Hollywood loves to use a recurring theme when it comes to
marriage. They seem to have this idea that the best way to solve marriage
problems is to have an affair. I’m not sure if it’s because there are so many
failed marriages there or that there is so much rampant cheating going on there
or what. But every so often a movie
comes out pushing this idea. THE LOVERS is the newest example.
Michael and Mary (Tracy Letts and Debra Winger) are a middle
aged couple for whom the spark has gone out of their relationship. Each day is
filled with the same old same old, work, home, dinner, bed. Romance is a thing
of the past. But they have something in common they aren’t aware of. Both of
them are having affairs.
Much of what I just wrote is assumed as we go along. The
first moments of the film are of each individual with the person they are
having an affair with. Both are promising that they are going to leave the
other spouse but want to put it off until they have a chance to talk with their
son who is coming home for the weekend from college.
Both are having affairs with what appear to be much younger
people. In Michael’s case it is a young ballet dancer. Of all the characters in
the film she is the most irrational and explosive. She seems to have fits of
rage that made me as a viewer wonder where the attraction came from unless it
was all physical.
In the case of Mary her lover is a writer. While we witness
to two romantically involved we also get to see that side of him. He discusses
his writer’s block with her and later in the film is reading something he’s
just written. Her attraction seems both physical and mental.
But something happens. One morning before their son comes
home they wake in bed together, in that semi-groggy state of mind we all do in
the morning, and without realizing just who they are with they kiss. Their eyes
open, they both jump out of bed and begin getting ready for work. But as they
do so they find themselves drawn to one another and jump back in bed.
Over the next few days both are dealing with this new sense
of vigor and attraction to one another. At the same time their lovers are
feeling ignored and threatened. It’s not that they are aware of what has
happened but they notice something is different. Each continues to put pressure
on Michael and Mary to end it and be with them instead.
The story comes to a head when their son gets home. He’s
warned his girlfriend to expect them not to be a very caring couple. When he
sees them together this way he isn’t sure what to expect. Could it be that
things have been straightened out? Could they have rediscovered what it was
that drew them together in the first place? And will they stay or go?
The movie is entertaining and well-made on all fronts. It’s
well shot and directed, moves along at a steady pace and never seems to drag.
The acting is more believable than one would expect. It’s good to see Winger
back in front of a camera again since her output has decreased over the past 8
years or so. Perhaps the only thing that felt intrusive in the film was the
music, odd since there is a whole segment in the extras about scoring this
film. It’s like the classic old movie melodramas where the tones rise and fall
with the emotions on display. At time that got in the way of things for me.
The only other thing that bothered me was the fact that both
seem to work at jobs where it’s nothing for them to leave for hours at a time
to have affairs or not come home on time on a near daily basis. Not only that
their respective lovers have no problem showing up where they work with no
reason to do so other than to see them. For me that made parts of the movie
unbelievable.
Still, it is an interesting movie and will hold your
attention start to finish. There are moments that might bring a tear to your
eye and moments that will make you laugh out loud. And for many it will make
you wonder if you don’t pay enough attention to your spouse and show them that
even after all this time there is still love between the two of you. With any
luck that will be the thing that sticks with most viewers instead of thinking
that sleeping with someone else will help your marriage.
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