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By
NICK ZEGARAC
Okay! I know I'm going to
catch flack for this one, but the "genius" of '50s
melodrama director Douglas Sirk has always escaped
me. There, I said it.
"Far from Heaven" is director Todd Haynes' attempt
at emulating "Sirk." In that respect, the film
succeeds. It is riddled with lush photography and
set in the 1950s -- which helps. But as a
contemporary film it miserably flops.
Like Sirk's "Written on the Wind," "Far
from Heaven" concerns a dutiful wife, Kathy (on this
occasion played by Julianne Moore) who discovers
that her husband, Frank (Dennis Quaid) is not all
that he appears to be. And like Sirk's "Imitation
of Life" there is a hint of tempered racial
tension and interracial romance that sneaks into
the proceedings. But if anything, "Far from
Heaven" proves that you can't go back to the well
twice -- as it were -- and relive the past without
being compared and judged inferior to it.
Moore and Quaid aren't very engaging as a couple
and the racial undertones are played from a safe
distance. Director Todd Haynes' photography is too
lush, at times appearing as garishly cartoonish --
something that Sirk was never guilty of -- and the
plot, such as it is, seems better suited for a
segment on "General Hospital" than mainstream
Hollywood filmmaking. Ironically, it was Sirk's
influence through films like "Written on the Wind"
that paved the way for television to take its cue
and cultivate the soap opera on the small screen.
In retrospect, that premise works. The other way
around, it's an embarrassment. Besides, "Far
from Heaven" plays it safe at every turn, eschewing
biases and bigotry and ending on a very postmodern
unhappy note that Sirk would never have approved
of.
The transfer perfectly captures Haynes' intent.
Colors are rich, vibrant and nicely balanced.
Black and contrast levels are accurately rendered.
There is a considerable amount of edge enhancement
and some shimmering of fine details. No
pixelization though. The soundtrack is 5.1 and
adequately rendered.
The extras include a very self-congratulatory
featurette in which Hayne's explains how he did
Douglas Sirk one better. Like Attenborough's
remake of "Miracle on 34th Street" or Van Sant's
shot-for-shot remake of "Psycho" -- it simply
can't be done! I wish Hollywood would realize
this. |
