far-fetched were it not so well-handled. A clever, emotionally draining watch that'll stay with you long afterwards. 10/10.

emotion and works miracles of suspense with her devotion to the character during the film's most intense moments of drama. Jonathan Price creates a powerful character study while playing Joe, and manages to ooze out a deep and systemic feeling of pervasive self-absorption and dishonesty in each frame. The film's pace is outstanding and keeps the viewer engaged from beginning to end. The drama continues to simmer and simmer up until the climax, when it can boil over. The pacing allows for flashbacks of college-age Joan and Joe that manage to take us out of the present day without ever feeling disjointed or clunky. Another standout in the cast is Glenn Close's daughter, who plays Young Joan during the flashback scenes. The deeply sophisticated script sparks the interest of the viewer at the narrative's commencement and rewards your patience during the climax and ending. The exploration of key feminist themes surrounding how society may not equally celebrate the accomplishments of women provides the narrative with a strong and original sense of social consciousness as well. But what makes this script so truly unique is the sense in the writing that actions truly are capable of producing reciprocal consequences. While some films attempt to maintain a form of narrative gravity akin to that, they often feel contrived rather than genuine in their attempts to do so. In this film's story, every decision impacts and is impacted by other decisions. This is done through multiple dimensions, rather than feeling similar to something like a line of dominoes. It makes the film's drama all the more believable, thoughtful, and impactful.Aesthetically, "The Wife" is also superb, which is not necessarily expected in a relatively low-key drama like this--but absolutely welcomed. The film's simple and often wide-shot cinematography of Stockholm and the surrounding areas are outstanding, as is the simple score which increases the senses of emotion and tension throughout the film's duration. All in all, the film is a nearly perfect drama headlined by an outstanding and awards-worthy performance from Close. It's my favorite film of the year so far. Very highly recommended. 10/10

There's a scene right near the end of the film in which their vulnerability is almost palpable. They went all-in with these characters, and it payed off. Standing ovation for those two.Quick suggestion: go watch this film without seeing the trailer. It will be a better experience if you know nothing about the plot. I watched the trailer beforehand and it ruined an important plot twist for me.

less. As Joe and his wife Joan Glenn Close make preparations to fly to Stockholm, she recalls meeting Joe at a writing class when Joe was still married to his first wife, with a young baby. Eventually, Joan plucks up the courage to show Joe a story she's written: "The Faculty Wife." Joe tells her she shows promise, which she accepts with grace. When Joan is less than complimentary about Joe's new novel, he flies into a rage. Joe accusers her of disloyalty, of ingratitude: her criticism is an affront to his ego, perilously fragile at the best of times. Grudgingly, Joe relents and lets Joan have ago at re-writing his novel. After decades of ensuring that her husband remains a world famous author, with a steady stream of best sellers to his credit, as well as putting up with such a cantankerous and conceited man who is about to be awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. Finally, it all becomes too much for Joan, and she lets Joe know exactly what she thinks of him on the night of the Award Ceremony. They finally reach a compromise, with Joan forbidding her husband to mention her name in his acceptance speech. While Jane Alexander's script is excellent from a novel by Meg Wolitzer , it's the acting talents of the two leads that ensure "The Wife" is not another exercise in pathos. Special mention must be made about Glenn Close's performance, the most notable in my opinion, while she seethes with barely contained fury in a hall full of dignitaries where Joe ignores her plea, and specifically mentions her contribution. All in all, "The Wife" is the kind of story that could, in the wrong hands, be just another film about how rocky a road marriage can be. Nine stars out of ten.

to the boil when the husband wins the Nobel Prize for literature while 'the wife' looks on in smiling silence. Professor Joe Castleman has become accustomed to being feted for his literary greatness and has even been described as a reinventor of the novel form. The opening scenes are emotionally supercharged: a phone call from Norway in the middle of the night, joyful close-ups on Joe and Joan hearing the news, each processing it in completely different terms. Joe's arrogance is elevated by the news, while Joan's tolerance for his deceit, philandering, and belittling her as 'the wife who does not write' inches closer to breaking point.The news of his Prize triggers interest from a persistent freelance biographer who begins asking questions about Joan's own early writing career and the authorship of her husband's work. Marital tensions and professional conceits intersect and escalate as they approach the Nobel Prize ceremony, with their secret dangerously close to becoming public. Framed as a domestic relationships drama, the narrative moves slowly in a dialogue-rich film that records the personal journey of two intelligent and articulate people travelling in different directions.So much can be conveyed through a husband's use of the phrase "The Wife". It might be used as a derisive avatar or a cartoon nagger but not a respected equal. It is at this level that The Wifeexerts its power to show how patriarchy can entrap a willing victim until its innate fragility is exposed. Yet a simple exit from the marriage is not easy, as Joe and Joan really love each other. Too many dramas immerse such themes in clichés and hyperbole, but a tour de forceperformance by Glen Close takes this one to different level.Excellent filming, a clever script, uncluttered editing, and a nomination-worthy performance by Close gives this film a clear voice for the demographic it addresses. The feminist discourse for older women speaks in a different filmic language than what is current for others, so this is not a film for all. But its laser-precise message is targeted at everyone.

requires an extraordinary level of compromise. Jonathan Pryce is excellent in a viscerally narcissistic role that becomes more and more appalling in his character's audacity as the storyline develops; you might wonder how this man lived with himself. Finally, Christian Slater is sharp as an unctuous but quietly ruthless biographer who has set out on an investigation- a textbook example of an odious character with righteous ends. All three actors contribute extremely well, even though Glenn Close's perspective is front and center all the way.This film can be difficult to watch at times, but it's a powerful story that is well-presented and executed. It's a film that might warrant viewing a second time to evaluate the characters' dynamics to fully appreciate the heart of the story. Enthusiastically recommend.

and fame .She is told by another woman author that it would be unlikely that she could ever achieve success on her own in a literary world dominated by male publishers and critics, thankfully not the case in today's world. Glenn Close as Joan Castleman and Jonathan Price as her Nobel prize winning author husband Joe give superb performances and Christian Slater as Nathaniel Bone the persistent and probing biographer , who wants to expose the fraud are all excellent. Glenn Close is among a handful of great actresses of the caliber of Meryl Streep , Judy Dench and Helen Mirren , who can express more in their eyes and facial expressions without saying a word than other actors can express with 100 lines of dialogue. We were fortunate enough to see her live last year on Broadway as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard and she was mesmerising in that also. There's a scene in The Wife , when Joe is receiving his Nobel prize and being effusively patronising about his wife's contribution to his award and the expression of loathing regret and embarrassment on Glenn Close's face is heartbreaking , when she realises what price her compliance and enabling has cost her and her children over the years. It's a film well worth seeing reminded me of Ingmar Bergman 's style of austere raw human frailty and emotion , both parties are accomplices in their own misery and it's too late to start over again. Without spoiling the final scenes , which I was not expecting I felt optimistic that when Joan stares at a blank page that she may at long last resume her solo writing vocation.