The Safety of Objects is one of those movies that makes it's way off the video store shelf into your hand on the basis of it's intriguing cast. Glenn Close reminds you why she used to be on of your favorite actresses, Patricia Clarkson confirms why she is one of your new favorite actresses and Mary Kay Place makes you wonder why she never really became a household name. Also on board is the typically reliable Dermot Mulroney, the occasionally compelling Joshua Jackson, the up-and-coming Timothy Olyphant, as well as a handful of really terrific child actors.

Director Rose Troche takes a giant leap in her study of mankind, taking the short stories of A.M. Homes and has woven them into a suburban character tapestry reminiscent of Todd Solondz' Happiness and P.T. Anderson's Magnolia. Characters that may strike some as foreign, but compelling and others as all too familiar - the Safety of Objects is brimming with such great performances that you will come to care very deeply about them all.

The story takes place among three households in a suburban neighborhood, and most of the characters are spokes somewhere on a hub created when Joshua Jackson's character is left comatose after a car accident. Jackson was a beloved figure, a singer/songwriter in a popular local band - and the ties that eventually unfold among the various characters are quite heartrending. As intersecting storyline character study films go, Safety of Objects is easy to follow, well edited and never pushes the boundary of credibility. The many situations and conflicts ring true as generalities and the particulars, however quirky and bizarre, work amazingly well if a bit far-fetched at times.

Again, the only characters that you don't fall right in love with are the ones that you're not supposed to, and even those you understand and never question their motives. There are some head-fakes and a twist or two that only add to the emotional clout, and the acting is practically flawless across the board - particularly Close who is really stunning here. The aspect I found most spell-binding was it's courageous take on the kids in the film. You don't often see this in films - unless it's a movie about kids (Thirteen, Slackers etc.)

I don't want to give the impression that the Safety of Objects is a flawless film, there are a few moments when things get a bit hokey, but overall I was really taken with this wonderfully character-driven film and can recommend it wholeheartedly.