Deliberately paying homage to the self-sacrificing emotional tone of director Douglas Sirk's "Imitation of Life" genre, Todd Haynes ("Safe," "Velvet Goldmine") constructs a subtle, cleverly incisive screenplay that explores the multi-layered psychological ramifications of unseemly conduct - homosexual and inter-racial - in an era when words unspoken were often more vicious than what was said aloud. Edward Lachman's cinematography, Mark Friedberg's production design and Elmer Bernstein's lush music underscore the idyllic, autumnal poignancy. With Julianne Moore, the quality you can always count on is intelligence as she delivers a raw, riveting performance, while Dennis Quaid captures the insecurity and pain inherent in the husband. Dennis Haysbert is the epitome of tender concern and consideration, evoking Sidney Poitier's perfection in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, "Far From Heaven" is a stylishly sumptuous, audacious 8 with incisive irony that's incendiary and compelling.