married life

i was swayed by some very favourable reviews of this film
had seen the trailer and thought i'd give it a miss
pierce brosnan as a sauve womaniser seemed a little obvious
late 1940's white middle-class america was just as unappealing
but even more so was another night of olympics saturated tv
and so it was that i sat alone in a little theatre to take in this film
it opens promisingly enough with a song and appropriate graphics
before the real action begins in america half a century ago
first impressions are of the amazing attention to detail
great suits, classic decor, fine furniture, cigarettes everywhere
mr brosnan in the film from the word go as narrator
then lending an ear to his old friend of his infidelity
harry (chris cooper) has surprisingly fallen in love
despite a seemingly happy and loving marriage
but he's a romantic and yearns for true happiness
his new love kay (rachel mcadams) is then introduced
a classically beautiful marilyn monroe-ish lady of class
at which point pierce brosnan delivers the appropriate body language
and so the scene is set for some interesting testing of friendships
harry's wife pat (patricia clarkson) completes the foursome
she is set up as the innocent, loyal and doting wife
fooling everyone on both sides of the camera i suspect
this is a very clever story told in a very convincing way
several times i recall thinking how simple the plot was
but told with such restraint and style in a classic way
no expert at all but hitchcock came to mind several times
especially with murder, the law and suspense all introduced
there are several twists and turns and nothing to assume
but all the time plenty of room for the film to breathe
allowing the actors space to make the roles their own
clever direction meant that the actors seemed very well cast
chris cooper playing to perfection the man you loved to hate
pierce brosnan totally convincing as the world-wise cad
patricia clarkson the loyal wife but with her own needs to fulfill
rachel mcadams the naive girl-woman trying to figure it all out
director ira sachs with a very clear vision and delivery
including a mantra repeated several times by different characters
is it really right to build happiness on the unhappiness of others
in the end this film could have had any number of conclusions
but the everyone-lives-happily-ever-after ending seemed unlikely
and possibly a bit of a quick wrap and exit for the film
but a minor quibble in an otherwise fine period piece
the late 1940's certainly come across as a fine old time
though everything else about it seems contemporary
married life - and all that goes with it