A film with Pierce Brosnan, Chris Cooper, and Patricia Clarkson starring in it is very hard to resist. It’s not the greatest of films, in fact it’s not even all that good, but it’s adequate enough to warrant the time it takes to watch it.
Married Life takes place in the late 1940s and centres around Chris Cooper’s Harry Allen, a man who hatches a plan to murder his wife in order to spare her the humiliation of a divorce and being on her own. Little does he know there’s more to it all than meets his eye as he’s not the only one with a hidden agenda.
The thing that strikes you first about Married Life is the time period it’s set in and how the film captures it. The first 15 minutes of it seems to concentrate on just that, with what seems like a showcase of all the outfits, hairdos, and locations that were around almost 60 years ago. It’s a shame that the film seems to forget about showing off the production design as it’s one of the better aspects of the movie when everything’s said and done.
The film starts off in a mediocre fashion with characters who aren’t particularly interesting on their own. But as the film goes on, and events start to unfold, the clashing of the characters makes them more and more interesting. Cooper in particular, who in my book can do absolutely no wrong, is in fine form here. He is one of those guys who exudes intelligence and yet looks tough at the same time. He’s the main player here, which I found surprising because he’s usually a supporting character, and the always likable Pierce Brosnan and the lovable Patricia Clarkson support him. Brosnan is, as ever, charismatic and charming, and a role like this, set in a period where men like him were more common, is just perfect for him. Clarkson plays the wife character very well, a role very suited to her, and the younger Rachel McAdams stars in a supporting role where she’s never looked more beautiful. If nothing else, the film is worth a glance for the cast alone.
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