The Savages

The Savages (Laura Linney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Bosco) —  Three exceptional, deep performances turn what is essentially a three-person play into a rich, if painful, movie experience about a father, son and daughter (named Savage) caught in an all-too-familiar dilemma.  The elderly dad (veteran character actor Philip Bosco) lives in Sun City as the companion of a woman who suddenly dies, leaving him homeless and, worse, showing distinct signs of dementia.  The kids (Linney and Hoffman), who haven’t kept touch with the father who wasn’t much of a dad, are thrust into new territory of having to care for him.  Hoffman plays a college professor in Buffalo who teaches theater, is an expert at Brecht, lives with a female Polish professor who is returning home because her visa has expired, and is writing a book.  Linney, who was nominated for an Oscar for this performance, is a temp with a masters of fine art who writes plays and tells lies, but she is totally lost.  She is having an affair with a married man, Larry (played likeably by Peter Friedman) and shows more love for her cat and Larry’s dog than any person.  She feels the guilt of not being a good daughter and makes dad’s illness all about her, not him.  The Savages is a depressing film that strikes a cautionary note to anyone from 40-60 with elderly parents.  The actors play it like normal people thanks to their extraordinary talents and an exceptional script by Tamara Jenkins, who also directs the film.  Linney has been Oscar-nominated previously for You Can Count on Me and Kinsey.  Hoffman won his Oscar last year for Capote, is nominated this year for Charlie Wilson’s War, and completed a trifecta this with War, the haunting Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, and this film. The performances are worth the price of admission.