The Savages 2007

The Savages

Critics Consensus

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.

89%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 171

75%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 135,333

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Movie Info

Wendy Savage (Laura Linney), a struggling playwright, has little to do with her brother, Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a college professor and author. However, the siblings must find a way to work together when their father, Lenny (Philip Bosco), slides into senility and must be placed in a nursing home.
  • Rating:
    R (Some Sensuality|Language)
  • Genre:
    comedy, drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Tamara Jenkins
  • Producer:
    Ted Hope, Anne Carey, Erica Westheimer
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     limited
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $6.6M
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    This Is That Productions
  • Sound Mix:
    SDDS, DTS

Cast & Crew

Laura Linney
Wendy Savage
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Jon Savage
Philip Bosco
Lenny Savage
Peter Friedman
Larry
Gbenga Akinnagbe
Jimmy
David Zayas
Eduardo
Cara Seymour
Kasia
Tonye Patano
Ms. Robinson
Tamara Jenkins
Director
Tamara Jenkins
Writer
Ted Hope
Producer
Anne Carey
Producer
Erica Westheimer
Producer
Alexander Payne
Executive Producer
Jim Taylor
Executive Producer
Jim Burke
Executive Producer
Anthony Bregman
Executive Producer
Fred Westheimer
Executive Producer
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News & Interviews for The Savages

RT on DVD: Cloverfield, Charlie Wilson and 2008’s Worst-Reviewed Film
Laura Linney on The Savages: The RT Interview
Juno, No Country for Old Men Among Writers Guild Award Nominees
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Critic Reviews for The Savages

All Critics (171) | Top Critics (45) | Fresh (153) | Rotten (18)

View All Critic Reviews (171)

Audience Reviews for The Savages

  • Jun 16, 2016
    Heartbreaking. A real film.
    _kelly . Super Reviewer
  • Jan 10, 2012
    Good movie with a nice balance of humor and drama. Linney and Hoffman put in strong performances and have a good chemistry. It begs the question, who going to look after you when you get old? Scary.
    Jonny C Super Reviewer
  • Jun 27, 2011
    Even with a father with dementia, I could not connect with the story or the characters.
    Thomas J Super Reviewer
  • Apr 10, 2011
    Having not experienced any of director Tamara Jenkins' films before, I went into this film expecting something along the lines of "Little Miss Sunshine" in it's supposedly humourous take on a dysfunctional family. That's not what I got but there was still plenty to enjoy from the emotionally impaired characters. As their estranged father Lenny Savage (Philip Bosco) sinks into senility in an Arizona retirement village, Wendy (Laura Linney) and Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman) are forced to figure out how to care for the dad who never cared for them. This is not a comedy as some of the critics would have you believe. Yes, there are moments of comedy but no more than the humour that accompanies life and it's irony. This is a heartfelt drama, dealing with the painful responsibility that families face in our modern day, injected with humour and pathos and wonderfully acted by Linney and Hoffman - who are two of the best in the business. The relationship between the siblings is entirely believable. There is not a lot of communication between them but what's not said, is just as important. There's also not a lot going on in these peoples lives. They seem to think so but we are able to sit back and observe the avoidance they are trying to make. It also never fully discloses why the two of them have such contempt for their ailing father. It's hinted that he never had much time for them but as the film draws to a close and Wendy's creative writing and aspiration to be a successful playwright comes to fruition, a bit more is revealed as she uses her experiences as inspiration for her writing. A good family drama, dealing with the stuggles that are becoming ever more present in our current times, helped by subtle and very real performances. If you have the patience to invest, you'll be rewarded.
    Mark W Super Reviewer
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