The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them (2014)

One couple's story as they try to reclaim the life and love they once knew and pick up the pieces of a past that may be too far gone.

Director:

Ned Benson

Writer:

Ned Benson

Stars:

James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis

2 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James McAvoy	...	Conor Ludlow
Jessica Chastain	...	Eleanor Rigby
Nina Arianda	...	Alexis
Viola Davis	...	Professor Friedman
Bill Hader	...	Stuart
Ciarán Hinds	...	Spencer Ludlow
Isabelle Huppert	...	Mary Rigby
William Hurt	...	Julian Rigby
Jess Weixler	...	Katy Rigby
Nikki M. James	...	Sia
Jeremy Shamos	...	Evangelist
Wyatt Ralff	...	Philip
Brendan Donaldson	...	Casimir Waiter
Daron Stewart	...	Guy Walking on Bridge (as Daron P. Stewart)
June Miller	...	Elderly Woman

Storyline

One couple's story as they try to reclaim the life and love they once knew and pick up the pieces of a past that may be too far gone.

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Plot Keywords:

lecture | class | reference to rene descartes | note | passing a note | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 September 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Story of Love

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$66,941, 12 September 2014, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$585,640, 31 October 2014

Company Credits

Production Co:

Unison Films,Kim and Jim Productions,Division Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie's name is based on "Eleanor Rigby", a song by the English band The Beatles.

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Quotes

Professor Friedman: All the lonely people, where do they all come from?
Eleanor Rigby: Hmm?
Professor Friedman: That's the Beatles song you were named after.

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Connections

References A Man and a Woman (1966)

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Soundtracks

The Lucky One
Written by 'Tomas Costanza', 'Jacquelyn Willard', 'Ashley Levy', 'Niki Schiveley' and 'Mike London'
Performed by 'Jacquelyn Willard'
Courtesy of Killingsworth Recording Company

User Reviews

'All I want is a chance to just talk it out. After that you can disappear to wherever it is you disappear to.'

Ned Benson both wrote and directed this little quiet film – an amalgamation of two separate films 'The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby Her' and 'The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby Him'. Each premiered in 2013 as two films at the Toronto Film Festival. After the premiere, although it received rave reviews, Ned Benson started cutting the movie again, as a one feature. The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them (2014) premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. All three movies received a theatrical release.

The story is elusive, dealing with internal issues as to why a happy marriage dissolves. Perhaps (and this is not said outright) the marriage crumbled with the death of their little boy (no details of when or how are given, just obtuse references), but what ever the reason, the summary sates a woman and man seemingly so in love finds their marriage is shaken to the core when life throws them a devastating curve. Now this New York couple must try to understand each other as they cope with loss and attempt to reclaim the life and love they once had.

The cast is loaded with stars – Eleanor Rigby is beautifully off center as played by Jessica Chastain and she is matched by her husband Conor played by James McAvoy. But the supporting cast (all in very small roles) offers Eleanor's parents portrayed by Isabelle Huppert (who has some of the best lines - 'I didn't know I could retrieve all the opportunities I threw away then.' - and William Hurt, Conor's father by Ciarán Hinds, Viola Davis as a snarky professor, Ryan Eggold as a would-be paramour for Eleanor, Jess Weixler as Eleanor's sister, and Nina Arianda as Conor's paramour, and more.

The story is fragile and perhaps too much so, as the line of relating the tale runs into alleyways of nothing too frequently. It is as though a very fine editor could have tightened this up and made it stronger. Certainly as far as a cast is concerned it is top drawer: it just drags around far too slowly to stay very interested. The DVD comes with a second disc for the 'Her' and 'Him' version, but after over two hours of 'Them', viewing that may merit watching on another evening. Very mixed feelings.