{"id":2680,"date":"2025-08-01T02:11:32","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T06:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/scottsfilmreviews.com\/?p=2680"},"modified":"2026-07-01T13:09:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T17:09:06","slug":"far-from-heaven-2002","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottsfilmreviews.com\/?p=2680","title":{"rendered":"Far From Heaven-2002"},"content":{"rendered":"

Far From Heaven-2002<\/strong><\/p>\n

Director Todd Haynes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Starring Julianne Moore, Dennis Haysbert, Dennis Quaid<\/strong><\/p>\n

Top 250 Films #127<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Scott’s Review #332<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Reviewed January 8, 2016<\/p>\n

Grade: A<\/strong><\/p>\n

Far From Heaven (2002) is a gorgeous film, set in 1950’s upper-class, sophisticated Connecticut, that tackles not one but two separate social issues in a wonderfully crafted story.<\/p>\n

An interracial couple fraught with discrimination, and a homosexual husband hiding his secret lifestyle, encompass this amazing film by acclaimed director Todd Haynes.<\/p>\n

In the years to follow, Haynes would also direct masterpieces in a similar period (and story) to Carol (2015).<\/p>\n

For starters, the cinematography and art direction are breathtaking- the beautiful and colorful small town in Connecticut, on the surface, prim and proper, is oozing with secrets and scandal just waiting to bubble to the surface.<\/p>\n

An aerial view of the town allows the viewer to see it in a sweeping motion, perfectly carved.<\/p>\n

Far From Heaven contains many similarities to All That Heaven Allows, made in 1955, and also focuses on a great scandal in a small, seemingly idyllic New England town.<\/p>\n

Cathy Whitaker (Julianne Moore) seems to have everything perfectly styled and kept at home in affluent Connecticut: a successful husband, Frank (Dennis Quaid), an advertising executive, beauty, and a neighborhood filled with friends.<\/p>\n

One night, when Frank is working late, Cathy surprises him with dinner at the office, only to be surprised herself by catching Frank passionately kissing another man.<\/p>\n

In an awkward scene, Frank admits to Cathy that he needs conversion therapy, but instead turns to alcohol and continues to see men secretly.<\/p>\n

Devastated, Cathy befriends her gardener, Raymond Deagan (Haysburt), a handsome black man, and slowly begins a relationship with him.<\/p>\n

Needless to say, this causes gossip and scandal amongst the townspeople.<\/p>\n

Far From Heaven is fantastic storytelling, weaving together, in essence, two main social stories.<\/p>\n

Frank questions his sexuality, is afraid to admit he is gay, and risks his reputation and career. Undoubtedly, he is a tormented individual, and we see him slowly come to terms with his sexuality.<\/p>\n

Haynes, fantastic at crafting a worthy story, carves a similar tale in 2015’s Carol, only she is a woman confident about her sexuality, but hiding it from society.<\/p>\n

Since the time in both films is the 1950s, the sexual revolution has not occurred, let alone anything gay-related.<\/p>\n

The central story, though, belongs to Cathy, and Julianne Moore portrays her to perfection. I would argue that Cathy is Moore’s best role, along with Amber Waves from Boogie Nights.<\/p>\n

Hurt and betrayed by her husband, she suddenly is filled with new and dangerous emotions- falling in love with a black man in a not very open-minded time.<\/p>\n

Moore and Haysbert have fantastic chemistry from their very first scene together.<\/p>\n

I love how Haynes showcases the perfection of the town- the lawns are perfectly mowed, the flower beds flawless, and everyone appears cheerful and colorful.<\/p>\n

But when something in their little town becomes amiss (in this case, Cathy going against the grain), the fangs come out, and the animals bear their teeth.<\/p>\n

A wonderful scene showcases Cathy and Raymond slow-dancing in a black-only bar. They sway as one, and the black patrons accept Cathy.<\/p>\n

Raymond (and his daughter) are not treated the same way by the white folks of the town once they catch wind of the shenanigans going on between the interracial couple.<\/p>\n

Far From Heaven (2002) is a beautiful film, from the way it looks and is shot to the powerful performances throughout.<\/p>\n

Moore may be the star and the central character of the film, but Quaid and Haysbert certainly deserve their due.<\/p>\n

They each give layered performances as wounded and tortured men, and the conclusion of the film- perceived as open-ended- is also not a happily ever after climax.<\/p>\n

Oscar Nominations:\u00a0<\/strong>Best Actress-Julianne Moore, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography<\/p>\n

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 5 wins-<\/strong>Best Feature (won)<\/strong>, Best Director-Todd Haynes (won)<\/strong>, Best Female Lead-Julianne Moore (won)<\/strong>, Best Supporting Male-Dennis Quaid (won)<\/strong>, Best Cinematography (won)<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Far From Heaven-2002 Director Todd Haynes Starring Julianne Moore, Dennis Haysbert, Dennis Quaid Top 250 Films #127 Scott’s Review #332 Reviewed January 8, 2016 Grade: A Far From Heaven (2002) is a gorgeous film, set in 1950’s upper-class, sophisticated Connecticut, that tackles not one but two separate social issues in a wonderfully crafted story. An … Continue reading Far From Heaven-2002<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[87,356,11657,192,362,41,211,339,122,11823,7464],"tags":[7887,2290,2151,11534,4301,1037,2262,2055,2289,2153],"class_list":["post-2680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2002-films","category-best-feature-independent-spirit-award","category-connecticut","category-dramas","category-favorite-film-of-the-year","category-indiefilms","category-indie-dramas","category-lgbt-dramas","category-gay-films","category-social-issues","category-top-250-films","tag-127-favorite-film","tag-dennis-haysbert","tag-dennis-quaid","tag-james-rebhorn","tag-john-wells","tag-julianne-moore","tag-june-squibb","tag-patricia-clarkson","tag-todd-haynes","tag-viola-davis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottsfilmreviews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottsfilmreviews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottsfilmreviews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottsfilmreviews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottsfilmreviews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2680"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/scottsfilmreviews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2680\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23649,"href":"https:\/\/scottsfilmreviews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2680\/revisions\/23649"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottsfilmreviews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottsfilmreviews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottsfilmreviews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}