The Savages (2007)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Thomas J

  
  Even with a father with dementia, I could not connect with the story or the characters.

• Mark W

  
  Having not experienced any of director Tamara Jenkins' films before, I went into this film expecting something along the lines of "Little Miss Sunshine" in it's supposedly humourous take on a dysfunctional family. That's not what I got but there was still… More
  Having not experienced any of director Tamara Jenkins' films before, I went into this film expecting something along the lines of "Little Miss Sunshine" in it's supposedly humourous take on a dysfunctional family. That's not what I got but there was still plenty to enjoy from the emotionally impaired characters. As their estranged father Lenny Savage (Philip Bosco) sinks into senility in an Arizona retirement village, Wendy (Laura Linney) and Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman) are forced to figure out how to care for the dad who never cared for them. This is not a comedy as some of the critics would have you believe. Yes, there are moments of comedy but no more than the humour that accompanies life and it's irony. This is a heartfelt drama, dealing with the painful responsibility that families face in our modern day, injected with humour and pathos and wonderfully acted by Linney and Hoffman - who are two of the best in the business. The relationship between the siblings is entirely believable. There is not a lot of communication between them but what's not said, is just as important. There's also not a lot going on in these peoples lives. They seem to think so but we are able to sit back and observe the avoidance they are trying to make. It also never fully discloses why the two of them have such contempt for their ailing father. It's hinted that he never had much time for them but as the film draws to a close and Wendy's creative writing and aspiration to be a successful playwright comes to fruition, a bit more is revealed as she uses her experiences as inspiration for her writing. A good family drama, dealing with the stuggles that are becoming ever more present in our current times, helped by subtle and very real performances. If you have the patience to invest, you'll be rewarded.

• Michael S

  
  Wow, finally got around to seeing this (after years of the dvd collecting dust on my shelf). A superb family drama ripe with the perfect blend of drama, comedy, and sadness. Some of the best work in both the careers of Linney and Hoffman.

• Jim H

  
  Technically, this is a strong film, but technicality often doesn't cut it. What it lacks is a character. or characters, to whom we can attach ourselves. At the end, I didn't think that I got to know anybody, and the scenes to which I could connect were scenes for which I… More
  Technically, this is a strong film, but technicality often doesn't cut it. What it lacks is a character. or characters, to whom we can attach ourselves. At the end, I didn't think that I got to know anybody, and the scenes to which I could connect were scenes for which I did all the work; that is I connected to Jon's monologue about the emotional manipulation of nursing homes because I've been in emotionally manipulating nursing homes, not because the film showed me the gruesome details that Jon and Lenny are privy to. Also, I wonder if the film bites off more that it can chew. It opens the doors of an abusive father/son relationship, a failed/failing playwright, a researcher wondering if his career is worthwhile, the "dying process" as hospice workers insensitively call it, and reconnecting with a long-lost relative. Each of these themes have had its own film, and the result of shoving all of those themes into this film creates a lack of focus and a feeling of uncomfortable detachment for the audience. That said, Hoffman, Linney, and Bosco are fantastic. These are actors at or near the top of their game, and I can only wish that the script would've given them a greater chance to shine.

• Tony G

  
  Great performances? Check. Overwrought, angsty writing? Check. Probably a bit more self-important than it should be? Check.

• Film C

  
  I Actually really enjoyed this movie, it is a really good dark comedy which is actually really funny!! its a nice story thats interestin and you get to distinguish the different personalities of the characters! its funnny, sad, and a cute movie that is well acted and just a very… More
  I Actually really enjoyed this movie, it is a really good dark comedy which is actually really funny!! its a nice story thats interestin and you get to distinguish the different personalities of the characters! its funnny, sad, and a cute movie that is well acted and just a very enjoyable movie to enjoy! it is just a dark comedy drama that doesnt have much to the story apart from estranged family brought back together by their dying father who they've not seen in a while, through this they discover whats right and wrong in their life! Its a good movie and worth the watch!!

• Lewis C

  
  There are endless variations that can be done with the family drama, which is why I tend to like this kind of movie so much. The Savages brushes against death, possible child abuse, and their effects of those things on an elderly man and his two middleaged children. I say brushes,… More
  There are endless variations that can be done with the family drama, which is why I tend to like this kind of movie so much. The Savages brushes against death, possible child abuse, and their effects of those things on an elderly man and his two middleaged children. I say brushes, becaused the story never really delved into these issues as deeply as I hoped it would. Despite the fact that the plot seemed to chase its own tale a bit, I did enjoy the performances from Linney and Hoffman. The material wasn't amazing, but the two actors are so likeable that it made the movie better than it would have been, otherwise. I would have enjoyed a more focused narrative (and an ending that left more of an impression), but The Savages was still enjoyable enough for me to consider it "ok".

• Wahida K

  
  I like Laura Linney Movies. A warm and touching Movie just like I expected.

• Conner R

  
  I liked how this movie didn't try too hard to be a comedy like it could've. There was some funny things but it was mostly a real story. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney were absolutely perfect together, their acting alone makes this movie a necessity. The… More
  I liked how this movie didn't try too hard to be a comedy like it could've. There was some funny things but it was mostly a real story. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney were absolutely perfect together, their acting alone makes this movie a necessity. The dysfunctional nature of the family was just priceless, being compatible and decent was like an Olympic challenge for them.

• Anthony L

  
  A simple, honest and moving drama with some great performances. Having cared for dying relatives, I could relate to it a lot. I liked the fact that without being preachy, it gives us the most important lessons of all, Don't give up and it will probably all be all right in the… More
  A simple, honest and moving drama with some great performances. Having cared for dying relatives, I could relate to it a lot. I liked the fact that without being preachy, it gives us the most important lessons of all, Don't give up and it will probably all be all right in the end. Loved the last scene, I think I'm going soft!

• Alice S

  
  Some exquisitely beautiful scenes: Jon's gradual congratulations for Wendy while he's strapped to that back-aligner contraption; Jon yelling in the parking lot about how all the nursing home niceties prey on guilt; Wendy and Jimmy's short-lived friendship; Lenny… More
  Some exquisitely beautiful scenes: Jon's gradual congratulations for Wendy while he's strapped to that back-aligner contraption; Jon yelling in the parking lot about how all the nursing home niceties prey on guilt; Wendy and Jimmy's short-lived friendship; Lenny turning down his hearing aid as Jon and Wendy bicker about how they're not like their father. It's good. It's darkly comedic. It's a movie I'd like to love, you know? But something about it throws me off. Perhaps it's the andante pacing. Perhaps it's the overabundant places in the script that are textbook definitions of how to split dialogue into different locations or withhold exposition from the audience. Perhaps it's the portrayal of a starving playwright's life that hits too close to home, yet somehow still closes with a random, happy ending.

• Leigh R

  
  Very sad movie. One of the best performances I have seen Laura Linney do though.

• Coxxie M

  
  I have so much hope for mankind when i hear Philip Seymour Hoffman's laugh.

• jay n

  
  Good performances but grim

• Dean L

  
  If you are looking to watch a movie for a little escape...this is not it. This movie is straight out of the pages of the real and directed right into the heart of where it hurts. Forcing us to recognize the reality of what it means to get older in our society and even confront what… More
  If you are looking to watch a movie for a little escape...this is not it. This movie is straight out of the pages of the real and directed right into the heart of where it hurts. Forcing us to recognize the reality of what it means to get older in our society and even confront what may be our own futures this film holds back on nothing. It will strip you to the emotional bones and leave you raw maybe even asking, "Did I really need to watch this tonight?" The question would be, "Is there ever a good time to watch this subject matter?" Brilliantly played by Hoffman and Linney two people look to find care for their aging Father. NOTE: I say, "people" here and not "characters." This is done so well that you may forget that it is only a film. Never descending into the tripe and trite cliche that might make this subject matter into a soap opera the film is uncompromising in breaking you along with the emotional wrecks. All the trials and tribulations are felt whole heart and we are left barren from beginning to end taking a journey with these people that might just hit too close to home on a lot of levels. Savor the nuances. Savor the performances and try not to be too hurt by the fact that this movie will take it away and does not even attempt to give it back...as it should be.

• Daniel P

  
  What's not to like about The Savages? It provides an emotionally gripping story, and its nuanced characters are portrayed to perfection by two of this generation's greatest actors (Linney and the great PSH). A simple, straight-forward script is complemented by a great score… More
  What's not to like about The Savages? It provides an emotionally gripping story, and its nuanced characters are portrayed to perfection by two of this generation's greatest actors (Linney and the great PSH). A simple, straight-forward script is complemented by a great score in what was secretly one of the best films of 2007, and the end result is an examination of facing one's mortality in old age, in middle age, and due to the accessibility of the film, at any age. I'm excited to see what Tamara Jenkins does next, this is a film of name-making quality.

• Dean M

  
  Great black comedy and dramatic tragedy - a feat made possible by the supremely measured performances of its leads. Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman are pitch-perfect. Linney's Wendy Savage is incredibly self-absorbed and emotionally immature, but can easily react to and… More
  Great black comedy and dramatic tragedy - a feat made possible by the supremely measured performances of its leads. Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman are pitch-perfect. Linney's Wendy Savage is incredibly self-absorbed and emotionally immature, but can easily react to and act on an emergency. Hoffman's Jon Savage is just messed up - maybe event more so - but along with his sister, he gets the job done and manages to hold it together. That siblings story reminds me a bit about between my mother and uncle who lost their mother (my grandmother).

• paul s

  
  In many ways this is a small film. The texture, the subject matter, the disjointed intimacy, all make this appear less than what it is; but perhaps that is to its credit. No new ground is broken here, telling the tale of a brother and sister struggling to deal with taking care of a… More
  In many ways this is a small film. The texture, the subject matter, the disjointed intimacy, all make this appear less than what it is; but perhaps that is to its credit. No new ground is broken here, telling the tale of a brother and sister struggling to deal with taking care of a father with demensia, who they were divorced from for many years. However the slow revelation of the abuse angle is well handled and the performance of Laura Linney a very good one. Weigh this performance against the almost catatonic flat-line of Seymore Hoffman, who I feel was totally wasted here; given not much to do but be "in" the film and react to its plot conventions. I was hoping for something somehow deeper here, but felt touched enough by the circumstances to start wondering "what if" as the film progressed; so I suppose it was successful in delivering its message.

• Ginny  

  
  <font size=1>"Stuck on a Family Hamster Wheel, Mile After Mile, Year After Year"~ M. Dargis, New York Times</font><br><br>Too glum and depressing. Its just too close to being real. Its a different kind of movie yes, but... I wouldnt really recommend… More
  <font size=1>"Stuck on a Family Hamster Wheel, Mile After Mile, Year After Year"~ M. Dargis, New York Times</font><br><br>Too glum and depressing. Its just too close to being real. Its a different kind of movie yes, but... I wouldnt really recommend anyone to watch this, best stay away from this one if youre the moody type.

• Lorenzo v

  
  The Savages yet another underrated film, is arguably one of 2007's fine films. Everything in it is perfect, the direction by Tamara Jenkins is gold. The acting is just wow. Laura Linney deserved her Oscar nom but Marion Cotillard deserved it better. She plays Wendy Savage, a… More
  The Savages yet another underrated film, is arguably one of 2007's fine films. Everything in it is perfect, the direction by Tamara Jenkins is gold. The acting is just wow. Laura Linney deserved her Oscar nom but Marion Cotillard deserved it better. She plays Wendy Savage, a girl who has an affair with an older guy to have a healthy sexual life. Philip Seymour Hoffman on the other hand is just as good. He plays Jon Savage, a college professor who is reluctant in taking care of his ailing father. His performance is in top shape and I haven't had the slightest idea why he didn't get the much praise he deserved in this film. He was darn good. The script was also excellent. It was dark, moody, grim and it shows you the reality of taking responsibility for one thing. Like it or not, your family stays with you until the end. The film was genuine, honest and not too Hollywood-ish. 4.5

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