Far Frpm Heaven, a sure fire Oscar contender by the way, is a loose remake of Douglas Sirk's All That Heaven Allows. Director Todd Haynes kept the 1950's decor and storyline about a well-to-do housewife who finds symmetry and purpose through her blue collar gardener. The whole town is gossipping in a mean spirited way causing the couple much duress. In the original, which is available on a stellar looking DVD from Criterion, Rock Hudson plays the gardener with Jane Wyman (the first Mrs. Reagan) as the housewife.
In this one, Haynes adds a few modern day twists to attract more interest from today's audiences. He inserts a husband, played by Dennis Quaid in the performance of his career, who is bisexual and is discovered in the arms of another man by his wife. In those days, that type of behavior was deemed to be deviant but treatable by psychiatry. The gardener is an African American in this one and is played by Dennis Haysbert (Heat). Naturally racial prejudice was rampant in those days particularly in small New England towns.
The film belongs to Julianne Moore as the wife in a perfect performance that redefines internal repression and compassion. The cinematography is also a major player in this one as is the schmaltzy score by veteran Elmer Bernstein.
Sirk was perhaps one of the most underrated directors to come out of the 50's. This German born director loved the Technicolor process and used it to the hilt to embellish his films. He is also credited with classics such as Written on the Wind, Magnificent Obsession and Imitation of Life.
