The Savages dir. Tamara Jenkins
Both these movies are pretty depressing. Both have Philip Seymour Hoffman.
In "Devil", Hoffman and Ethan Hawke are brothers who plan to rob their parents jewelry store. The place is insured so no real harm. But of course everything goes wrong. Really wrong. Just bad stuff happens everywhere. Hoffman is really good as the sleaze ball older brother who gets his mildly wienerish younger brother to do the dirty work. Albert Finney is impressive as their father. Sad but effective. Hoffman's character is just pathetic throughout.
I know critics really liked this movie, and the acting and direction and all is really good, but I just don't think it all comes together to make a fully satisfying movie. The whole does not equal the sum of its parts, or whatever. In my opinion anyway. Maybe it was just too much of a downer for me to enjoy. Critics love downers.
Same thing with "The Savages". Sad comedy which kinda leans more towards the sad then the comedy. PSH is college professor Jon Savage, and Laura Linney is his younger sister, aspiring playwright Wendy Savage. After years of not speaking to their abusive father, they are forced to take care of him after his girlfriend dies and he is diagnosed with dementia.
Hoffman is good as usual, but Laura Linney is awesome in her Oscar nominated performance. I also thought Philip Bosco was impressive as the dad. There are a few bright spots, but for the most part this is really sad. I liked the ending, which is actually kind of uplifting, but for the most part this is a depressing movie. Not totally in a bad way, but not totally in a good way either. Laura Linney might have became my favorite actress, and she really makes this better then it would've been with a lesser star.
both movies: 7/10
43/150
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