The title was a bit off putting – it rather gave the game away – as was the blurb. The cast had a lot of quality – Jonathan Pryce, Glenn Close and Christian Slater – but this whole put upon woman being the real genius is, well, a bit trite. It’s true, sure, in many cases but it’s a story often told.
So I went along thinking, how are they going to subvert the bleeding obvious and make it a novel take that creates its own special USP?
I sat back and let the story – Nobel Prize for Literature awarded to crusty white male with quiet supportive wife and narky son, go to Stockholm where the truth is outed over soused herring and knitwear – wash over me. The acting was sublime, poised, minimalist and believable and I could swing along to the rhythms of disintegration and despair. It’s neatly done, watching everyone’s faltering steps, the grandiose presumption of the male ego and the self deprecating supportive wife, the intrusive journalist, the dissatisfied son. I was on an easy ride, watching this, giving it some conditional stars in anticipation of a decent ending….
And then we got to the crux, the thing that makes this story worthy of my time and hard-earned and, looking back, it didn’t justify the investment. From trite to unbelievable in thirteen minutes. I could plot spoil and explain why I think this piece of filmography supremely irritating but some of you may have booked tickets, some may have read about it, heard about, had friends see it and want to go. Many have rated it highly. Jolly good. You may enjoy it. Just ask yourself at the end, is the eponymous Wife’s role in the marriage credible? Really? Could his role really be as described? Over a career?
It begs an interesting question in this watcher. If seventy percent plus of the film is enjoyable, if the craft of the actors is of a significantly high level throughout, why does the fact that the ending is unsatisfactory compromise the entirety? It happened with First Reformed (reviewed here) and to a lesser extent here. Why can’t I hold onto those good feelings and use them to offset that final squeeze of the lemons? It’s not like a great ending saves a shit film, is it?
Ah me. The imponderables of life. Like why can’t you get all the toothpaste out of a tube?
To make up here a few pictures of the garden…
And Dog…
TanGental 
Beautiful garden pics to set off a meh film. Love it! Great review and interesting pondering on the importance of a satisfying ending. I’ll save my money on that one.
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So I’ll save watching the film, if I ever do for Netflix. I wonder if Colette is going to be any better?
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I do hope so…
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Once again the dog saved the day!!
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Nice pics Geoff. What is Dog contemplating over? It looks like a concrete ball of wool!!
Film doesn’t hold much interest for me anyway.
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He loves nibbling the outside off footballs. Thatās what you get…
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Aw, bless him. My parents dog loved to do the same to golf balls.
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At least we got to enjoy your garden His Geoffleship š
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Such beautiful flowers – we came home from vacation to find the sprinkler system broken and many of our plants in severe stress. So sad. I wasn’t that inspired to see that movie. I agree, the premise is trite.
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Dog looks at you over his ball, in the same manner you expressed over this movie. I feel obliged to watch it now just so we can have a conversation about the relationships portrayed and the ending of the movie………
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I trust your review and will save my money. Wonderful garden phots. Our cosmos flowers look identical. We just saw a great documentary called āRodents of An Unusual Sizeā about millions of nutria destroying the Louisiana bayou. Who knew? Not much appeal, apparently. My husband and I were two of three attendees.
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Love documentaries like that even so sad a subject
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Lovely garden photos. I like you dislike movies that have star power and then pull a weak ending on the audience. The interesting thing is they could film ten endings and test which is best. I think they though Glen would rule above all. By the way, the previews here in the US made me not want to see the poor unrecognized and long-suffering wife in all her misery. Call me stupid.
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In the end she stands tall but it’s poor compensation for a crap plot
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Agree.
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Garden still looking good – and Dog
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He’s flattered Derrick
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Thanks for the review, Iāll wait until it comes to the TV I think. Your garden is beautiful!!
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Thanks Sam. It is splendid just now.
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A, there’s my dose of Dog and flowers. The movie has me intrigued to better discuss it with you.
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Itās a good one to debate. Itās intention was worthy but by going āextremeā in its plot lost my affection
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