An homage to the films of Douglas Sirk, Far From Heaven is a period melodrama that begins by celebrating the idyllic lifestyle of the 50's and then strips this picture-perfect world of its glossy veneer to reveal the ugly imperfections lying beneath the surface.

       Frank (Dennis Quaid) and Cathy Whitaker (Julianne Moore) appear to have it all. Known around their Hartford, Connecticut neighborhood as 'Mr. & Mrs. Magnatech', he is a successful sales executive, she a housewife and mother devoting her free time to worthy causes and swanky dinner parties. The Whitaker's are the very picture of 50's culture, well bred and well mannered, 2 kids, and one car, surrounded by adoring friends in middle-class suburbia. All that is threatened when Cathy discovers that Frank has been harboring a secret and she realizes that her world is about to come crashing down around her. With no one else to turn to, Cathy develops a friendship with her black gardener, Raymond (Dennis Haysbert) – a relationship that soon develops beyond mere comfort and further undermines her standing in the community. In the end Frank, Cathy, and Raymond must face a difficult choice – deny what they feel and follow the conservative status quo or risk it all to follow their hearts.

       Stylistically, Far From Heaven is a beautiful film. From the sets to the wardrobe, the music to the script, Todd Haynes and company have created an atmosphere that immediately brings to mind such classic Sirk films as All That Heaven Allows and Written On The Wind.

       The performances are excellent. Moore (The Hours, Evolution) could easily have become a June Cleaver caricature, but instead brings a great deal of depth to this woman struggling to keep up appearances as her life unravels. Quaid (The Rookie, Frequency) does fine work as Frank moves from the embarrassment at having his secret discovered, to stoic determination to 'cure' himself, to accepting himself for who he is. Haysbert (Waiting To Exhale, Love & Basketball) is a strong supporting player, sympathetic and likeable, but his best moments do not arrive until late in the film. Patricia Clarkson (Miracle, Dogville) makes the most out of an underwritten role as Cathy's best friend.

       The DVD is loaded with bonus features including The Sundance Channel's Anatomy of a Scene, which is a terrific look behind the scenes at the film's pivotal scene and the elements (costuming, production design, editing, music, and camera work) that make it memorable, a making-of featurette that re-hashes much of the material presented in Anatomy of a Scene, commentary from director Haynes, a very brief Q&A session with Moore and Haynes featured at The Filmmakers Experience that should have been much more interesting, the original theatrical trailer, extensive production notes, and cast/crew bios.

Far From Heaven is not a perfect film, but I found it endearing and intriguing – and closer than the title would indicate.