Great watch.
Julianne Moore stars as 50s housewife Cathy Whitaker, married to the successful Frank (played by Dennis Quaid) and with two children, Janice and David. One day, as Frank is staying late at work, Cathy brings him dinner, only to find Frank making love with another man. Back at home, Frank agrees to go see a therapist to "address" his homosexuality, putting a strain on the couple's relationship.
At the same time, Cathy gets into trouble with the other families in the town by publicly showing "too much" friendliness to Raymond Deagan, a Black man and the Whitaker's new gardener after their old gardener, Raymond's father Otis, passes away. Raymond and Cathy really connect and their just is the sense they take pleasure in each other's company, it's a really nice thing to watch. While Cathy's best friend El (played by Patricia Clarkson) and maid Sybil (played by Viola Davis) understand and respect Cathy's stance, the tension with the rest of the town affects their status and friendships with everyone else.
After going on vacation to Miami with Frank, he tells Cathy that he has fallen for another man and wants a divorce. Cathy goes to visit Raymond, whose daughter Sarah got attacked by bigoted school boys after she was walking home, who tells her that they can no longer see each other, as the town (both its White and Black members) are taking issue with their relationship and it is just not safe for them to be with one another for the sake of their families. Cathy agrees and says goodbye as Raymond and Sarah leave for Baltimore, knowing they are not safe in Connecticut anymore.
I think the film is an interesting look at racism, homophobia, gender dynamics, and class, explored within the style of 50s dramas. Julianne Moore gives a great performance, the costuming and score are great, and I really like how the cinematography makes use of color so well (like using green to communicate mysterious/foreign territory like Frank at the gay bar or Cathy with Raymond at the Black-owned restaurant). I also like how there's a fall season feeling to it, it just adds more depth to the movie. The film felt very sincere and powerful in its message, I liked it a lot.
Great watch.
Julianne Moore stars as 50s housewife Cathy Whitaker, married to the successful Frank (played by Dennis Quaid) and with two children, Janice and David. One day, as Frank is staying late at work, Cathy brings him dinner, only to find Frank making love with another man. Back at home, Frank agrees to go see a therapist to "address" his homosexuality, putting a strain on the couple's relationship.
At the same time, Cathy gets into trouble with the other families in the town by publicly showing "too much" friendliness to Raymond Deagan, a Black man and the Whitaker's new gardener after their old gardener, Raymond's father Otis, passes away. Raymond and Cathy really connect and their just is the sense they take pleasure in each other's company, it's a really nice thing to watch. While Cathy's best friend El (played by Patricia Clarkson) and maid Sybil (played by Viola Davis) understand and respect Cathy's stance, the tension with the rest of the town affects their status and friendships with everyone else.
After going on vacation to Miami with Frank, he tells Cathy that he has fallen for another man and wants a divorce. Cathy goes to visit Raymond, whose daughter Sarah got attacked by bigoted school boys after she was walking home, who tells her that they can no longer see each other, as the town (both its White and Black members) are taking issue with their relationship and it is just not safe for them to be with one another for the sake of their families. Cathy agrees and says goodbye as Raymond and Sarah leave for Baltimore, knowing they are not safe in Connecticut anymore.
I think the film is an interesting look at racism, homophobia, gender dynamics, and class, explored within the style of 50s dramas. Julianne Moore gives a great performance, the costuming and score are great, and I really like how the cinematography makes use of color so well (like using green to communicate mysterious/foreign territory like Frank at the gay bar or Cathy with Raymond at the Black-owned restaurant). I also like how there's a fall season feeling to it, it just adds more depth to the movie. The film felt very sincere and powerful in its message, I liked it a lot.
