The Wife

This is an exceptionally compelling critique of patriarchal society, and plays out like one of the great feminist tracts. The couple's surname is Castleman (the man of the castle). The acting is sensational from everyone, especially the two leads. I don't think Jonathan Pryce is getting enough credit for his performance: in some ways he has the harder role as the supreme manipulator. And the beautiful Glenn Close gives a heartbreaking Oscar-worthy portrayal of dutiful simmering repression and inequality. Without wanting to give too much away, there is a twist which could've seemed far-fetched were it not so well-handled. A clever, emotionally draining watch that'll stay with you long afterwards. 10/10.

Really nice movie with great performances. I don't understand why or how Glenn didn't win this time smh.

I didn't like this movie, but I don't think I was meant to. It is thought provoking and very well acted by a wonderful cast. There are inconsistencies in the plot which I will not outline but they did detract. Still, it had impact and left me thinking long after the end. If we make free decisions to support and remain with a cad and a narcissist do we deserve pity for the unhappiness which results?

Methodically paced but an intense and complicated drama, where Glenn Close is just mesmerizing on screen. As other reviewers have noted, it's highly disappointing she did not win the Best Actress Oscar.

Jonathan Pryce and Christian Slater are also excellent in their roles, and Annie Starke (Close's real life daughter) stood out in her supporting role as the young Close character. Most able direction by Swedish director Bjorn L. Runge and superb writing of the screenplay by Jane Anderson, adapted from the novel of Meg Wolitzer.

"The Wife" (2017 release; 100 min.) brings the story of an elder couple, Joe and Joan. As the movie opens, it is "Connecticut 1992", and the couple is asleep, only to be woken up by an early morning phone call. It is the Nobel Academy, informing Joe that he has won the Nobel Price for Literature. Joe and Joan are overjoyed, and celebrate. Before we know it, they and grown-up son David, a wanna-be writer himself, are off to Stockholm for the award ceremony. On the plane, Joe and Joan are approached by Nathaniel, who hopes to become Joe's official biographer. Upon arriving in Stockholm, Joan thinks back how they met at Smith College in 1958... At the point we're less than 15 min. into the movie but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: the movie is directed by Swedish director Bjoen Runge, pretty much an unknown talent on this side of the ocean. Here he brings the book of the same name by Meg Wolitzer to the big screen. I have not read the book and hence cannot comment how faithful the film remains to the book. This is a very plot-heavy movie, so I am not going to say anything more about that. I will say that the movie succeeds because of its two lead performances. Glenn Close is outstanding as Joan, and frankly so is Jonathan Pryce as Joe. Christian Slater seems like he is having a ball in the supporting role of Nathaniel, the biographer-wannabe. Make sure to keep an eye out for a short (less than 5 min. of screen time) and an all-too-rare appearance by Elizabeth McGovern, who plays a veteran female writer visiting Smith College in the late 50s. The photography is nice, in particular the great overhead shots of Stockholm.

"The Wife" premiered at last year's Toronto Film Festival, to positive buzz. The movie finally reached my art-house theater here in Cincinnati. No idea why it's taken over a year, but better late than never. The early Sunday evening screening where I saw this at was attended nicely (about 20 people). If you are interested in an intense character study with some nice plot twists along the way, of are simply a fan of Glenn Close or any other the other performers, I'd readily suggest you check out "The Wife", be it in the theater (if you still can), on VOD or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.