The Savages

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The Savages

R

Released Nov 28, 2007

1h 53m

Drama

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

171 Reviews

75%

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100,000+ Ratings

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.

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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.

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Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 17, 2011

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Christopher Orr

The New Republic

Linney and Hoffman are both terrific, and Jenkins's script is pointed and perceptive, but the film's arc is a little flat.

Sep 22, 2008

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Alonso Duralde

MSNBC

While writer-director Tamara Jenkins (Slums of Beverly Hills) lets things get a little mushy towards the end, the film brilliantly portrays a difficult family moment made even more complicated by her characters' overweening narcissism.

Rated: 4/5

May 1, 2008

Full Review

Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

Scabrously funny at times, but even the humor comes from its reckoning with the ugliness of life.

Rated: 8/10

Nov 30, 2022

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

The Savages underscores in a humane manner how disposable the elderly are in America and how burdened and neglected their caregivers.

Mar 5, 2021

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Nando Salvá

Cinemanía (Spain)

[Director and screenwriter Tamara Jenkins'] great dramatic achievement is in the continuous and subtle changes of tone. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 4/5

Nov 5, 2020

Full Review

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thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

Full Review

Gareth v

Mature storytelling that looks at adult sibiling rivalry and unresolved family issues centred around the declined of the family matriach. Linney and Hoffman as always are standouts in this movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/23/25

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Cynthia T

This film effectively conveyed the myriad complexities of adult sibling rivalry within the cruel realties of a less-than-ideal family history. The actors embodied their characters with humour, sensitivity and fearlessness.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/25

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Geke g

Tamara jenkins is top tier director right there

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/11/24

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Munkhchimeg T

Really good mixture about bonding, family and struggles. Good to see deal with them.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/11/24

Full Review

Bahad j

The costumes of the actors seemed to be very real, as if they were in their roles. The dress is really beautiful.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/11/24

Full Review

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Tamara Jenkins

Director

Laura Linney

Wendy Savage

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Jon Savage

Philip Bosco

Lenny Savage

Peter Friedman

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Synopsis

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.

Director: Tamara Jenkins
Producer: Ted Hope, Anne Carey, Erica Westheimer
Screenwriter: Tamara Jenkins
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: This Is That Productions
Rating: R (Some Sensuality|Language)
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 28, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.6M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: SDDS, DTS

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