Review of Married Life (2008) by Michael O — 27 Apr 2008

A dark but enduring melodramatic yarn of the troubles and misjudgments that may come with married life. Ira Sachs brings us a tragedy that teeters on the edge of surrealism and good ol' fashion Americana.

Married Life is set in 1949, Harry (Chris Cooper) and his wife, Pat (Patricia Clarkson) live in a small suburb that looks as though it was extracted from Norman Rockwell's mind. There lives are pretty subtle, but trouble brews down the iconic streets and avenues. Harry is madly in love with another woman by the name of Kay (Rachel McAdams), she is young, blond, and beautifully stunning. Longtime bachelor friend, Richard (Pierce Brosnan) is informed of Harry's secret by Harry and is also introduced to Kay. unfortunately for Harry, Richard is also quite taken by Kay's ravishing beauty. Richard is self determined and makes a it a goal of his to win Kay for himself. Moving along, Harry resumes to plot ways on how to leave his wife, though subsequently he fears a divorce would absolutely ruin Pat's life. Harry comes to a final plan which he believes that would be the most humane thing to do, he is going to dispose of her in a very melodramatic fashion of poison. While he contemplates on when he is going act, we learn that Pat also is holding a few deep secrets of her own.

Married Life is poetically detailed and a well-mannered dark 1940's facade. Clarkson and Cooper are quite interesting and give a great multi-level performance. Even though the story may come off as not very original the way it is portrayed and established gives new life to this genre. I very much enjoyed Brosnan's small interludes of narration and it actually brings more the style mood than in most cases where narration seems sometimes be trite and unnecessary. Overall I would recommend Married Life with the reservation that it is a little slow at start but ends a decent and fulfilling finish.