A Pleasant Film
Ron Smith
Harry is a successful businessman. He is also a thoughtful man, one who can't stand the notion of hurting his wife. So, he decides it would be better to kill her rather than 'hurt' her, when he decides to leave her for the younger woman in his life.
It seems that no one in the film wants to offend the feeling of anyone else in this film.
Married Life is a pleasant film to watch, with flawless acting and wonderful sets which brought me back to the neighborhoods I remember growing up in. It wasn't quite believable that the younger woman was the type men would kill for in the 50s. I would think more plausible would have been a Marilyn Monroe, or Jane Mansfield type. But then men are men, and women are women, and love goes where it wants to.
Loses Steam
The movie gets you interested right away, but somewhere along the way it loses something; don't get me wrong, it is interesting and enjoyable to watch. But the final payoff is not there. Overall, I enjoyed the film and would recommend it, not only for the fine acting, but the period settings as well. An entertaining film definitely worth seeing.
Nilda F. Andrews
You might think of this film as an innocent ménage a trois albeit with a potentially dark side. Cooper as Harry Allen and married to Clarkson falls in love with a young ingénue (McAdams) and bears his soul to his best friend (Brosnan). You can surmise the rest. Best friends are only best friends when nothing is at stake.
It’s a period piece set in 1949. If it had actually been filmed in 1949, we would be looking at a very glossy film noir version with intriguing light and shadows and a captivating score. We would also be seeing the likes of John Garfield, Fred MacMurray, Susan Hayward, and Lana Turner as the love interest. As a matter of fact, a film clip from Pandora and the Flying Dutchman starring Ava Gardner and James Mason is cleverly woven into the story—itself a story about two men interested in one woman.
Entertaining
For the most part, Brosnan, Cooper and Clarkson fulfill their respective roles nicely. They are believable, especially, Cooper as the unfulfilled, harried Harry. I had a little trouble, however, believing McAdams as a 21st century Lana Turner. She doesn’t have the sex appeal or charisma that this former femme fatale had. However, the acting is quite good, and the sets and costumes are magnificently well done down to the art deco pedestal ashtray. The plot line does some spiraling leading to an interesting, although not unexpected, resolution. It is an entertaining film worth seeing especially for those of us who remember those vintage film noir movies of the 40s and
50s.
Cast and Credits
Cast: Chris Cooper, Patricia Clarkson, Rachel McAdams, Pierce Brosnan
Directed by: Ira Sachs
Distributors: Sony Pictures Classics
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some thematic elements and a scene of sexuality.
Release Date: March 7th, 2008
Married Life Trailer
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