Review of We Don't Live Here Anymore (2004) by Asif K — 04 May 2010

"We Don't Live Here Anymore" could be a much better movie than it actually is without much effort. Unfortunately, that effort is lacking. John Curran directs a story about two couples, both with children, which see their respective marriages fall apart in a lazy summer, ending up having crossed affairs with each other, supposedly without the knowledge of the respective partners.

There are many argument scenes, many meaningful look scenes when the four of them are together, much lying, regret, love-happiness-meaning-of-life-seeking, etc. John Cassavetes would make a terrific movie with this material, but Curran just gives much face value and little depth.

The only character which really shines emotionally is Laura Dern's, the other three (Naomi Watts, Mark Ruffalo and Peter Krause) just stick to the screenplay without much innovation, which is a shame.

The arguments between them which should be the stronghold of the picture are lame, the soul searching scenes lack depth, and the scenes between the four friends, when all wear emotional masks and hide their secrets, never get that much tension.

The children are zombies, they seldom get a word in and when they do it is done in a mechanical fashion. Worse of all, the four of them don't seem very real in a movie which should be about real life drama.

Two thirds of the movie they are animals playing emotional games with each other and responding to their desires and instincts, and in the last act suddenly, out of nowhere, they all seek redemption. The roller-coaster ride of emotions was not there, and the shift was not justified.

Ok, human emotion is irrational, sure, but then again this movie could have given much more from the material. The ending didn't please me also. Liked the back story, liked Laura Dern's character and acting, but the rest failed to meet the emotional high standards demanded.

Much better in every way is director John Curran's next project, 2006's "The Painted Veil".