Production Year: 2007 - Drama - Director: Tamara Jenkins - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Philip Bosco, Laura Linney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Peter Friedman more
Director Tamara Jenkins made audiences wait for nearly a decade for her follow-up to the hilarious dark comedy SLUMS OF BEVERLY HILLS, but it's been worth the wait. Like her... more
The Savages
There is a moment in everyone's life when childhood ends and adulthood begins. For Jon ... more
(Academy Award Winner Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Wendy Savage (Academy Award Nominee Laura Linney), that moment is now. Plucked from their everyday, ordinary lives, these two self-centered siblings must suddenly care for their estranged, elderly father. What follows is a hysterically funny and irreverent look at life, love and mortality-through one of the most surreal experiences facing families today.
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A review by sunmeilan on The Savages (DVD) March 29th, 2009
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Liked it
Story
Good
Characters / Performances
Good
Special Effects
Good
How does it compare to similar films?
Good
Advantages:
Bittersweet look at caring for elderly parents
Disadvantages:
Deeply depressing at times
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Jon and Wendy Savage have never been close to their father - they had an abusive childhood at his hands after their mother ran away and wasn't there to help them out. Then Wendy gets a phone call from the people in charge of her father's care - he has been smearing his own faeces on the walls and they are concerned about his health. Then his girlfriend, with whom he has lived for twenty years, dies, and he needs somewhere to live. Jon and Wendy are forced to put their feelings for their father behind them and cope with the fact that he has dementia. Will they be able to cope with his increasing health problems and vulnerability? And what about their own problems, many of which are a result of their father's abuse?
I have to admit that watching films about people getting old and being unable to look after themselves is not my favourite pastime. My grandmother is increasingly in this position and so it I find it deeply depressing. And having seen About Schmidt and The Bucket List, which deal with death and growing old, I thought I had seen more than enough. However, I am a big fan of Philip Seymour Hoffman - he's definitely in my top ten list of favourite actors - and so I succumbed. And although it is a depressing film, I'm glad that I took the time to see it. The performances are great and there are some moments of comedy to lift the mood; these are much-needed at times.
As Jon, Philip Seymour Hoffman certainly didn't disappoint. Jon is a University professor of drama, and seems to be very successful at it. His life, however, is tainted by his relationship with his father, and although he has been with his Polish girlfriend for three years, he is unable to commit to marriage, even though her visa has run out and she will have to return to Poland unless he marries her. Seymour Hoffman is completely convincing in the role. He is not the best looking of men, yet he has a way of reaching out to his audience - or me, at least - and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. As the film progresses, I could really see what Kasia, his Polish girlfriend, saw in him despite all his faults.
Laura Linney is not an actress that ever really sticks in my mind, and I'm not entirely sure why, because I do think she is a good actress. Wendy is a worrier, never really able to settle. She wants to be a playwright, but hasn't managed to hit the big-time; as it is, she is stuck in a dull job that bores her. She has difficulty committing too, and is in a relationship with a married man who calls round to have sex when his wife thinks he is out walking the dog. Linney manages to portray all of this sensitively, but without going over the top. I loved her relationship with her on-screen brother - it all felt really natural, with their sniping at each other covering up the fact that they were actually very fond of each other. I could really believe they were brother and sister.
I have to mention Philip Bosco who plays Jon and Wendy's father, Lenny Savage. He doesn't have that much screen-time, but when he does, he really fills the screen. Suffering from dementia, he often behaves strangely, becoming very aggressive and attracting a lot of attention when out in public. Bosco gives a great performance. I'm not familiar with him as an actor, although he has been in Law & Order and Damages, so some will recognise him, and know that he doesn't really have dementia - yet he was completely convincing - almost scarily so.
I liked the injection of humour that the writer and director, Tamara Jenkins, fed into the film. Some of this surrounded Lennie and his dementia, yet it never felt that he was being laughed at - it was sympathetic humour if you know what I mean. This humour really did help make the film a lot better than it otherwise would have been - the subject is so depressing that I would have found it very hard to watch otherwise. It is worth noting that, along with Lenny's illness, comes a lot of talk about toilet stuff - obviously, you won't want to be watching it while you're eating your dinner! And there is a lot of bad language that may offend some. On the whole though, I thought a difficult topic was very sensitively handled.
On the subject of sensitive topics, there is a certain amount of racism in the film. Lenny's carers are mostly black, and obviously a number of the other patients are too, yet Lenny sees fit to show an old black and white film to everyone that shows a white man dressing up as a black man. Some members of the audience were deeply offended. I doubt that the director was trying to do anything other than show that people with dementia can be incredibly tactless at times, it may offend some.
What I liked most of all about the film was the way that the relationship between Jon and Wendy developed during the course of the film and they helped each other to sort out their personal problems. It isn't exactly a happily ever after film, but it is a very realistic one. Perhaps it is because I am much of an age as Wendy and Jon and I could really see some similarities between their life and mine, but I really felt a connection with them and I found the film deeply thought-provoking. I can see, however, that a younger audience could find it dull and pointless - without meaning to sound patronising, I think it all depends on life experience and sensitivity to other people's problems.
There are a number of special features. The first is about the Savage family - how the writer and director came up with their characters and how the actors fit into their roles. It's not vital viewing, and at 20 minutes is too long, but it is quite interesting. Then there are a couple of extended scenes, which are certainly not vital viewing, and are largely pointless. Thirdly, there is a selection of director's photos, if you like that sort of thing. Finally, there's a Fox promotional extra, which basically gives the website address for previews, behind the scenes news and new DVD releases.
I don't think this film is for everyone. It looks at a sensitive topic that many people would rather avoid thinking about until they have to - and I can completely understand that - without Philip Seymour Hoffman's presence, I doubt I would have watched it at all. However, I'm glad I did watch it. It didn't light up the world for me, although it did receive Oscar nominations, as well as other awards, but it is a very well-made film with some great performances. If you think you can stomach the subject of dementia and caring for the elderly, it is definitely worth a watch sometime. Recommended.
Advantages: The story, acting performances, making of Disadvantages: Slow, limited release
The Savages is a small budget, independent film from second time director Tamara Jenkins. It stars Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney as two siblings who have lost touch with each other due to their own troubled circumstances. They are forced together however when their once abusive father descends into dementia forcing Hoffman and Linney to come to his aid.
The film is both sad and funny in it's exploration of complex family dynamics. The ... ...and completely convincing as individuals struggling with the guilt and failure of their own relationships and careers. Jenkins' script won the Oscar in 2007 and rightly so! Sensitive, poignant and darkly humorous. The special features are not abundant but the making of documentary is very insightful. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Savage Garden Disadvantages: its not 100% like the concert held in London
...In December my hubby and I attended the Savage Garden Concert held at the London Arena.The concert was brilliant.The atmosphere the crowd and the staff..the whole event was so well organized.It was a perfect evening.......Even addition Dockland trains were laid on to help disperse the audience.
The only downside was that we were unable from our seats to see everything and there were no large screens..so when I received an email advising that the original concert held in Australia was available on DVD I was thrilled.
The email from the Savage Garden promoters advised that the DVD would be released on the 26/12/00.On the 27/12/00 I visited all the stores in town Virgin,Hmv you name it I went there ..I was given very mixed info..either the DVD had sold out or it wasn't released etc ..when I got home I decided to look on the web...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Thought provoking. Disadvantages: Depressing.
...Director: Tamara Jenkins
Writer: Tamara Jenkins
Genre: Comedy - Drama
Country: USA
Certification: 15+
Language: English
Released: 26th May, 2008 (DVD)
MAIN CAST:
Laura Linney (Wendy Savage)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Jon Savage)
Philip Bosco (Lenny Savage)
Wendy and Jon Savage, whose mother abandoned them when they were still very young, are forced to dredge up the past when their father, whom they haven't seen in years, is literally shoved into their arms. Unable to care for their elderly father who is suffering from dementia, the siblings decide to place him in a nursing home.
'The Savages' is a disturbing movie that dredges up raw emotions that are better left undisturbed. It is thought-provoking and sad, and for those who are just years short of retirement, the direness of this movie will be extremely...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: A historical murder story that needed telling Disadvantages: Poor delivery
...Barbara Baekland (Julianne Moore) is a wealthy socialite, who lives off the adventures and stories of her husband Brooks (Stephen Dillane) expeditions in search of ancient mysteries. Barbara spends her day looking after her son Tony, while spending her nights organising dinner parties with the people any good socialite needs to be seen with. The trouble with Barbara is that she has a vile temper and a low tolerance of alcohol; the two together make her an embarrassment to her husband as she repeatedly alienates people who would at one time cut their arm off to be with. Starting in the 1940's and moving forward to 1972 as the movie progresses Savage Grace follows the disturbing journey of Barbara and her son Tony as their relationships become more and more disturbing.
Savage Grace is an adaptation of the true life tale of Babara...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Official Website: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thesavages/
Consumer Advice: Contains strong language and sex references
Video Category: Feature Film
Country Of Origin: United States of America
Plot: Wendy and Jon Savage are a pair of siblings on the cusp of middle age. Their estranged father lives across the country, but the Savages reluctantly rush to see him when they learn that he may not be able to take care of himself any longer. Jon and Wendy bicker over problems old and new as they try to figure out what's best for a man they barely know.
Release details
DVD Region: DVD
Studio(s): 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Languages
Main Language: English
Technical information
Special Features: 'About THE SAVAGES' featurette , Two extended scenes , Gallery
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
DVD Description
Director Tamara Jenkins made audiences wait for nearly a decade for her follow-up to the hilarious dark comedy SLUMS OF BEVERLY HILLS, but it's been worth the wait. Like her previous film, THE SAVAGES is a sometimes-funny, sometimes-sad look at family dynamics, but this time around the sense of humour is more wry than riotous. Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman play Wendy and Jon Savage, a pair of siblings on the cusp of middle age. She's earning money in New York City as a temp as she writes an autobiographical play about their childhood, while he lives in Buffalo, teaching college students and finishing a book on Bertolt Brecht. Their estranged father (Philip Bosco) lives across the country, but the Savages reluctantly rush to see him when they learn that he may not be able to take care of himself any longer. Jon and Wendy bicker over problems old and new as they try to figure out what's best for a man they barely know. Like Noah Baumbach in THE SQUID AND THE WHALE and MARGOT AT THE WEDDING, writer-director Jenkins knows how to mine family dysfunction for both comedy and drama. Jon and Wendy tear into each other as only people connected by blood can, but their fighting feels entirely genuine, largely thanks to the performances of Linney and Hoffman. Though they'll get most of the acclaim for their roles, character actor Bosco is heartbreaking as their aging father. Though his decline is difficult to watch, the actor's performance is absolutely mesmerising.
Professional reviews
Review: A great many of the moments are choice... with superb performances by Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman front and center (Variety, 23/11/2007)
![The Savages [DVD] [2007]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78667124.jpg)
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29.01.2001
23.07.2008
