Married Life (2007)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Ira Sachs

Writers (WGA):

Ira Sachs (screenplay) &
Oren Moverman (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

21 March 2008 (Canada)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Do you know what really goes on in the mind of the person with whom you sleep?

Plot:

A 1940s-set drama where an adulterous man plots his wife's death instead of putting her through the humiliation of a divorce.

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Best Friend | Bachelor | Lover | Poison

Cast

Chris Cooper	...	Harry Allen
Annabel Kershaw	...	Miss Jones
Pierce Brosnan	...	Richard Langley
Patricia Clarkson	...	Pat Allen
Rachel McAdams	...	Kay Nesbitt
Sheila Paterson	...	Mrs. Walsh
David Richmond-Peck	...	Tom
Erin Boyes	...	Becky
Elijah St. Germain	...	Little Charlie
Terence Kelly	...	Dr. Anderson
Timothy Webber	...	Alvin Walters
Rebecca Codling	...	Photo Store Clerk
David Wenham	...	John O'Brien
Dolores Drake	...	Cinema Cashier
Malcolm Boddington	...	Well-Tailored Man

Also Known As:

Marriage (USA) (working title)
Pour le meilleur et pour le pire (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and a scene of sexuality.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Canada:14A | USA:PG-13 | Ireland:12A | Australia:M | UK:PG | South Africa:13L | Singapore:NC-16 | Taiwan:PG-12 | Netherlands:AL | Finland:K-11 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Sidney Kimmel Entertainment

Goofs:

Factual errors: Harry attempts to call home from a Restaurant; instead of getting a connection or a busy signal, he get's an "out-of-order" chirp. He dials "O" and tells the Operator that his home phone is O.O.O., he gives her a five digit number, then looks in the phone book and finds his next-door neighbor who of course has the traditional "Waddington 1234" number" used in 1949.

Quotes:

Kay Nesbitt: A woman needs to be loved, and that's true. But it's not the whole truth. She also needs somebody to love.

Movie Connections:

References Streets of Laredo (1949)

Soundtrack:

Geronimo

A smart and insightful exploration of social mores

I love MARRIED LIFE!! It is a well crafted and beautifully written movie. By appearing to be a traditional noir, the film plays on the audience's expectations of the genre but then turns out to be something very different--something far more sad, funny and soulful. By having the traditional voice-over and haunting music at the outset, MARRIED LIFE subverts the viewer's expectations and draws us into a story that is utterly unique.

Characters in the film are not whom they appear to be--I like how all the leads are introduced as archetypes (e.g., the unhappily married business man, the cad, the long suffering wife, the pretty young widow) but each not only turns out to be different than expected, all four go through some sort of transition that deepens their humanity. They may be imperfect people and lacking in insight, but the audience feels empathy for their struggles. Given their array of poor choices, this is pretty amazing--their yearnings are poignant, even when their actions are deeply misguided. Humans are capable of being incredibly narcissistic and giving at the same time--the movie illustrates this with a mix of humor and pathos. The characters may be unable or unwilling to stop their most primal urges, yet we are rooting for them to find some happiness all the way to the end.

This film is wonderfully shot. Period details are rendered with loving care--whether it is the glorious costumes or the sweeping set design. Performances are top notch -- a true ensemble cast who look and sound like they are from a bygone era. A rich score magnifies the shifting moods without giving you whiplash. This is a complex movie that demands we see the world in shades of gray -- life is never simple. Especially married life!