Review: "Married Life"

Seen on: April 12, 2008

The players: Director: Ira Sachs, Writers: Oren Moverman, Ira Sachs, Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Chris Cooper, Patricia Clarkson, Rachel McAdams, David Richmond-Peck

Facts of interest: Inspired by John Bingham's novel "Five Roundabouts to Heaven."

The plot: Chris Cooper plays a cheating husband who plans to poison his wife because he does not want to watch her suffer through a nasty divorce.

Our quick thoughts: If you think you really know what goes on in the mind of the person you go to bed with every night, think again. Ira Sachs’ “Married Life” treats marriage more like a plague than a celebration of love, giving cinemagoers a better idea to what degree adultery and deception can influence close relationships. It’s difficult to take the flick seriously because the plot continually switches between romantic comedy and film noir, but the central message is obvious enough: happy endings aren’t free. 

The plot introduces us to Harry Allen (Chris Cooper), who’s very fond of his wife Pat (Patricia Clarkson) but doesn’t love her the way he would like to. Harry is convinced he can only achieve complete happiness if he marries his charming mistress Kay (Rachel McAdams), a beautiful young woman who has also grabbed the attention of Harry’s best friend Richard (Pierce Brosnan). Harry knows he has to get rid of his wife to get his happy ending, which is why decides to kill her instead of putting her through a humiliating divorce. 

Sachs and his production team did a great job at recreating the look and flair of the 1950s, but the script lacks consistency. “Married Life” is one of those flicks you’re not absolutely sure what to think of. The jokes never provoke real laughs and the dark atmosphere is not dark enough, but the film as a whole is entertaining enough to pull you through the 90-minute running time. Considering the interesting setup, Sachs could have easily increased the suspense to boost the film’s overall entertainment, but he obviously chose not to.

Chris Cooper clearly stands out and deliveries an irresistible performance as the dishonest husband who thinks murder is the only way to protect his wife from suffering. As far as Pierce Brosnan is concerned, I could easily list a handful of better roles he took on during the past 10 years, but his appearance as the film’s charming playboy is not the worst of his career. That leaves Patricia Clarkson, who always hits the right notes, and Rachel McAdams, whose performance as Cooper’s attractive mistress is too lifeless for my taste.

Freaky quote: "It will be hard to build your happiness upon the unhappiness of somebody else.” – Pierce Brosnan

The final word: “Married Life” works as a satisfying period drama, but it’s not a film I can get too excited about. Recommendable if you have already seen everything else at your closest art house.