Married Life (2007)

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

Director:

Ira Sachs

Writers:

Ira Sachs (screenplay), Oren Moverman (screenplay)

Stars:

Chris Cooper, Patricia Clarkson, Rachel McAdams

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

The late 1940s. Richard Langley, a bachelor playboy, narrates a story that starts when his best friend, Harry Allen, invites him to lunch to tell Richard he's in love. Trouble is, Harry's already married to Pat; he worries Pat would be hurt too deeply by a divorce. Then, Harry's new love, Kay, joins them. Richard is smitten, so when he finds out that Pat may be in love with someone else but won't tell Harry because she fears he would be too hurt, Richard can't decide if he should let all the cats out of the bag. He'd unite pairs of lovers, but he'd lose Kay. Meanwhile, Harry decides that a swift end to Pat's life would be more kind than divorcing her. He buys poison. Murder will out?

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Plot Keywords:

in flagrante delicto | blonde woman | adultery | unfaithfulness | infidelity | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Pierce Brosnan and Rachel McAdams would later reunite in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga(2020).

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Goofs

In some driving scenes, the lines in the streets are yellow. Also some warning signs are in yellow, and placed higher on their respective poles. This is not correct for the 1940s. Lines were white. And signs were placed closer to street level for ease of viewing.

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Quotes

Richard Langley: I'm not at all certain that one can build happiness upon the unhappiness of someone else

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: College Road Trip/Snow Angels/Married Life/Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day/City of Men (2008)

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Soundtracks

You Turned Your Back On Me
Written by Jay McShann
Performed by Jay McShann
Courtesy of Tuff City Records
By Arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group

User Reviews

Fun! smart ensemble acting with clever script

Lots of fun - an adult movie that keeps you guessing about how the characters will understand themselves. A sort of farce, a sort of mordant comedy, driven by id, but on the surface well-mannered & careful, this film features a quartet of talented actors who consistently entertain & provoke us to think about what lies beneath our own happiness - or lack of it.

The weakest link is Rachel McAdams - luscious & pretty but not sexy-juicy. David Wenham is underused - he's such a creative, pithy, strongly male actor it's a shame his part isn't larger. Minor quibbles as the film works extremely well as it is. The sets & costumes are perfect, except that Brosnan's hair style is more '65 than '49, but maybe he's just ahead of his time.

Brosnan is excellent as slimy snake. Chris Cooper is great, & believable as a man driven more by his fantasies of love than by really feeling love. But why not a few hot necking scenes at least? For a movie about sex & love, there are NO sex/love scenes, except for one half-lit dark second or two.

Patricia Clarkson - wow - gorgeous, the most interesting character in the film really; nuanced, layered deep expression of real character. The wise one who sacrifices most - she's the one that really loves, despite her protests to the contrary.

See it - you will be entertained, provoked, & perhaps finally comforted, in a slightly twisted way.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures Classics [United States]

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Marriage

Filming Locations:

Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$55,851, 9 March 2008

Gross USA:

$1,507,990

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,888,315

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Anonymous Content, Firm Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1