The Savages

The Savages stars Laura Linney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the adult kids (of abusive and neglectful parents) who are summoned to put their demented father into a nursing home. It's a story of two children who must now grow up and handle their father with more mercy than he handled them. They prove to be capable, if somewhat frail and lost. If you have elderly parents, you will hopefully do these duties with love in your heart in return for a loving childhood. But as is the case when parents are not deserving, the tears shed here are tears of sorrow for what was never had, not for what was. The odd thing to me was that I was the youngest person in the theater, by, oh, say 15 years. I personally found it depressing. Though they did paint the valiant health care workers, often immigrants, who struggle in this unrewarding field, as kind and patient. That may or may not be the case, but the stark reality of the subject of this film is seldom touched upon, and for that, if not that alone, the filmmakers are to be commended. All of the actors in this do an excellent job, though Linney and Hoffman are in danger of being typecast these days.