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September 9, 2008

"Married Life' is a good film for grownups

By J OSBORNE, Editor

Sony released “Married Life” to DVD last Tuesday, Sept. 2. It is, in my opinion, a much better picture than its title or the DVD jacket would suggest. I can highly recommend this release.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this film. At first I didn't know what to make of it, or where it was going. It is a dark comedy. The twists and turns of the film are completely unexpected. It kept me on my toes, and the four lead performances were great.

Married Life is a well crafted and beautifully written movie. By appearing to be a traditional noir, the film plays on the audience's expectations of the genre but then turns out to be something very different — something far more sad, funny and soulful. By having the traditional voice-over and haunting music at the outset, Married Life subverts the viewer's expectations and draws us into a story that is utterly unique.

The characters are incredibly complex and three dimensional, placed in very complex situations, set in a very simple time.

Lots of fun - a movie for adults — I would say an “adult movie” but that has a different connotation — that keeps you guessing about how the characters will understand themselves. It’s sort of a farce, sort of a mordant comedy, driven by the id, but on the surface it’s well-mannered and careful. This release features four talented actors and actresses who consistently entertain and provoke the viewer and makes one to think about what lies beneath a person’s happiness — or lack of it.

As one critic said, “(it) starts out as situation comedy and then subtly moves into a very gripping thriller until making a final resolution. The experience is somewhat like starting out on a park's scenic railroad and suddenly finding oneself unexpectedly on a roller coaster ride until, finally,coming back to end in the railroad station from which one started -- exiting smiling, surprised, pleased and saying "what a ride!"

Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Chris Cooper, Patricia Clarkson, Rachel McAdams, David Richmond-Peck, Malcolm Boddington, Erin Boyes, Rebecca Codling, Pauline Crawford, Dolores Drake, Kathleen Duborg, Carrie Fleming, Dale Floyd, Fred Keating, Terence Kelly, Annabel Kershaw, Maria Marlow, Ty Olsson

Married Life

Rating (**** out of *****)

Synopsis: (Courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) A wry blend of dark humor, romantic deception, and stylish melodrama – with an invigorating dash of suspense — Married Life, starring Academy Award® winner Chris Cooper , Pierce Brosnan, Patricia Clarkson, and Rachel McAdams, was released on DVD and Blu-ray™ High-Def on September 2.

Harry and Pat have a nice, respectable marriage. But when Harry falls in love with a beautiful young lady, he decides he must kill his wife, because divorce would cause her too much pain. Richard (Pierce Brosnan) is Harry’s caddish best friend who realizes he must have Harry’s lovely mistress (Rachel McAdams) for himself. Love and friendship are contemplated with noir- style suspense and wry humor in this sly comedy that reveals there’s nothing quite as devastating, or as divine, as married life.

DVD AND BLU-RAY BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:

• Three Alternative Endings

• Commentary with Director Ira Sachs

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