Far From Heaven

An extraordinary homage to, and deconstruction of, Douglas Sirk's melodramas of the 1950s, Far From Heaven is a multi-layered tale of potent emotion, puritanical taboo, and forbidden affections festering below the idealistic facade of an Eisenhower-era New England family. Oscar nominee Julianne Moore gives a captivating, flawless performance as a consummate '50s housewife whose life begins to unravel when she catches her seemingly perfect husband (Dennis Quaid) having a homosexual affair. Forced to keep her predicament secret, the distraught Moore finds a friend in her gardener (Dennis Haysbert), with whom she dare not be seen because he's a) not her husband, b) not of her social class, and, especially, c) because he's black. Writer-director Todd Haynes (Safe, Velvet Goldmine) masterfully marries the idyllic Technicolor fiction of post-War Americana with the authentic, imperfect humanity and the malignant subterfuge that always lies beneath it. Feted as one of the best movies of 2002 by a number of critics (although it failed to nab an Oscar nom for Best Picture), this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Todd Haynes, a 27-minute Sundance Channel 'Anatomy of a Scene' mini-documentary, an 11-minute making-of featurette, a five-minute 'The Filmmakers Experience' Q&A session featuring Haynes and star Julianne Moore, production notes, and cast and filmmaker bios. Bottom line: A good extras package for one of 2002's most lauded--if snubbed by Oscar--films.] (R. Blackwelder) [Blu-ray Review—Mar. 12, 2019—Kino Lorber, 107 min., PG-13, Blu-ray: $29.95—Making its debut on Blu-ray, 2002’s Far from Heaven features a great transfer with a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack. Extras include audio commentary by director Todd Haynes, an anatomy of a scene featurette (27 min.), a 'making-of' featurette (12 min.), and 'A Filmmaker’s Experience' with Haynes and star Julianne Moore (6 min.). Bottom line: Haynes’s fine homage to director Douglas Sirk shines on Blu-ray.]