Rated: R
Starring: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney and Phillip Bosco
Directed By: Tamara Jenkins

• Official Site

Hoffman and Linney provide all the humor and amazement in The Savages, a clever heart-felt drama. Their chemistry really works as the mismatched siblings who have to deal with a father"s condition that puts them at odds. But, using dementia for a comedy platform does take away some of the compassion, especially if you are one of the many who have to contend with the appalling disease.

Wendy Savage (Linney) gets a call from an Arizona caretaker letting her know that Lenny (Bosco), her father, can no longer take care of himself due to the advanced progression of his dementia. Wendy, who has been providing most of the family contact for Lenny, makes a call to her brother Jon (Hoffman) who lives in Buffalo.

Wendy finally convinces Jon, that due to the magnitude of the problem, he should share in the burden of finding a ‘home’ for Lenny. After much resistance, Jon finally takes some action by flying down to visit Wendy for a reunion of sorts and to discuss what they will be doing with a father that was never really a caring parent.

Although the subject matter is a bit testy, the unusual comedy does work. Linney is superb as the ‘cornered’ sister that looks destined to take on the whole burden, with Hoffman playing the devil’s advocate on all their strategy. The two are perfectly matched in this humorous, yet compelling film. Look for a possible Oscar nod for both of them.

Direction by Jenkins is keen and strong, putting her actors on an equal footing, making the story interesting and offbeat. Her control of the two fine actors, who have proven records with long lists of amazing films, keeps the plot moving with just enough banter to emphasize the personality of the characters.

Cinematography by W. Mott Hupfel III, who also photographed The Notorious Bette Page, does equally as good here. His exterior shots are amazing, and in one scene provides the chill of winter by capturing the dark and dank cold of a snowy day in northern USA.

Although I am not advocating the film as a lesson in dealing with loved ones that will soon, or have already, entered a downward spiral in their lives, it does give some insight into that realm. The Savages does have some sexuality and language, but that’s not why you should probably leave the children at home, it’s because they will probably not understand the drama and the pathos the film delivers.

FINAL ANALYSIS: The Savages is a film with wonderful acting in a heart-felt story about what most all of us will have to face some time in our future if we have older loved ones.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."