The Wife

(spoiler free)

From a screenplay by Jane Anderson, based on Meg Wolitzer’s novel of the same title comes new drama ‘The Wife’. Starring Glenn Close in the Oscar buzzed titular role the film follows her character Joan Castleman as she accompanies her husband Joe, a celebrated writer, to Stockholm as he recieves the Nobel Prize for Literature.

If you’re thinking that short synopsis doesn’t sound like it would make for a particularly riveting cinematic experience you’d be right, but also wrong. It has to be admitted that the narrative is a little bit dull at first. We witness Joan and Joe celebrate his win and participate in all the usual occasions associated with being a recipient of this award. In addition to this the film also tells the story of a young Joan and Joe as they begin their relationship, portrayed by two younger performers. Initially, having both of these periods of the story running alongside each other results in the film feeling disjointed and uneven, making the pace somewhat problematic. Despite the younger version of Joan being played by Close’s daughter Annie Starke, the younger performers can’t quite capture the essence of the older versions of the characters. However, this was only true up until a point. In one moment of drama Starke absolutely nails the character and from this scene on wards the dual method of storytelling and the performances absolutely click and the film becomes a truly compelling watch.

The narrative builds in a slow but consistent way throughout the film culminating in a true masterclass of dramatic tension. Director Björn Runge is able to create thriller style levels of suspense in a tremendously skillful manner, of course credit must go to Anderson also, and maybe most deservedly, to Close. She really is fantastic here and all the awards chatter is so warranted. She’s a force to be reckoned with throughout the film but she has a number of standout moments, one in particular featuring no dialogue at all, where she’ll leave audiences in complete awe of her ability. She demonstrates an impressive chemistry with all her co-stars but especially Jonathan Pryce who plays her on screen husband. Their back and forth is fascinating to watch as years and years of their character’s life together is put under the spotlight in just a few days, expertly contributing drama, humour and emotion to the film. The remaining cast do well too, each giving what they need to in order to compliment the screenplay but this is Close’s film and she rightfully shines for the entirety.

So whilst ‘The Wife’ takes its time to really engage the audience and to properly find its narrative rhythm its more than compelling mid and final sections effortlessly make up for this. Glenn Close delivers such a powerful performance making the unfolding drama completely captivating for the audience. The combination of her efforts and the screenplay’s solid construction and careful development of the story creates a marriage made in cinema heaven.

Written by Hamish Calvert

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Rating – 8/10

Question: What is your favourite Glenn Close film performance?
(Leave your answers in the comments section below!)

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