The Safety of Objects

Dreary, somber drama means to be another SHORT CUTS or MAGNOLIA, but a severe lack of insight (and a fatal dose of the gloomy-is-meaningful syndrome of the early 2000s) makes the movie merely a dreary slog through doom and gloom. In the plus column, Mulroney is a surprising standout suffering a mid-life crisis, and Close has at least one touching scene (though her character is a bit of a puzzle). Less successful is Clarkson in an unbearably shrill, abrasive performance.

This film attempts to be a grand window into the human psyche, but it really just comes off as the meaningless ramblings of a frustrated writer.

A movie that you can watch while you play a game on internet. Nothing special.

A few surprises, considering I had no idea what I was in for when I watched it. Great performances, unsure storytelling. What were we supposed to learn?

Top badass moment? Films like this always make me feel a bit better about myself. So in this movie we join a load of unhappy, guilt-ridden, largely dysfunctional losers for a few days, who're busy living out their futile, pointless, consumerist and shallow lives, before they release the error of their ways and have a glorified barbeque. I'm sure there was more to it than that, but there are so many characters that I probably ought to have been taking notes. No cats, chainsaws or decapitations.

What the hell is the point of this movie?

Somewhat similar than American Beauty but more psychological and less beautiful. The movie title is saying what is this all about. For some people this movie is enlightening. Besides object, people can't let go of believes even if they are completely wrong.

Trying to do a SHORT CUTS with A.M. Homes has gotta be up there with the great bonehead ideas of our time (or it would be if anyone remembered this thing). I don't rate her much as a writer but acknowledge certain sick kicks in her toxic-suburbs snark, any worthwhile adaptation of which would require a level of calculated alienation and discomfort that you sure ain't gonna get draining a buncha stories of their goodly revulsion and mashing 'em together in a Coming-to-Terms interconnect-a-turd.

Rose Troche's direction is subtle and effective at times, but it's her screenplay that is the weak link here. Kudos to the actors, but unfortunately they can't save this from being just another dull installment to the expanding pile of suburban tragedy films.

Poignant and intelligent