As we continue to see films at this strategic time of year--you know, those for your consideration come Oscar nominations, we are barraged with extremely well-crafted, entertaining and messaged films. With film companies vying for coveted Academy Awards, we, as the audience, get to reap with the enjoyment of quality films. Which brings us to "The Wife", an amazingly well-crafted character study of a great novelist and his ever-sacrificing wife.
After nearly forty years of marriage, Joan and Joe Castleman (Glenn Close and Jonathan Pryce) are complements. Where Joe is casual, Joan is elegant. Where Joe is vain, Joan is self-effacing. And where Joe enjoys his very public role as Great American Novelist, Joan pours her considerable intellect, grace, charm, and diplomacy into the private role as Great Man's Wife. Joe is about to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for his acclaimed and prolific body of work. Joe's literary star has blazed since he and Joan met in the late 1950's. "The Wife" interweaves the story of the couple's youthful passion and ambition with a portrait of a marriage, thirty-plus years later--a lifetime's shared compromises, secrets, betrayals and mutual love. This is the perfect example of the old adage, "behind a great man is a greater woman".
Others to round out the cast are Max Irons as David Castleman, Joe and Joan's son, Christian Slater as Nathaniel Bone, Harry Lloyd as Young Joe Castleman, Annie Starke as Young Joan Castleman, Elizabeth McGovern as Elaine Mozell, Johan Widerberg as Walter Bark, Karin Franz Korlof as Linnea and Richard Cordery as Hal Bowman.
This was poignantly directed by Bjorn L. Runge ("Harry och Sonja" '96, "Raymond - sju resor varre" '99, "Daybreak" '03, "Mouth to Mouth" '05, "Happy End" '11) plus TV. I say poignant since this was presented in such subtle ways. The characters simply come to life without being over-the-top to give that sense of realism. This is fine directing that is delineated with incredible precision. It was equally well written by Jane Anderson (" It Could Happen to You" '94, "How to Make an American Quilt" '95, "The Baby Dance" (TV movie) '98, "When Billie Beat Bobby" (TV movie) '01, "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio" '05, Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson" (documentary, co-writer) '15) plus TV, based on the novel, "The Wife" by Meg Wolitzer. Talk about subtlety. Assuming that the writing of this was executed in a common way, it would've been trite and banal, but Anderson took a somewhat familiar territory and with the subtlety she incorporated in this, it became the fresh and original screenplay it was. Another film that comes to mind in the subject matter having a common theme, but was written with subtlety with interesting nuances was that of Robert Benton's "Kramer vs. Kramer" '79. With this Nobel Prize ceremony looming, the dysfunction between these family members come to life which all tie into this award and was Joe worthy of it. This could garner possible Oscar nods for Close, Pryce, Anderson for writing and Runge for directing. Time will certainly tell. Close absolutely shines in this.
Is this film a crowd pleaser? Probably not, but suffice it to say, even though most people won't grasp this because of the subtle nuances, those that are into fine acting, writing and directing will have a treat waiting for them.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: R 100mins.
No comments:
Post a Comment