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      The Safety of Objects

      2001, Drama, 2h 1m

      74 Reviews 2,500+ Ratings

      What to know

      Critics Consensus

      The large cast of characters and scripting are too unwieldy, and the suburban angst theme feels tired. Read critic reviews

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      The Safety of Objects  Photos

      Scene from the film "The Safety of Objects." Scene from the film "The Safety of Objects." Scene from the film "The Safety of Objects." Scene from the film "The Safety of Objects." Scene from the film "The Safety of Objects." Scene from the film "The Safety of Objects." Alex House (Jake Train) in a scene from THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS directed by Rose Troche. Rose Troche, director of THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS. An IFC Films release. Alex House (Jake Train) in a scene from THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS directed by Rose Troche. Scene from the film "The Safety of Objects." Scene from the film "The Safety of Objects." Scene from the film "The Safety of Objects." (L-R) Glenn Close (Esther Gold) with Patricia Clarkson (Annette Jennings) in a scene from THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS directed by Rose Troche. Scene from the film "The Safety of Objects." Alex House (Jake Train) in a scene from THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS directed by Rose Troche. Glenn Close (Esther Gold) in a scene from THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS directed by Rose Troche. Glenn Close (Esther Gold) in a scene from THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS directed by Rose Troche. Scene from the film "The Safety of Objects." Scene from the film "The Safety of Objects." (L-R) Patricia Clarkson (Annette Jennings) with Joshua Jackson (Paul Gold) in a scene from THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS directed by Rose Troche.

      Movie Info

      In a suburban landscape, the lives of several families interlace with loss, despair and personal crisis. Esther Gold (Glenn Close) has lost focus on all but caring for her comatose son, Paul (Joshua Jackson), and neglects her daughter (Jessica Campbell) and husband (Robert Klein). Lawyer Jim Train (Dermot Mulroney) is devoted to his career, not his family. Helen Christianson (Mary Kay Place) wants to find a new spark in life, while Annette Jennings (Patricia Clarkson) tries to rebuild hers.

      • Rating: R (Language|Sexual Content)

      • Genre: Drama

      • Original Language: English

      • Director: Rose Troche

      • Writer: Rose Troche, A.M. Homes

      • Release Date (Theaters):  original

      • Release Date (Streaming):

      • Box Office (Gross USA): $319.1K

      • Runtime:

      • Distributor: IFC Films

      • Production Co: Clear Blue Sky Productions, Renaissance Films

      • Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo

      Cast & Crew

      Critic Reviews for The Safety of Objects

      Audience Reviews for The Safety of Objects

      • Jul 08, 2009

        What an odd movie.. I liked it and I really don't know why.. these neighbors are as screwed up as the next.. they are like one big disfunctioal family living in different house's on one street.. but yet this film is very sad too.. theres just so much going on.. its just something you need to watch for yourself to understand.. I loved it.

        Super Reviewer
      • Dec 30, 2008

        This could have been darker and more indicting, but aside from the tedious opening, it had the creepy feel of any film which reveals the sordid realities that underlie quiet tree lined streets and white pciket fences. Novel though not entirely original plot structure.

        Super Reviewer
      • Feb 29, 2008

        Saw this sometime ago and really enjoyed it, so was glad to see it going really cheap on Amazon. The rewatch was just as good. Great cast including a very young Kristen Stewart. I liked how the stories about the three sets of neighbours all wound together. Though it is a drama, there is some black humor there as well. The Barbie doll in particular made me laugh. Very realistic with that hair - kind of creepy actually!

        Super Reviewer
      • Feb 09, 2007

        So I bought this movie as an impulse buy at hollywood video for $5. it was actually really good. and the way that they did the opening credits was really creative and wonderful. they had four different houses and little people on tracks came out of each house to represent the different members of each of the four families. plus the symbolism about the stoicness of the little plastic people on the repetitive tracks in and out of the houses was good. even though the summary says that they are all having different problems they all stem from one car accident that connects them all together. and each main character is obsessed with an "object," whether it be a car, a job, a doll, or unfortunately, a comatose son. so it was about people finding solace in these objects and then realizing that they have to come to terms with reality and let things go. and there are a lot of other things going on as well.

        Super Reviewer

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