Millers in Marriage

I love films written, directed and acted in by Ed Burns. He knows exactly how to create a realistic and poignant portrayal of life, where the characters, the geography (typically New York), the era and the story each play an equal part in the audience's journey from beginning to end. This is no exception. It touches on what it means to reach your 40s or 50s and wonder what could have been had you made different decisions, how marriages become a very different type of relationship once the nest is empty, and how professional aspirations are lost or fulfilled, or both, but perhaps without the expected exhilaration or satisfaction. This film has a cast of A-list actors at their very best, no one of them being any more or any less integral than the other. It is supremely touching and will no doubt resonate with anyone "of a certain age."

Whenever I'm browsing what should I watch in Toronto Film Festival, I always rely on reading short plot/synopsys and with strictly avoiding to watch the trailer as to not receive/spoiled more than necessary. And in this case that was mistake. While plot summary seemed inviting, with strong direction that is sort of serious drama from marriage(s), visual side screwed all the intentions. All, but literaly ALL women characters were all the time with perfect make up (even when waking up in bed) perfect hair style (even when going doing things in kitchen), on high heels (even during the day in their own houses). Although they are all from some middle upper class, and not from aristocratic level, all interiors, even in cottages, were like from 'Home and Garden' magazines with pristine care that every item is on it's place ready for photo shooting. I thought this 'Dinasty' style of making movies was long time ago history. Seems not.

For decades now, Ed Burns has created films that me feel at home. While not the type of movie in today's movie culture that's going to hit on awards, I venture to say this is the very best of Ed Burns.

This film is delicately woven together with a warm score and veteran acting skills. The writing is classics Ed Burns and highlights the details of life that typically gets glossed over today.

I'm always happy to see a new release from Burns and this one hit just right. The flow of the film was warm and inviting and I can't say enough about the performances of the main group of characters, some of whom we have waiting far too long to see.

Overall, a great film for people who like movies rooted in conversation and characters.

Edward Burns is a very talented writer, director, and actor. I have seen several of his works and always consider them pretty good. But when I watched this 2024 movie, it seemed to be not quite right this time. After I did some thinking, I finally understood why I had such feelings and what was wrong with this screenplay. I don't know if you have found out or not, but I will point it out to you anyway.

Three all-white couples?! That is so wrong! In all the movies we have seen in recent years, the married couple should be and must be an interracial couple, either the husband is African American, or the wife is African American, or either one should be Asian sometimes. That is how we show to the world, that Americans' marriages, like cops or business organizations, are based on the DEI principle. Most of the superior ones should be African Americans. Therefore, these three couples all in White just looked so unreal. Mr. Burns completely ignored the actual norm of Hollywood. One of the three couples, the husband should be African American, and one of the couple, the wife should be African American. Only one couple, the husband and wife could be White, or best yet more thoroughly DEI, one of them is Asian American, Hindi American, Chinese American, or Korean American. Three couples all in White; how boring it would be!

Anyway, I would not think Mr. Burns is a racist for such an overlooked mistake.

Feels like all these couples need individual therapy to figure out how to be married after kids launch. It's like no one paid attention to their marriages during their marriages. Now they are all struggling. I love ed burns and his movies...they feel like unhealed people seeking others to fill something within. Great acting beautiful scenery. Worth a watch for sure. Seems like intelligent people who won't seek support to resolve internal issues creating external problems. I'm sure many couples can relate to these three couples And their struggles. There has to be a more effective way to work though these situations.