The Savages (2007)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Tamara Jenkins

Writer:

Tamara Jenkins (written by)

Release Date:

17 January 2008 (Singapore)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A sister and brother face the realities of familial responsibility as they begin to care for their ailing father.

Plot Keywords:

Dementia | Midlife Crisis | Magic Realism | Old Man | Aging Parent

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Laura Linney	...	Wendy Savage
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Jon Savage
Philip Bosco	...	Lenny Savage
Peter Friedman	...	Larry
David Zayas	...	Eduardo
Gbenga Akinnagbe	...	Jimmy
Cara Seymour	...	Kasia
Tonye Patano	...	Ms. Robinson
Guy Boyd	...	Bill Lachman
Debra Monk	...	Nancy Lachman
Rosemary Murphy	...	Doris Metzger
Hal Blankenship	...	Burt
Joan Jaffe	...	Lizzie
Sage Kirkpatrick	...	Real Estate Agent (as Laura Palmer)
Salem Ludwig	...	Mr. Sperry

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality and language.

Runtime:

114 min | USA:113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (Approved No. 43278) | Canada:14A | Ireland:15A | Singapore:NC-16 | Germany:12 | Brazil:12 | Sweden:Btl | Hong Kong:IIA | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Argentina:13 | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-7 | Netherlands:12 | Australia:M | Canada:PG (Canadian Home Video rating)

Filming Locations:

Buffalo, New York, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

One of two films released in the same year co-starring Philip Seymour Hoffman which center around sibling relationships. The other is Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Wendy plugs in the lava lamp, it immediately starts flowing. Lava lamps typically take longer to start movement.

Quotes:

Jon Savage: [about his girlfriend] She's moving back to Poland.
Wendy Savage: What,you and Kasia broke up?
Jon Savage: No,her visa expired.
Wendy Savage: So that's it? Her visa expires,and it's over.
Jon Savage: It's either that or we get married and no one's ready for that.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: The Best of 2007" (2007)

Soundtrack:

On a Slow Boat to China

Well done!

This film, along with "Away from Her" are the best elder-films I've seen all year (2007).

There is an honesty to the movie about a brother and sister relationship that is genuine and heart warming. Philip Seymour Hoffman (Jon, the professor) and Laura Linney (as Wendy, aspiring playwright)are perfectly cast in the roles of the sister and brother who have to deal with their obnoxious, foul-mouthed elderly father, Lenny, played by Philip Bosco in a riveting performance.

Their childhoods have been difficult, abuse is hinted at along with a runaway mother. They are now confronted with the care and responsibility of their father who has been deemed incompetent (and penniless). The effects of their childhood on these now adult children is played out well. They are incapable of intimacy with potential partners and even with each other.

How they slowly gain an understanding of themselves and each other is an ongoing major thread of the movie and is beautifully depicted. A one of a kind sibling movie. 9 out of 10. Recommended.