IMDb RATING
6.1/10
4.4K
YOUR RATING
Debra Winger and Tracy Letts play a long-married, dispassionate couple who are both in the midst of serious affairs. But on the brink of calling it quits, a spark between them suddenly reign... Read allDebra Winger and Tracy Letts play a long-married, dispassionate couple who are both in the midst of serious affairs. But on the brink of calling it quits, a spark between them suddenly reignites, leading them into an impulsive romance.Debra Winger and Tracy Letts play a long-married, dispassionate couple who are both in the midst of serious affairs. But on the brink of calling it quits, a spark between them suddenly reignites, leading them into an impulsive romance.
- Awards
- 1 win & 3 nominations total
Vanessa Campbell
- Dance Receptionist
- (as Vanessa Christelle)
Janine Mitchell
- Susan's Friend
- (uncredited)
Eric Satterberg
- Man on Train
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
6.14.4K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Featured reviews
a study of a troubled marriage
Debra Winger and her trademark scratchy voice star in The Lovers, with Tracy Letts. They are husband and wife, who are both having affairs. of course, they are both telling their own lovers that they are on the verge of divorce, but neither one seems to really want it to happen. everything moves SO slowly. the scenes between everyone are all too long and drawn out... in my life, when people are angry and arguing, they yell back and forth, and say things they don't mean. Here, the pauses are always SO long. and everyone keeps saying "i'm sorry". The story itself is fine... but this probably would have played better as a short film. its okay. written and directed by Azazel Jacobs; has won at several film festivals. on netflix.
A Disappointment
Being of the older generation, I thought I would like this film more than I did.
Debra Winger and Tracy Letts are a married couple with each having an affair and continually postponing telling the other that they're leaving. Thus, they're also stringing along their lovers being unable to fully commit one way or the other. Somehow, this rekindles Winger and Letts' passion for each other sexually.
The movie is very slow-paced, has many awkward moments, but it does contain some deadpan humor that works at times. The film's characters are mostly unlikable and thus I was never really able to invest emotionally in them or really care what happened to them in the end.
Overall, a disappointment to me.
Debra Winger and Tracy Letts are a married couple with each having an affair and continually postponing telling the other that they're leaving. Thus, they're also stringing along their lovers being unable to fully commit one way or the other. Somehow, this rekindles Winger and Letts' passion for each other sexually.
The movie is very slow-paced, has many awkward moments, but it does contain some deadpan humor that works at times. The film's characters are mostly unlikable and thus I was never really able to invest emotionally in them or really care what happened to them in the end.
Overall, a disappointment to me.
Love and Marriage
The only other review so far (by Bastille above) is on the money. He does a good job of describing the acting, script, etc. I would like to add another point, however: it also cleverly examines the issues of love, marriage, lust, and sex and how they are intertwined...or not.
Very creative.
Very creative.
Oh my god why?
I thought this would escalate much better than it did. It had potential if given in a totally different way. Slow paced and disappointing. Too bad.
Not for the multiplex demographic
A middle age couple are in the throes of an affair. Both of them.
The subtleties of a middle age relationship will be wasted on the young. Having read the negative reviews here, there's no doubting the reviewer's age. They've completely missed the point. That's fine. It's not for them. I may have felt the same way, once.
For everyone else, this is subtle, poignant, witty, truthful and very funny. It takes you to places you expect, in a natural but charming way and then surprises you. It's a very delicate balance, pulled off beautifully by writer and director.
And what a superb cast. All four of the main parts are played to perfection. These are no hacks. A top notch class act. The Lovers is a wonderfully fresh film for a mature audience. About time.
The subtleties of a middle age relationship will be wasted on the young. Having read the negative reviews here, there's no doubting the reviewer's age. They've completely missed the point. That's fine. It's not for them. I may have felt the same way, once.
For everyone else, this is subtle, poignant, witty, truthful and very funny. It takes you to places you expect, in a natural but charming way and then surprises you. It's a very delicate balance, pulled off beautifully by writer and director.
And what a superb cast. All four of the main parts are played to perfection. These are no hacks. A top notch class act. The Lovers is a wonderfully fresh film for a mature audience. About time.
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough playing characters of the same age, Debra Winger is actually over ten years older than co-star Tracy Letts. Winger was born in May of 1955 while Letts was born during July of 1965.
- ConnectionsFeatured in MsMojo: Top 10 Most Underrated Romantic Comedies of the 2010s (2023)
- SoundtracksI'm Doing What My Heart Says Do
Written & Performed by Georgia White
Courtesy of Doument Records
By Arrangement with Seven Seas Music
- How long is The Lovers?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $2,194,521
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $66,286
- May 7, 2017
- Gross worldwide
- $2,216,083
- Runtime
- 1h 37m(97 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content






