Beautiful, tough film. Those who give it low ratings miss the way the artificiality and staginess of the film work to create a reality - much like some live theatre. It's not meant to be realistic, it's heightened in a way so that it's emotional truths hit you harder. The links between all the character's oppressions, all trapped by social prejudice and convention - how society views women, gays, black people - are fantastically laid out in a film that draws you in with colour, style, staging and god, the acting. Julianne Moore's depth of character, the soft humanity of Haysbert and the painful closet that Quaid portrays every time he's on screen - a 10. … Expand

An incredibly elegant film. They might as well put Julianne Moore's name on the Oscar now because she gives the best performance of the last couple of years. Dennis Haysbert is incredible as well. Most importantly, the direction and music are so well done, & the choices Haynes made were right on the money. I hope this film gets some noteriety because it really shouldn't be missed.

Sublime film, though admittedly not for every tastle. The acting, cinematography, art direction and score were excellent.

I've seen this movie 4 times, and each time I discover something more wondrous. The subject matter is compelling, and Moore surely deserves an Oscar for Best Actress. The photography and musical score are outstanding.

Beautiful and enthralling. Its story will keep you thinking long after you leave the theater.

Wonderful movie. Hands down the best of the year. Why don't they make films like this any more?

Okay, it seems that people are not understanding what this film is. Basically, all Haynes has done was to take a melodrama from the 50s (including sets, costumes, dialogue, etc.) and inserted themes that would have never made it past the censors at that time. It is not supposed to be a "realistic" view of the 50s. It is simply a wonderful celebration of those grand old films. And if you haven't seen any of them (like "Imitation of Life", etc.), then you just won't appreciate this film. And that's okay. It's not for everyone. However, I just urge those who truly enjoy movies to go and see this film. And, if you haven't seen them already, rent some of the old melodramas of the 40s and 50s so you can truly appreciate how beautifully crafted and acted this film is.… Expand

This movie took my breath away! I LOVED IT!

A profound and touching film, superbly realized in every aspect. Julianne Moore's performance, in every sentence, and every physical and emotional expression transcends all the boundaries of great acting, and ranks among the greatest of all film performances, alongside Setsuko Hara in Late Spring, Gong Li in Raise the Red Lantern, Kinuyo Tanaka in Life of Oharu, Helen Bonham Carter in Wings of the Dove, and Gillian Anderson in House of Mirth.… Collapse

Everything from the script, direction, performances everything is perfect here.

A great film.

Every scene is perfect.

Simply stunning. Every detail of this film is perfection. From the script to the art direction to the costumes, photography, and especially the acting. Julianne Moore is brilliant. I can't imagine a better performance coming from any actor this year. Hopefully, the Academy will recognize that fact and award accordingly. Dennis Quaid is terrific as well matching Moore moment for moment. This film takes the wonderful '50s melodramas, captures all the elements, and then gives it all a new life of its own. Todd Haynes has not simply made melodrama as entertainment. He has raised it to the level of being art.… Expand

This film is just amazing! Anyone who thinks otherwise is missing something. If you did not enjoy this film and have not seen a Douglas Sirk film, rent one.(All That Heaven Allows) It is sad to me to hear people say that the 1950's were not like this, that was not completly what the director was going for. It is paying tribute to the films of the times that were extremly like this. Julianne Moore does the best job any actress in hollywood could do, hands down the best preformance of the year. Also to the person who did not think a black man would go to an art gallery at that time is seriously confussed. Yes black people did do the things whites did. Yes, even if it was targeted to white midle class people. Alot of things are still targeted to that and wealthy and non-wealthy people of every culture attend. … Expand

Stunningly beautiful scenery and lead actress, powerful scenes by Dennis Quaid. The best of its type I've ever seen.

Thank Goodness for a movie that looks and feels beautifully and wonderfully DIFFERENT! A director and actors who are willing to take some chances!!! I really enjoyed this film and how Todd Haynes used every element--music, lighting, wardrobe--to tell his story. My reaction when I walked out of the theatre: Moore, Quaid, and Haysbert were all terrific. Haysbert, in particular, is called upon to be stoic yet also bold enough to express interest in Moore's Mrs. Whitaker. Both are mavericks, which, in this time period makes them near outcasts. Haysbert's Deagen has the audacity to be college educated, to raise a single daugther, to indeed be versed in literature and the arts, and to own a business. Moore's Cathy Whitaker is similar: she's associated with social justice causes (friendly to Jews and negroes, they say) at the derision of the conservative community. Both actors, Moore and Haysbert, bring their material to life wonderfully. Regarding some of the criticism here: it's offensive to me that others would claim there were no Black intellectuals in the 1950s. Indeed, Black men and women have been reading literature and studying the arts for a long time. Also, yes, indeed, there were closeted men with young male lovers in the 50s. Let me remind of you Rock Hudson, a closeted gay man who was married for three years. He may not have had lovers during that time (I don't know), but it's not so far beyond the pale to believe Quaid's storyline.… Expand

This movie moved me in a way I've never experienced. These characters are trapped as far from heaven as we remain today, yet the unique perspective and the tight crafting of this film expresses a hope that we are moving toward honesty. We are never who we think we are, and we are never beyond the limits of love, but we're forever far from heaven.

Perfect. Many critics discuss the films irony, but they miss the boat. It's the flawless combination of sacred and profance that Hayne's is exploring - the irony takes a back seat. He has chosen an incredible language and style for the film and, furthermore, has tenderly executed it - never ridiculing the characters or the inspiration from which the style originates. 'Far From Heaven' something beyond moving. It's disgusting that Haynes wasn't nominated for a Best Director Oscar.… Expand

Haynes's characters ultimately respect the moral sensibilites of the era, which gives the film weight.

If Luis Bunuel's "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie" is a brilliant work of art made out of a concise political statement, this film is a keen political statement made about other works of art. It's beautifully shot, highlighted by Elmer Bernstein's appropriately melodramatic score, and held together by Julianne Moore's bravest performance. Kudos also to an unusually real Dennis Quaid, who was robbed of an Oscar nomination. He provides the jagged edge to an otherwise beautiful and elegant piece, where harsh truths and ugly sensations smolder beneath the surface. Perhaps its politics are most poignant and effective when showing how certain things are said in today's society that might've remained as code in the 1950s, yet we're still all too willing to misrepresent them in their finest pomp and polish. I'm not entirely sure that that statement is something the director, who is openly gay, intended to say.… Expand

Highly stylized, visually lush, and superbly acted, this film is both beautiful to look at and meaningful to experience. It deals with issues that, while still somewhat sticky today, were a powderkeg in the 1950s. As a result, framing this story in the 1950s gives it the dramatic power to really impress.

A real heart-breaker! This is no more realistic than Douglas Sirk's films of the '50's but it's a wonderful fantasy exploring/exposing our recent culture's limits of tolerance and stifling society. How far we've come, or have we?

This film is picture perfect. Dennis Quaid is very intense in his role.This movie tackles the taboo subjects of homosexuality and racism of the 1950's brilliantly!!

Beautiful in every way. But, I was never fully engrossed in it's ages-old storyline.

Les commentaires de certaines personnes dans cette section exposent le manque flagrant de culture cinématographique et de culture socio-politique de la population. En plus d'être un remarquable film au plan technique (la reconstitution plastique et filmique des années 50 est digne d'une anthologie), d'avoir une nouvelle remarquable performance de julianne moore( actrice qui prouve la grande farce des oscars puisqu'elle n'en possède toujours pas un), far from heaven est une étude fabuleuse de l'intolérance, des faux semblants, de l'hypocrisie qui marque profondément la culture étatsunienne d'aujourd'hui autant que celle idéalisée par le american dream des années 50...un chef-d'oeuvre....… Expand

To everyone panning this film because it's "unrealistic" -- that's exactly the point. This is not only a film set in the 50s, but a film designed to look like it came out of the 50s, complete with the requisite stereotypes and cliched characters and situations. Even the music punches up the melodrama. What makes it so entertaining is that it is ridiculous to look at, but incredibly true emotionally. It's a parody of 50s films, but rather than being a comedy, it's a drama, and I have rarely enjoyed a film so much from start to finish.… Expand