Savage Grace (2007)

Lack of good storyline.

Better Late Then Never

Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Savage GraceWhen there is an unusual plot or indigestible track like this, it becomes very essential for the feature to be character driven to justify the nature of it which fails on all levels in here. Not only is Tom Kalin, a weak link in this project but also the writer Howard A. Rodman whose adaptation is too thin to possess any logical reasoning. Whilst on the other side, performance is what factors and favors in as Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne both are in their A game. Savage Grace fails to deliver in any level due to lack of proper and experienced supervising of the makers and also for it never had enough material in the first place.

Incest is one of those Unspoken, Utterly Repulsive Sexual Deviances that seems more Horrific when it Occurs with the Middle Class.Upper Crust, Rich and Bored Millionaires and Billionaires are Curiously Discussed, Written about and Shown in Books and Movies for Exploitation and Rubbernecking. The Hillbilly Variety is the Stuff of "You know you're a redneck when..." and Laughed at with only a Happy Cringe.Here We have one of those Idle Rich Stories (Based on a real-life family, but the more salacious sexual inclusions have been strongly contested by people who were there.). The Ultimate Tragic Homicides, and Criminally Insane Court Findings are Fact. It's the Sexual Stuff that is Disputed.Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne (two Oscar winners) Lead this Artsy Film that has a European Feel, and it is done with Extravagant Wardrobes and Set Pieces. The Script is Matter of Fact and Lacks a Certain Urgency and Feels Flat at times.The Dialog is Cutting and Aloof at the same time with Bursts of Profanity but the Movie Languishes and is Laconic to a Fault. It's all Meant to seem Real but Rarely does and just seems Ineffective.Overall, it's a Peek at the Rich and Infamous that can Disturb but Rarely does it Draw Empathy or is Fully Engaging. Worth a Watch for those that can take the Offbeat Sexual Stuff, but is Average All Around for this Type of Thing.

Others have written some excellent reviews with which I agree so I don't feel the need to go on at length. When I started watching the movie, I was a little bored with it's meandering, talky style, but gradually got sucked into the story. Partly due to some excellent acting, (and may I mention young Barney Clark as the 12 year old Tony, perhaps slightly overshadowed by Eddie Redmayne, but who I thought brought a lot to the role.) As the tale unfolded, I enjoyed the scenery, the gentle pace and it struck me how unique it was and so refreshing after all the special effects, noise and mayhem of much from America. There was a lot missing from the plot, much left to one's imagination but despite that, I am glad I had the chance to see a flawed but enjoyable movie.

Tom Kalin's 'Savage Grace' tells the tragic story of Barbara Daly Baekeland. It looks like the kind of movie that looks great on paper but didn't translate well on screen. For a movie that's shorter than 90 minutes, it moves at an awfully slow pace and the story feels underdeveloped. Kalin uses plenty of photographic visuals but that's not enough to make up for the lacklustre plot. The story is as simple as the following: Barbara is an overprotective mother and dominating wife. Her frustrating and demanding nature causes her husband to leave her for his homosexual son's ex-girlfriend. The son's attempts to reconcile his parents remain futile as his father ignores him. Meanwhile his relationship with his mother becomes more dysfunctional to the point of escalating into a sexual nature. The incest subplot in the movie looked forced, especially the final sex scene which looks as though it was merely included for shock purpose. However, from all this mess, Julianne Moore delivers a shining performance. She alone carries the film while the actor who plays grown-up Tony fails to convince. Stephen Dillane, Elena Anaya and Belen Rueda provide adequate support.