DVD review: Married Life
“Forty Shades of Blue” director Ira Sachs directs and co-writes “Married Life,” based on the 1953 John Bingham novel, “Five Roundabouts to Heaven.”
Pierce Brosnan plays Richard Langley, a longtime bachelor and good friend to Harry Allen (Chris Cooper, “Adaptation”). Harry’s been married to Pat (Patricia Clarkson, “Pieces of April”) for years, but feels Pat no longer understands him. He’s become smitten with the young Kay Nesbitt (Rachel McAdams, “The Notebook”). Harry introduces Kay to Richard. Unfortunately for Harry, Richard immediately falls for her as well. While Harry plots how to break the news to Pat, Richard plots how to keep Kay for himself.
Ultimately, Harry decides that Pat couldn’t handle the trauma of a divorce, and decides, instead, to kill her. But as the film continues, the viewer discovers that Harry may not know Pat as well as he thinks.
Part thriller and part musing on 1950s matrimony, “Married Life” isn’t a complete success at either. And for some, the film’s payoff won’t be worth the setup. But the four key actors each provide very good performances, making “Married Life” worth watching. Other nice elements are the spot-on costuming and sets; the beginning credit sequence also perfectly recalls the era.
— Matthew Price
(From Friday’s The Oklahoman)
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I’ll see it because Rachel McAdams is in it.