The Wife-2018

Director-Bjorn Runge

Starring-Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce

Scott’s Review #809

Reviewed September 8, 2018

Grade: A

Swedish director Bjorn Runge crafts a nearly flawless film in The Wife (2018) that elicits a perfect performance from its star Glenn Close.

The film may be a standard drama, but the performances are the star attraction here. Along with Close, Jonathan Pryce deserves his share of kudos along with many of the supporting players.

But the film unquestionably belongs to Close as she plays an overlooked wife with subtle intelligence and enough simmering fury and resentment to astound compelled audiences.

Professor Joe Castleman (Pryce) and his wife Joan (Close) live a charming existence in upscale Connecticut. Joe is an acclaimed author and has just been notified that he will soon be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

As Joe and Joan excitedly jump up and down on the bed in celebration, there is something not altogether joyous about Joan.

Parties are thrown and Joe and Joan, along with their son David (Max Irons), an aspiring author himself, fly to Stockholm, Sweden, for the coveted ceremony. Joe is flocked with attention while Joan is cast on the sidelines- secrets eventually bubbling to the surface by way of a nosy reporter, Nathaniel Bone (Christian Slater), who digs into Joe and Joan’s past.

The prime setting of Stockholm is a great plus, adding both a cultural and cold vibe to the story. The snowy and blustery Scandinavian locale, with some characters of European descent, brings richness to the film.

The scenes of characters sipping brandy or other warming spirits while a bristling fireplace erupts in the background add good texture.

Close is one of the finest actresses of our time and portrays Joan with refined restraint at every turn. Yes, we know that something is bothering Joan, but we know not what that is. Close is one of those talents whose face tells so much while she can utter so little, and through a good one-third of the film, this is all we have.

What is wrong with her? Why does she act happy for her husband and go about her tasks seamlessly, but harbors rage bubbling beneath the surface?

Slowly, with the help of numerous flashback scenes we learn how Joe and Joan met- he a young professor in the early 1960s, and she a naive student with delusions of grandeur of becoming a female novelist. She quickly learns how difficult this will be to achieve as she babysits Joe’s young kids- slowly falling in love with the married man.

From flashbacks, we learn more about the emotions, aspirations, and limitations of both Joe and Joan. We also learn that Joe has always had a wandering eye for other women- after all, wasn’t Joan “the other woman”?

Back to present times, a restless Joan needs a day to herself in the bustling city before she explodes at Joe. Before she can head out, she is talked into a drink by Nathaniel, who cagily reveals much of what he knows to Joan.

The scenes between Close and Slater crackle with passion Is he flirting with her or attempting to get her to buckle under from compliments and booze? Close is purely in control of Joan’s emotions here, but so much is written on the actress’s face.

She is just mesmerizing to watch as her calm demeanor borders on cold and calculating in her responses to Nathaniel’s questions.

Joe and Joan’s son David plays a key role in all of this. As with Joan, he harbors his resentments towards his father, but his rage is more blatant. He yearns for his father’s approval on a newly written story, also is angry with every comment his father makes. Is he simply experiencing jealousy over his father’s talents?

When David learns a secret, events get good, culminating in a wonderful blowup scene between the three characters in a hotel room, at simply the worst possible time.

Pryce must be given props as he plays Joe with much complexity. Partially sympathetic and partially unforgivable, he elicited a mixed reaction from me. Not one to treat Joan badly, he sings her praises from one toast to another.

A cad, he is also a narcissist, yet he does adore and think the world of Joan- so they share a complex love.

The Wife (2018) is a wonderful film that appreciates the talents of its cast. With stalwarts such as Pryce, Slater, and newcomer Max Irons fleshing out the supporting roles, this only enhances Queen Bee Close’s bravura performance.

I have always thought there would never be any way Close could rival her breathtaking portrayal of dastardly Alex in Fatal Attraction (1987), but she sure comes damned close in The Wife.

Oscar Nominations: Best Actress-Glenn Close

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best Female Lead-Glenn Close (won)