’s just sad and depressing.
And therein lies the problem. Can I recommend this movie? Can I rate it highly? Essentially yes, it deserves a good rating, and I’d recommend it to anyone. Anyone who isn’t looking for an evening of frivolity. The Savages is a serious drama that deals with serious issues, and in reality, you have to be sure that you’re in the right frame of mind to tackle the issue of a terminal elderly population. It’s heavy stuff.
Reviewed by: Jonathan Read Rating: M – Contains low level offensive language. Released on: February 5th, 2009 Stars: Laura Linney, Philip Seymour Hoffman Length (Minutes): 109 Media Format: DVD Languages: English Director: Tamara Jenkins Studio: Roadshow
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