A sharply written black comedy—with moments of levity in some
incredibly dour circumstances (dealing with a father with dementia)
Nominations for Laura Linney’s performance and Tamara Jenkins
screenplay—if you add Philip Seymour Hoffman’s performance those are the three
things to praise here—incredibly rich characterizations- these are real
people–Travers calls the two leads “acting giants” and he’s right
Intellectual references- Sam Shepard and von Sternberg vs. von
Stroheim references
Petting the dog during sex
Stinging dialogue—very east coast—“we’re taking better care of
him than he ever did of us” and PSH’s speech about death—which of course is
lifted by laughter in the moments after as an older woman is show by the camera
to have witnessed it— aghast of course— Linney ripping the red pillow away
from an elderly woman
Zoe Kazan pops up in PSH’s class (again PSH plays a teacher like
25th Hour) to ask the
difference between plot and narrative- haha
[…] The Savages – T. Jenkins […]