We Don't Live Here Anymore Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)September 7th, 2004
WE DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2004 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): *** 1/2
"I wonder how we'll get caught," Edith Evans (Naomi Watts) says to her adulterous lover, Jack Linden (Mark Ruffalo), during one of their regular trysts. Her tone isn't that of fear or thrill but of an almost nonchalant curiosity and acceptance. Since they are the world's worst liars and since they live in a small, isolated college town, there isn't much point in believing that they won't be discovered.
WE DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE is an intriguing and often gripping character study of two exceedingly close couples. The movie, which works hard to get all of the nuances and small points right, is wonderfully knowing and observant. The characters are richly drawn, full of flaws and traits that are both lovable and infuriating.
The script's meatiest part goes to Laura Dern, who plays Jack's wife, Terry. Although Terry would like to be a Rock-of-Gibraltar figure, she is an alcoholic and an exceedingly lousy housekeeper, and their pigsty of a house drives Jack nuts. She also has way more love to give than all of the other characters combined. Jack actually encourages her to have an affair with Edith's husband, Hank (Peter Krause). Terry likes the sex in the affair that she feels almost forced into, but she hates what is happening to her relationship with her husband.
Jack, a college English teacher like Hank and Hank's bosom buddy, is a conflicted man who doesn't know what he wants. The two men compete in jogging and in misery. Hank is a serial philanderer who likes hitting on his students. Although he gives off the vibes of a carefree playboy, he clearly suffers from chronic moroseness. Jack, on the other hand, keeps telling Edith how happy she makes him, while looking like he's about to puke. Jack doesn't have a clue as to what he wants in life, but he gets very angry at Terry for not properly understanding him -- and, for always being "wrong."
Edith, at least at first, appears to be the only one having any fun. She is downright giddy as she summons Jack over for more and more sex. She seems to be having the time of her life. Of course, her big smile is masking her own world of hurt.
Both couples have kids, but, no matter how much the parents say that they love them, I was never completely convinced.
When they announce Laura Dern, as I hope they will, as having gotten an Oscar nomination for her part, I'll be thinking of one of the movie's quietest and least showy scenes. The inevitable confrontation scene between the two women, the "How could you?" moment, happens quickly, quietly and without a single word spoken, but Dern's one look says it all.
WE DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE runs 1:41. It is rated R for "sexual content and language" and would be acceptable for most teenagers.
The film is playing in nationwide release now in the United States. In the Silicon Valley, it is showing at the Century theaters.
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