Opening

75% Fast & Furious 6 May 24
29% The Hangover Part III May 23
71% Epic May 24
97% Before Midnight May 24
73% We Steal Secrets: The Story Of Wikileaks May 24
82% Fill the Void May 24
—— A Green Story May 24
—— Alyce Kills May 24

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86% Star Trek Into Darkness $70.2M
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46% Pain & Gain $3.2M
69% The Croods $3.0M
77% 42 $2.8M
55% Oblivion $2.3M
98% Mud $2.2M
36% Peeples $2.2M
8% The Big Wedding $1.2M

Coming Soon

—— After Earth May 31
—— Now You See Me May 31
100% The Kings of Summer May 31
89% The East May 31

The Savages (2007)

tomatometer

89

Average Rating: 7.5/10
Reviews Counted: 167
Fresh: 149 | Rotten: 18

Thanks to a tender, funny script from director Tamara Jenkins, and fine performances from Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney, this film delivers a nuanced, beautifully three-dimensional look at the struggles and comforts of family bonds.

98

Average Rating: 7.8/10
Critic Reviews: 43
Fresh: 42 | Rotten: 1

Thanks to a tender, funny script from director Tamara Jenkins, and fine performances from Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney, this film delivers a nuanced, beautifully three-dimensional look at the struggles and comforts of family bonds.

audience

72

liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 133,985

My Rating

Movie Info

A pair of siblings are forced to set aside their discomfort with one another for the sake of their father in this low-key comedy drama from writer/director Tamara Jenkins. Wendy Savage (Laura Linney) is a struggling playwright living in New York City who works a day job to support herself and can't shake the feeling that she's failed as an artist. Wendy isn't especially happy about her love life either, gaining little self-esteem from her on-and-off affair with oversexed, married neighbor Larry

R,

Drama, Comedy

Tamara Jenkins

Apr 22, 2008

$6.4M

Fox Searchlight Pictures - Official Site External Icon

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Cast

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All Critics (175) | Top Critics (46) | Fresh (152) | Rotten (18) | DVD (9)

Linney and Hoffman are both terrific, and Jenkins's script is pointed and perceptive, but the film's arc is a little flat.

September 22, 2008 Full Review Source: The New Republic
The New Republic
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's billed as a comedy. You may or may not find much to laugh at.

February 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Film.com | Comments (7)
Film.com
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A goo-free comedy.

January 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Time Out New York
Time Out New York
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Powerful, painful and yet unerringly funny as it points out our emotional and physical vulnerabilities, this is a film that finds the humor in tragedy while keeping both omnipresent.

December 26, 2007 Full Review Source: Detroit News
Detroit News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The Savages not only boasts Oscar-worthy performances from Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney as a self-absorbed brother and sister, its attention to detail makes it sweetly funny and genuine.

December 26, 2007 Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
Top Critic IconTop Critic

We could say that The Savages is a social-problem drama about senile dementia and nursing homes, but that's a little like saying The 400 Blows is about school truancy.

April 28, 2011 Full Review Source: East Bay Express
East Bay Express

One rummages vainly through tics in search of genuine emotion

August 27, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion
CinePassion

The Savages is a labored labor of love about an estranged brother and sister, who have to deal with a frail and fractious father.

February 2, 2009 Full Review Source: Fayetteville Free Weekly
Fayetteville Free Weekly

Exploring ground laid out many times before, The Savages is at times frustrating and at times emotional film that could have used a re-write.

September 30, 2008 Full Review Source: Cinema Sight
Cinema Sight

Jenkins fans looking for the irreverent humor of Slums need not apply.

September 8, 2008 Full Review Source: ReelzChannel.com

Having the talent of Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman isn't enough.

September 4, 2008 Full Review Source: The Scorecard Review
The Scorecard Review

It could have been shortened a bit, I didn't think the material was enough for almost two hours, but if you enjoy dramedy's like SIDEWAYS, give it a try.

August 22, 2008 Full Review
Sin Magazine

Tamara Jenkins's film tackles the difficult subject of facing up to an ageing parent's mental and physical demise with overt sensitivity but no punches are spared.

July 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile
Urban Cinefile

This film is immensely rewarding and in its own way exceptionally beautiful.

July 18, 2008 Full Review Source: At the Movies (Australia)
At the Movies (Australia)

Oddly being marketed as a comedy by its distributor, The Savages is best approached as a drama with an intermittently light touch that's generally more of a curse than a boon.

June 9, 2008 Full Review Source: Paste Magazine | Comment (1)
Paste Magazine

Audience Reviews for The Savages

Sometimes dysfunctional families make us laugh, or even cry. This one could cause a slight depression. When the Savage siblings have to deal with their father in the beginning stages of dementia and see each other more often than they are comfortable with. Considering the names in the leading roles it's not very surprising that the acting is top notch. There are also a few very amusing parts, mostly the kind of humor that makes you feel ashamed for other's actions. But to the honest, the rest of the film is a little too bleak and depressing to really warrant a second look. The final frame redeems some of that impression, but overall I wondered what the creators were trying to tell us. Life is uncomfortable and then you die?
May 26, 2008
ironclad1609

Super Reviewer

Even with a father with dementia, I could not connect with the story or the characters.
June 27, 2011
Tomassgringo

Super Reviewer

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Latest News on The Savages

April 21, 2008:
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January 25, 2008:
Laura Linney on The Savages: The RT Interview
In the wake of her Oscar nomination, we chat to Laura Linney about her role, working with Philip...

January 11, 2008:
Juno, No Country for Old Men Among Writers Guild Award Nominees
If there's one Hollywood awards ceremony that you'd think would be able to go off without a hitch...

Foreign Titles

  • Die Geschwister Savage (DE)
  • La familia Savages (ES)
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