Seen on: January 19, 2008

The players: Director: Tamara Jenkins, Writer: Tamara Jenkins, Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney, Philip Bosco, Peter Friedman, Gbenga Akinnagbe

Facts of interest: Tamara Jenkins also directed "Slums of Beverly Hills" in 1998.

The plot: Siblins Wendy (Linney) and Jon Savage (Hoffman) are forced to live under the same roof as they begin to care for their sick father.

Our quick thoughts: In Tamara Jenkins’s warmhearted and tragic comedy “The Savages,” two middle-aged siblings who’ve drifted apart over the years struggle to overcome their darkest memories as they begin to care for their dying father. Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a lonely college professor who’s been working on a book on Bertolt Brecht for ages. Wendy (Laura Linney) is an independent playwright who works part time and has a joyless affair with a married man. The last thing they ever wanted to do was get involved with family problems, but when their father’s dementia starts to worsen, they have no choice but to face their fears and find a solution, together.

“The Savages” draws a wonderful portrait of two siblings who have been living miserable existences, until the decreasing health of their dad forces them to finally act their age. Jenkins’ script is an incredibly realistic and convincing masterpiece, which examines two intricate characters wrestling with real-life complications that will prompt them to pull their lives together and start over as a family.

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney treat their characters with outstanding credibility, creating a sophisticated pair of siblings who offer truthful and memorable dialogues. Select scenes in the film provoke instances of comic talk, but the film prefers to stick to an overall dispirited mood. Jenkins’s top-notch camerawork gives the viewer the opportunity to reach out and feel the pain of the protagonists, awarding the experience an even stronger sense of realism.

Freaky quote: "We're doing the right thing Wen, we're taking better care of the old man that he ever did of us." - Philip Seymour Hoffman

The final word: Subtle humor, grandiose acting and solid writing make “The Savages” a must-see, securing the film an early spot on the list of the year's best films.