The Wife
09/02/19 Filed in: Amazon rental
This film didn't make our local CineWorld when on release and we caught up with it on Amazon. I knew that Glenn Close was one of a number women being touted for an award, but I really knew very little about this film. The problem with reviewing it, is that the central premise of the story is a spolier too far for anybody who hasn't seen it. So on this occasion I'm going to skirt around things a bit.
Jonathan Pryce plays Joe Castleman, who early in the film receives confirmation that he is to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. Much celebration ensues as he and his wife, Joan, played by Close, prepare to set off for Stockholm. But we soon get the feeling that all is not happiness and joy with Joan. This is partly explained as the film takes us back to when Joan met Joe, she a literature student and he, her professor. He recognises her talent and also falls in love with her.
Back to the present day, their son Max arrives and Joan compliments him on a story he's written, but when Max approaches his father on the matter, he's told that there's too much going on and they would speak about it later. This is a significant fact, but all will not become clear until much later. Other small incidents also point us towards the eventual reveal, but they're easy to overlook.
Stockholm welcomes them, as does an attractive young female photographer who's been assigned to follow Joe, something he doesn't mind at all. It seems he has had wondering eyes in the past, and in some cases more than just eyes. Joan has tolerated this but we see her becoming more and more irritable. Max, meanwhile, is visibly irritated with his father most of the time. And to add to the mix, we have Nathanial Bone, who Joe seriously doesn't like, and who is desirous of writing Joe's biography. Having been throughly rebuffed by Joe during the flight to Stockholm, he works on Joan and then Max, and we start to understand why Joe is so wary.
At the presentation of the award Joe lavishes praise on Joan, despite her asking not even to be mentioned. This is the final straw, and she storms out of the hall. Everything is truly downhill from this point, and as things click into place we start to understand many of the emotions that have played out earlier in the film.
This is yet another fine leading role for a woman, and Close is magnificent. Just don't read any revealing reviews before you see it.
Stockholm welcomes them, as does an attractive young female photographer who's been assigned to follow Joe, something he doesn't mind at all. It seems he has had wondering eyes in the past, and in some cases more than just eyes. Joan has tolerated this but we see her becoming more and more irritable. Max, meanwhile, is visibly irritated with his father most of the time. And to add to the mix, we have Nathanial Bone, who Joe seriously doesn't like, and who is desirous of writing Joe's biography. Having been throughly rebuffed by Joe during the flight to Stockholm, he works on Joan and then Max, and we start to understand why Joe is so wary.
At the presentation of the award Joe lavishes praise on Joan, despite her asking not even to be mentioned. This is the final straw, and she storms out of the hall. Everything is truly downhill from this point, and as things click into place we start to understand many of the emotions that have played out earlier in the film.
This is yet another fine leading role for a woman, and Close is magnificent. Just don't read any revealing reviews before you see it.