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'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 depressing. In fact, having still many years to go until ... Read review
An irreverent hilarious and heartbreaking story revolving around a modern American family ... more
The Savages portrays an all-too-common dilemma: after drifting apart emotionally and geographically over the years two siblings Wendy (Laura Linney) and Jon (P...
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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.
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 1997 - Drama - Director: Ronan O'Leary - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: James Spader, Anne Brochet, Barry McGovern, Anna Massey
Advantages: Thought provoking. Disadvantages: Depressing.
...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 ... ...go until my own retirement, the movie, nonetheless, affected me in a negative manner and made me question the feasibility, in terms of happiness, of a long life. Does anyone want to live a long life if it means the loss of memories, the ability to care for oneself, and having to live the final years in a near vegetative state being treated like a baby with diaper changes and forced feedings? I think not - and that's what this movie does; it makes ... more
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 depressing. In fact, having still many years to go until my own retirement, the movie, nonetheless, affected me in a negative manner and made me question the feasibility, in terms of happiness, of a long life. Does anyone want to live a long life if it means the loss of memories, the ability to care for oneself, and having to live the final years in a near vegetative state being treated like a baby with diaper changes and forced feedings? I think not - and that's what this movie does; it makes you think, it makes you wonder, it makes you hope that you won't be around long enough to suffer the humiliations of being unable to care for yourself.
Although this movie is depressingly centred around old-age, dementia and nursing homes, it also focuses upon family… or the lack of. Wendy, who works as a 'temp' and spends her free time writing plays that are constantly turned down, is a disturbed young woman with a distinct lack of self-esteem and self-confidence. She has been psychologically wounded by the mother who abandoned her, and the father who was often violent and almost always absent. Wendy suffers from a profound feeling that nothing she does is ever good enough, and in an effort to feel loved, she attaches herself to a married man whose only intention is to use her body without ever actually getting emotionally involved. As for Jon, the abuse he suffered at his father's hand have made him incapable of living a full and healthy life. Although well-educated and earning a good living as a writer, Jon is incapable of sharing his emotions - he is incapable of being in a long-term relationship that demands openness, trust and a willingness to try.
When Jon and Wendy are forced to take responsibility for their father, the tender-hearted Wendy, who is still searching for her father's love and approval, will do whatever it takes to make him happy, while as Jon, who suffered abuse at his father's hand, remains steadfastly distant.
'The Savages' is not a 'feel good' movie, and probably not suitable for anyone over the age of 55 as it is wholeheartedly depressing.
The storyline itself is good, delving as it does into human emotions and dredging up feelings that are more often than not extremely dark and dismal - which says a lot for the actors who manage to draw their audience into the story and secure them with strong emotional ties. Brilliant acting throughout, a good strong script, clever dialogue - but never, ever funny. Why anyone thought to class this as a comedy I'll never understand… it is definitely NOT funny… it is 100% drama - 100% depressing.
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 subject matter is rarely dealt with in film and therefore one can't help but be moved by themes that are relevant to us all. Hoffman and Linney are exquisite 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 ...
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 ...
Advantages: Bittersweet look at caring for elderly parents Disadvantages: Deeply depressing at times
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 ...
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
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)
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.
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