The Safety of Objects

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<TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="501" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 267 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="14a690050.png" border=0 width="400" height="261" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="575"><div> <B>The Safety of Objects </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Wingdings 2" ><B>êêê</B></FONT><B>  </B> ( R ) (DRAMA)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><div> Reviewed By Cathy Edsey Collins</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="575" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="575"><div> <B>"American Beauty" revisited</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="580" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Glenn Close: Esther Gold</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Robert Klein: Howard Gold</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Joshua Jackson: Paul Gold</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Jessica Campbell: Julie Gold</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Dermot Mulroney: Jim Train</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Moira Kelly: Susan Train</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Alex House: Jake Train</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Patricia Clarkson: Annette Jennings</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Kristen Stewart: Sam Jennings</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Timothy Olyphant: Randy</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 ><NOBR><div> Mary Kay Place: Helen Christianson</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Directed and screenplay written by: Rose Troche</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 Second Bottom Line</B>: The emotional roller coaster of life in suburbia is explored through the intertwining stories of four different families.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Story Line:</B>  A character-driven film brimming with outstanding performances from its ensemble cast, "The Safety In Objects" clearly claims Esther Gold (Glenn Close) as the heart of this poignant drama. A tragic accident has left Esther's eldest son in a coma and as the film opens she is tending to him, talking calmly to him as he lies hooked to machines in his bedroom. It soon becomes obvious that Esther's total devotion to son Paul has taken a toll on her husband and daughter. At the urging of her daughter, and an attempt to assuage a bit of guilt, Esther enters a wacky shopping mall contest in order to win her a car. The story comes to its eruptive conclusion when the circumstances of Paul's devastating accident are finally revealed.</div> <bR> <div> Weaving throughout this absorbing emotional crisis is the saga of the </div> <div> Train family. Absentee father Dermot Mulroney finds himself caught adrift and questioning everything when his firm bypasses him for a promotion. Going a bit off the deep end, he wanders into the mall, becomes intrigued with the contest and takes on the role of coach, hell-bent on insuring a victory for Esther. Skipping work and abandoning home, he goes to all sorts of comic (and somewhat unbelievable) lengths to help Esther endure the marathon. Similarities to Kevin Spacey frenetically whipping his flabby body into buff shape  in "American Beauty" cannot be ignored.</div> <bR> <div> Mary Kay Place is a middle-aged wife and mother, dragged down by her lost good looks and boring marriage. Patricia Clarkson is a frazzled, divorced mom, whose tryst with the local gardener (Timothy Olyphant) causes an uproar that is only matched by the panic she experiences at the disappearance of her young daughter Sam. </div> <bR> <div> All stories are not neatly tied up in the end, but there is an undeniable feeling at the conclusion that lessons have been learned and life more fully appreciated.</div> <div>     </div> <div> <B>Tell Me More About It</B>:  We are very familiar with the crises experienced by the characters in "The Safety in Objects"-life-altering accidents, career disappointments, confused teenagers, midlife melodrama. The treatment of these age-old themes is the magic of this engrossing film, expertly crafted by screenwriter/director Rose Troce. From the opening credits-white cut-out figures and houses, moving like cuckoo clocks and labeled for easy introduction-Troce exhibits a matchless style for nonlinear storytelling. Moving seamlessly from one character to the next-their vulnerabilities are exposed, their faces revealing the pain and joy of living, the comfort (or "safety" as the film's title implies) gained from the possessions accrued.</div> <div> Enough cannot be said of the fine acting here. Glenn Close gives a riveting performance, her eyes and soft-spoken voice speaking volumes.  Dermot Mulroney, hilarious as the fiance<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Symbol" >¢</FONT> in "About Schmidt," is sympathetic as the career-obsessed yuppie, who loses his identity when the promotion doesn't come his way.  </div> <bR> <div> On first glance, the choice of the shopping mall contest smacks of a looniness that does not match the sobering themes of this script. Yet, real life has a way of mixing the surreal with serious, so perhaps this inclusion is not so unbelievable after all.</div> <bR> <div> Comparisons to <A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/20032q/id2029.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/20032q/id"><U><B>"American Beauty,"</B></U></A> the Oscar-winner, will be inevitable, since both movies expose the undercurrent of unhappiness in seemingly placid suburbia. "The Safety in Objects" stands apart with its multiple story lines, unique editing and hopeful conclusion. It deserves its own place in the sun.  </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="621" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> Rated R for general audiences</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> Cathy Edsey Collins © 2003</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> <A HREF="Cathyedsey@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cathyedsey@aol.com"><U><U>Cathyedsey@aol.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mini Filmography </B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="600" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 57 WIDTH="307"><div> Glenn Close: <A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/2000/id687.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/2000/id68"><U><B>"102 Dalmatians",</B></U></A> "Sarah Plain and Tall", "South Pacific" (TV), "The Big Chill", "Fatal Attraction"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="286"><div> Robert Klein: <A HREF="id1881.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days"><U><B>"How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days",</B></U></A><B> </B><A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/holiday2002/id1793.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/holiday20"><U><B>"Two Weeks Notice"</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="307"><div> Joshua Jackson: "Dawson's Creek" (TV), "Cruel Intentions"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Jessica Campbell: "Election"</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="307"><div> Dermot Mulroney: <A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/holiday2002/id1748.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/holiday20"><U><B>"About Schmidt", </B></U></A>"My Best Friend's Wedding"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Moira Kelly: "West Wing" (TV), "Chaplin"</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="307"><div> Alex House: "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows" (TV)</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Patricia Clarkson: <A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/holiday2002/id1707.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/holiday20"><U><B>"Far From Heaven"</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 39 ><NOBR><div> Kristen Stewart: <A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/2002/id1762.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/2002/id17"><U><B>"Panic Room"</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="286"><div> Timothy Olyphant: <A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/2000/id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/2000/id11"><U><B>"Gone in 60 Seconds",</B></U></A> "Go", "Scream 2"</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 39 WIDTH="307"><div> Mary Kay Place: "Being John Malkovich", <A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/holiday2002/id1561.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/holiday20"><U>"</U></A><A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/holiday2002/id1561.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/holiday20"><U><B>Sweet Home Alabama"</B></U></A><B>,</B> "The Big Chill"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Rose Troche: "Six Feet Under" (TV), </div> <div> "Earthlings"(TV movie) </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>