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Far From Heaven (2002) DVD Review
Far From Heaven (2002) DVD Credits:
Far From Heaven (2002) Directed by:
Todd Haynes
Far From Heaven (2002) Written by:
Todd Haynes
Far From Heaven (2002) Cast:
Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, Dennis Haysbert, Patricia Clarkson, Viola Davis, James Rebhorn, Bette Henritze, Michael Gaston, Ryan Ward, Lindsay Andretta
Far From Heaven (2002) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
Far From Heaven (2002) DVD Release Date:
1st January 2006
Our Rating: Extras Rating:

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Far From Heaven (2002) Synopsis:

It is the fall of 1957. The Whitakers, the very picture of a suburban family, make their home in Hartford, Connecticut. Their daily existences are characterized by carefully observed family etiquette, social events, and an overall desire to keep up with the Joneses. Cathy Whitaker is the homemaker, wife and mother. Frank Whitaker is the breadwinner, husband and father. Together they have the perfect '50s life: healthy kids and social prominence. Then one night, Cathy discovers her husband's secret life and her tidy, insular world starts spinning out of control. Fearing the consequences of revealing her pain and confusion to anyone in her own social circle, she finds unexpected comfort and friendship with her African-American gardener, Raymond Deagan. Cathy's interactions with Raymond; her best friend Eleanor Fine; and her maid, Sybil, reflects the upheaval in her life. Cathy is faced with choices that spur gossip within the community, and change several lives forever.

Far From Heaven (2002) DVD Review:

Synopsis

A Connecticut housewife (Moore) finds herself dealing with her husband's (Quaid) infidelity (she finds him with another man) and the racial tension that epitomized the late 1950s at the advent of the Civil Rights movement in America. As a coping mechanism, she develops a friendship with her African-American gardener (Haysbert), who's full of sage wisdom.

The Video

FAR FROM HEAVEN appears in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 on this single-sided, dual-layered DVD; the image has been enhanced for 16X9 televisions. As one might expect, yet another wonderful transfer from Universal Studios. Sharpness was excellent. The film remained crisp and distinct. I saw no signs of softness. Jagged edges caused no issues, and there were no signs of edge enhancement.

As for the print, I the image looked clean and fresh. The colors looked vivid and flamboyant; this was such a sensational color palate. I’ve never seen so many colors portrayed in a film - absolutely sensational. Black levels were deep and rich, while shadow detail was clear and thick. Overall, the video transfer of FAR FROM HEAVEN was absolutely gleaming; a solid presentation.

The Audio

FAR FROM HEAVEN is presented in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS track. Not surprisingly, it featured a very active soundfield for both versions of the film, with the DTS track having a deeper bass response. All five channels presented a masterful ambience that worked well for the film. Dialogue remained natural and warm at all times, and I noticed no signs of edginess from the audio track. Music was lively, and the score showed accurate range. Overall, the audio track for FAR FROM HEAVEN worked very well for the film.

The Extras

- The Making of Far From Heaven
- "Anatomy of a Scene" Featurette
- Feature Commentary With Director Todd Haynes

- A Filmmaker's Experience With Julianne Moore and Todd Haynes

Overall

FAR FROM HEAVEN is virtuoso filmmaking at its best. This film is extraordinary; the film grabs hold of the domineering oppression of the era. Director Haynes took a risk inventing this film because most viewers cannot help but to approach this material with a "modern day" frame of mind. People are not shocked to see two men kissing or to witness a potential romance between a white woman and a black man; instead Haynes sickens his viewers by the reactions of the characters and how they deal with prejudice and homosexuality of their time.

The DVD provides a colorful transfer with a good audio track and reasonable extras. FAR FROM HEAVEN may not appeal to all, but for those of you who enjoy classical films, FAR FROM HEAVEN is worth the time. Highly Recommended.

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Far From Heaven (2002) DVD review written by: John Teves

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