Safe (1995)

Yes, it's very slow moving, but Moore's performance and transformation is stunning. Her clothing, hair, and voice are perfect for this role. Her sickness is actually a metaphor for her lack of identity and sense of belonging. Watch the film with the commentary and you'll have a much richer insight into the character, the artistry of the set design, and the script. I'm still thinking about poor Carol White days later.

Watched the movie in all of 5 minutes - by fast forward. Got the gist of it and hence my rating - crap!

This is possibly the worst movie I'd ever seen. Really disappointed after reading the positive reviews. Dull, uncharismatic performances by almost every actor in this. Could have made a decent short film.

A chilling and riveting portrayal of lost identity, in the midst of seeming plenty. Julianne Moore well deserved an oscar for this portrayal with so much nuance and deep understanding.

Really slow, not very engaging although Julianne Moore did a reasonable job of looking lost and ill.

very slow and boring poor acting

Was very strange and did not watch the whole dvd

Boring

I felt abused after seeing this film, it was such a waste of my time. I could understand the intention of the film and indeed agree with the sentiment of environmental sickness but gosh this film could have been so much better!

This isn't a movie where the heroine struggles against all odds to triumph over her illness as the audience learns facts about it. It's a bleak look at how society fails those who are different, then tells them it's their own fault and a bit of positive thinking will fix them right up. Kubrick fans won't mind the slow pace; fans of dark satire will enjoy Hayne's edgy, harsh take on modern life and self-help cults.

I was left very confused at the end of the movie because it seemed that they were trying to portray these people as having made themselves sick. It was also very sexist for 1995, with long periods of nothing happening. What was the point?

Good acting but confused story. If it was about environment, then it should be clearly and powerfully presented and the victim shouldn't look like a psychiatric patient with imaginary illnesses.

makes you think about the air we breath. Are we killing ourselves with every breath we take?

Certainly interesting.

Slow result, hard to keep awake.

Slow moving but gives you somthing to think about.

I understand and enjoyed what the director was trying to bring across. I truly did feel claustrophobic while watching this movie and liked that it was so critical of modern day middle-class suburbia. Yet I found the long, static shots annoying after a while. I love Kubric films, that usually adopt the same wide shot technique, but Safe seemed to overdo them and make the realistic drama less real.

An uncharacteristic role for Julianne Moore which she does well, and I'm in agreement with the above reviewer - nice to see a real ending.

Nice to see a movie with a real ending.

Genuinely edgy film from Todd Haynes. Not for those who like their narratives predictable and transparent. Great performance from Julianne Moore as a woman who has become allergic to her affluent life. Haynes leaves you to decide whether the allergy is metaphorical or actual, and whether several of the central characters are selfless or malevolent.