Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Allegory of Soul lost in Society
Review: The description "horror film of the soul" sums it up well. This is a film full of the despair of Carol White (Julianne Moore), a lost angel of Los Angeles. The whole 1st half seems to be setting the scenario that she's allergic not simply to the chemical biproducts of society, but to society itself, or possibly to her own soul's emptiness (another biproduct of society). The whole empty LA lifestyle atmosphere was created--the disco gym, the upper-middle class house chores, the freeway, the nadir husband, the vacuous baby shower guests--it all hints that Safe is going to blow the whole thing wide open and make a gigantic statement about the individual lost in society. It makes the statement alright, but in such a subtle way--even too subtle.To the unperceptive viewer Safe may seem to end on a somewhat positive note, because of the subtlety. Actually the ending bears resemblance to that of Orwell's 1984, even using the same final words, "I love you". But instead of directing it to Big Brother (who doesn't really exist) she directs it toward herself (does SHE really exist?) Carol feels an ominous dread accentuated by a deep-tone humming soundtrack to her attacks ostensibly brought on by milk, deodorant spray, exhaust fumes, bug spray, citrus, etc. The story hints at not merely toxic chemicals, but toxic people, thoughts. Now the reason for the 4 stars: what it does NOT even HINT at is toxic society. I.e. it does not in essence condemn society, but the biproducts...kind of like comdemning the Holocaust without condemning Nazis (and everything behind them). The "solution" to Carol seems to be to go to a New Age Retreat. The best way to sum up this retreat is: the road to Oblivion is paved with good intentions. In the end no difference exists between her vacuous suburban mentality and the vacuous new age mentality (summed up in the "I like myself" void). It's better to see this film at least twice to figure out exactly what Safe means from your perspective...because it leaves so much open for interpretation.
Rating: 
Summary: A PERFECT FILM
Review: SAFE is one of the few films I would have to call perfect or as perfect as a film can be. Julianne Moore (a friend of Todd Haynes) gives a breathtaking performance, that should have received an oscar nomination. Todd Haynes is an amazing director (and he's gay of course!). This film is groundbreaking, although I have read it was a satire on affluent suburban housewives & their vacuous existences (Moore's character is completely empty inside, nothing's there) it is also a strong environmental statement. People with EI (environmental illness) do exist & as is stated in the credits of the film, information was received from The Center for the Chemically Injured (somewhere in Texas I believe, no surprise, with all our refineries). The supporting cast are excellent: there is Jessica Harper (from the famous Dario Argento film SUSPIRIA), Mary Carver, James LeGros.....Pay attention to this film, turn up the volume as there are some subtleties that will be missed if you don't listen closely. Another note, the score is fantastic & fits perfectly.
Rating: 
Summary: Less is not Moore
Review: Perhaps my expectations were too high considering how hard this title is to obtain. I ordered a copy from Amazon UK. Todd Haynes' other films - Poison, and Velvet Goldmine - are visually striking, and the framing of Safe reminded me of artwork. This formality however distances us from the narrative, and seems to highlight the miscasting of Julianne Moore. Moore's previous supporting roles showed a tartness which was very appealing. However it is perverse of Haynes to cast her as a bimbo. She may have the skin for her character but she really isn't believable, and Haynes strands her in his huge long shots. When she is called upon to give a speech near the end of the film, it is almost embarassing. The story behind Safe is interesting enough but I think it could have been much more than the curio that it is, if Haynes had used Jessica Harper in the lead, rather than giving her only a few minutes of screen time in a supporting role.
Rating:
Summary: breathtaking Moore
Review: I have always been a fan of Julianne Moore, but Safe showed me part of her that I'd never noticed before. She has a breathtaking ability to become a quiet woman, a still woman, a woman who goes unnoticed and who is afraid to speak. The static wide shots make one want to jump off the couch and peer closer to the television in an attempt to see who this woman really is. Haynes barely gives us the satisfaction of finding out, by the time the film is over, but we are left with the feeling we've just been told some kind of family secret. Love it, love it, love it.
Rating:
Summary: Safe
Review: It is so quiet and still. It is so sad and beautiful. For the hypochondriac in everybody. You could remember it like a dream forever.
Rating:
Summary: I will mention visuals only
Review: Safe is brilliant, I use the term sparingly. Have you ever imagined what a film would look like if every shot worked as a still? Past the titles, every shot is composed and held to fit on a wall next to your TV screen as well as in it. Does anyone know the work of photographer Andreas Gursky? If so, check Safe out. If you would like to see one of the highest achievements in cinematography, check Safe out. Of course, that is not all there is to Safe; you know this if you know Haynes, who you should know if you don't.
Rating:
Summary: True/false portrayal of environmental illness
Review: The first part of the movie is very realistic on how it feels to become ill with chemical sensitivities, though I doubt healthy people will get a lot of the subtleties, that is masterfully played by Moore. The second part looses it, by suggesting this is all in our head, and we just need to go to a spiritual retreat in the desert to heal. I reality, there are real medical centers (like EHC-D in Dallas) that treats this disease. Or maybe the movie really means to say that there is little hope for the ill, as the world successfully imposes the view that it is psychosomatic. I can't figure that out.
Rating: 
Summary: life is like a garden
Review: Well, I see that the Village Voice critics' poll has named this the best film of the nineties. Sheesh! Such adulation is, for my money, the most egregious example yet of postmodern critics' fascination with affectless, empty vessels into which they can impute meaning or significance, rather like the pols and businessmen in "Being There" who infer profundity from Chance the Gardener's guileness observations about gardening. The better first half of "Safe" succeeds reasonably well at evoking the sad protagonist's anomie and dread, but the film absolutely loses its way in the second section, is indeed as flat and static as Leonard Maltin suggests. (Hey, even Leonard Maltin gets it right once in a while.)
Rating:
Summary: Julianne Moore-the most versatile actor of our time.
Review: Julianne Moore is exceptionaly meloncholy in this masterfulfilm. It is yet another example of Moore's wide range ofcharacters. From crazy, derranged wife(Short Cuts), to ferociously bitter sister(Myth of Fingerprints), to her best performance to date in her Oscar-nominated role as the sleepy-eyed porn queen Amber Waves(Boogie Nights). It is so clear that Moore is one of the best actresses of all time!
Rating:
Summary: Surreal and Thought-Provoking
Review: This is one of those films that starts out funny and ends with a serious undertone, much like Heathers did. Weird, sterile atmosphere throughout, and definitely thought-provoking. If you can handle a slow-paced, dreamlike film, this might be a favorite.
|
