MUBI

Far From Heaven is the biggest cinematic disappointment I’ve had in quite a while. I expected nothing less than a masterpiece, with the Film under the direction of a genius, leading lady Julianne Moore, and an intense subject matter. But, sadly, I was beyond let down. The color and over all esthetic of the Film felt very forced, for example, nearly every scene having each and every person dressed in different tints of the same color. I understand the message of conformity, but there should be some subtleties left for the audience to discover, rather than have them plainly shoved in their face. I was also disappointed to see Moore’s talent so underused. She’s an incredible actress, maybe one of the best and underrated of her time, but this part was not for her. The acting was generally not very good and, just like the rest of the film, it felt very over the top, almost cheesy. I really did love the plot and subject matter, though. It was not only an important handful of issues addressed, but a deeply intriguing handful. As saddened as I was by the execution of the Film, I’ll admit I was entertained.

Borrowing the artificial-looking scenery and the sweetened dramatization of a typical ’sirkian’ melodrama from six decades ago, Haynes at once honors the German master by probing the thematic scope of the sub-genre in Hollywood while subtly instigating meditations about sensitive contemporary issues now addressed without parsimony on the big screen (homosexuality, prejudice, interracial love), although during those conservative times they were problematically introduced in a veiled way and then coded by intelligent artists in big studio productions that were anything but innocent. Notice the sublime colors of the décors captured by Ed Lachman’s lenses. A marvel of beauty, sensitivity and content.