The Savages

Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman never make my lists of all-time favorite actors; they are in some great movies and they are powerhouses, but they are more like siblings you have a comfortable relationship with. In The Savages, they play siblings, Wendy and John, who suddenly have to care for their elderly father. The plot could have gone all Lifetime movie, but fortunately for us viewers, it stays original and pretty true to life. Although some childhood abuse is alluded to, the characters don't have some epiphany or big dramatic moment confronting their father or each other. The ramifications are pretty clearly seen in their emotional problems. Also, there isn't some grand forgiveness scene with their father. As in real life, sometimes it's just showing up every day and taking care of someone who can't even remember who you are. Tamara Jenkins is the writer/director, who also did "Slums of Beverly Hills," another movie I enjoyed. Also check out "You Can Count on Me," with Laura Linney playing another suffering sibling. Good stuff. *****