Savage Grace
(R21)- Release Date: 20th September 2007 (Showtimes)
- Language: English
- Running Time: 97 mins
- Genre: Drama
- Director: Tom Kalin
- Cast: Hugh Darcy, Stephen Dillane, Julianne Moore
- Local Distributor: Encore Films
SAVAGE GRACE is based on the award winning book of the same name and recounts the true crime tale of the death of Barbara Baekeland (played by Julianne Moore), who married above her class to Brooks Baekeland, the dashing heir to the Bakelite plastics fortune. Beautiful, red-headed and charismatic, Barbara is still no match for her well-bred husband. The birth of the couple's only child, Tony, rocks the uneasy balance in this marriage of extremes. Tony is a failure in his father's eyes and he eventually kills Barbara, in part because she takes a personal interest in 'curing' her son of his orientation.
Latest Review
Another Oscar for Julianne?
What I loved most: Compelling, enthralling drama
What I really hated: Some scenes so debauched, it can be difficult to watch
This story begins with a stack of cash and ends with an extremely dysfunctional family but it is the journey, rather than the end-points, of this film that is captivating. Being already wealthy and beautiful, our main character covets a higher standing in society but in doing so courts increasing levels of decadence and even depravity. The bones of the plot are so unbelievable, it comes as no surprise to be based on a true story. Ultiimately it is a grim story, but a beautiful looking film with great acting and a keen pace - hopping from 50s New York to 60s Europe and 70s London and captures the subtle shift in permissiveness at each turn. This is well worth watching but your sensibilities need to be capable of transcending moral outrage!
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4