By Robert Yaniz Jr.

DAY 11 OF THE 2018 HOLIDAY BINGE

Glenn Close commands the screen in a tight glimpse behind a seemingly perfect marriage.

THE HYPE

Whether in an erotic thriller like Fatal Attraction, a period drama like Dangerous Liaisons or silly family fare like Disney’s live-action 101 Dalmatians, Glenn Close always brings her A-game. Yet, the six-time Academy Award nominee hasn’t been able to land a little gold statuette of her own. That all began to look like it might change when director Björn Runge’s new film, The Wife, made its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017. While she still has yet to win, The Wife presents Close’s best chance to date.

THE STORY

Based on the Meg Wolitzer novel, the film centers on Joan and Joe Castleman (Close and Jonathan Pryce), a longtime married couple traveling to Stockholm when Joe’s literary accomplishments earn him a Nobel Prize. What starts as a blissful celebration of his work and her smiling support winds up uncovering old wounds and compromising the integrity of their marriage altogether. Christian Slater also notably pops up as a persistent journalist intent on uncovering the truth about their past for his upcoming book.

THE CAST

As the buzz indicates, Close is dangerously, well, close to delivering a career-best performance here. For the first third of the film, she remains stoic and largely complementary to Pryce (who, it should be pointed out, works wonders in his role). But while Joan’s emotions grow more complex, so does Close’s performance, which runs the gamut from simmering rage to unmitigated ferocity. This is truly a showcase of her considerable range, and through her character, The Wife makes a larger statement about the sacrifices wives make.

THE PRODUCTION

At its heart, The Wife is a character drama, and as such, Runge leans into the minimalist production style. The story would be the perfect fit for the stage, as it emphasizes dialogue and intense, intimate exchanges above all else. Jane Anderson’s script allows both Close and Pryce the opportunity to dissect a relationship from the inside out. Their impending marital crisis intercuts with flashbacks to their relationship’s beginnings, with young Joan and Joe (Annie Starke and Harry Lloyd) naive to the strain that awaits their love.

THE VERDICT

As a film, The Wife is effective but doesn’t necessarily accomplish anything particularly fresh, aside from a potent message about the roles women assume for their families. But as an excuse for the Academy to finally give Close her due — as they did for Julianne Moore and the just-fine Still Alice — The Wife works perfectly. In recent years, Close hasn’t been receiving nearly the attention she deserves, and her layered, powerful turn here is certainly worthy of recognition on its own and, especially, in the context of her career.

The Wife stars Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce, Christian Slater, Max Irons, Annie Starke, Harry Lloyd and Elizabeth McGovern and is directed by Björn Runge.