The Safety Of Objects
"As provocative as it is touching." -The Philadelphia Inquirer
An incredible all-star cast delivers unforgettable performances in this "penetrating" (Time Out New York), "can't take your eyes off the screen drama" (Maria Claire) about a group of suburban families whose lives are mysteriously intertwined.
As Esther (Glenn Close) struggles to remain the perfect mother in the wake of a tragedy, Annette (Patricia Clarkson) copes with toxic fallout from a nasty divorce. Meanwhile, Jim (Dermot Mulroney) goes off the deep end when he's passed over for a promotion at work. But these very different people are bound together by more than their cookie-cutter homes and manicured lawns. In fact, an event from their past threatens to shatter their fragile lives unless they can find the strength to face it-and each other-head on.
Member Reviews
Suburbia is everywhere - maebers
There has been much talk of how the film represents (or apparently misrepresents) the American psyche but you don't have to be an American to empathise, or indeed sympathise, with these characters. Like it or not, all families are dysfunctional; we are all damaged in some way and that is the beauty of this film.Sleeper - makes its points well - Kifness
You can really get into the characters in this movie - they all have their own story to tell and it is very interesting to see how they are all intertwined in the end. I really like the mall sequences, how you start learning how all these characters relate to the main story and how they are all trying to move forward with their lives in their own way. This is a quiet, slow film but there are no parts that do not feel wasted, it's a slow contemplative look at the families and the nuances that are our lives.The Risk of Adaptation - Sandman2
The theme of the underside of suburbia has been pretty thoroughly explored. A. M. Homes' stories are known for their bleakness, dark humour and willingness to push against the reader's expectations. This movie connects the families' stories in ways that feel a little too tidy, and while there are good performances (has Patricia Clarkson *ever* given a bad one?) the overall tone feels superficial. The script gets credit for not working to make every character likeable or too nice - most of these people are massively screwed up - but it's not all that easy to care about them sometimes. And the ending feels completely tacked-on. Glenn Close is believable and moving as the closest thing to an emotional centre the film has, but Joshua Jackson isn't given enough to do to make his character feel whole.
Member Reviews
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Suburbia is everywhere - maebers
There has been much talk of how the film represents (or apparently misrepresents) the American psyche but you don't have to be an American to empathise, or indeed sympathise, with these characters. Like it or not, all families are dysfunctional; we are all ...Sleeper - makes its points well - Kifness
You can really get into the characters in this movie - they all have their own story to tell and it is very interesting to see how they are all intertwined in the end. I really like the mall sequences, how you start learning how all these characters relate ...The Risk of Adaptation - Sandman2
The theme of the underside of suburbia has been pretty thoroughly explored. A. M. Homes' stories are known for their bleakness, dark humour and willingness to push against the reader's expectations. This movie connects the families' stories in ways that feel ...