Oscar Flashback, Far From Heaven

In anticipation of tonight’s HBO premiere of Toddy Hayne’s Mildred Pierce, here’s a look back at my favorite Haynes masterpiece to date — his voluptuous Sirkian swoon, Far From Heaven. My personal choice for Best Actress of 2002, Julianne Moore, lost to Nicole Kidman’s supporting role in The Hours. The film was nominated for Best Music (Elmer Bernstein), Best Cinematography (Edward Lachman, now DP for Mildred Pierce), and Best Screenplay (Todd Haynes).

The Sundance Channel used to have a terrific recurring feature called Anatomy of a Scene, 30-minute deconstructions spotlighting the collaborative elements that combine to make a movie come alive. You can watch the anatomy of Far From Heaven after the cut.