Watch The Safety of Objects

The Safety of Objects is a drama film from 2001, directed by Rose Troche and based on a collection of short stories by A. M. Homes. The movie stars Glenn Close, Dermot Mulroney, and Mary Kay Place, among others. The film follows the lives of several suburban families who are all dealing with their own individual problems. The characters include Esther Gold (Glenn Close), a mother who has distanced herself from her family, lawyer Jim Train (Dermot Mulroney), who works hard to provide for his family but doesn't seem to have much of a connection with them, and Annette Jennings (Patricia Clarkson), who is struggling to cope with the fact that her son has been in a coma for many months.

The movie explores the various relationships that exist between these characters, as well as their individual struggles to find meaning and happiness in their lives. For example, Esther's daughter Julie (Jessica Campbell) is obsessed with her Barbie dolls, while her son Paul (Joshua Jackson) is struggling to come to terms with his sexuality. Meanwhile, Jim becomes increasingly obsessed with his daughter's dollhouse, while Annette finds solace in the company of a teenage boy who has been hired to help around the house.

The film is notable for its nuanced and complex portrayal of suburban life, which is often portrayed in movies as either idyllic or suffocating. Instead, The Safety of Objects shows us a world that is both familiar and unsettling, a place where people struggle to connect with each other and find meaning in their lives.

The acting in the film is excellent, with Glenn Close giving a particularly standout performance as Esther Gold, a woman who is both cold and vulnerable at the same time. Dermot Mulroney also shines as Jim Train, a man who is trying to do right by his family but is struggling to find his place in the world. The rest of the cast, including Mary Kay Place, Patricia Clarkson, and Timothy Olyphant, all deliver solid performances as well.

The movie is also visually stunning, with beautiful cinematography that captures the eerie beauty of suburban landscapes. The dollhouse that becomes the obsession of Jim Train is a particularly striking image, with its intricate rooms and tiny furniture serving as a metaphor for the film's themes of isolation and disconnection.

While The Safety of Objects is not a movie for everyone, fans of character-driven dramas will appreciate its nuanced portrayal of suburban life and its exploration of the human condition. The film is a poignant reminder that even in seemingly perfect surroundings, people can feel lost and alone, and that we all need to find our own way to connect with the world and the people around us.

The Safety of Objects is a 2001 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 1 minute. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 58.