The Wife

THE GIST: During their long marriage, Joan and Joe have had their ups and downs, but through it all their love has remained rock solid, and they complement one another. Now that Joe is being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his towering body of work, however, a long held secret seems to have become a weight too heavy to bear for Joan.

The Wife is what I would consider a classic of the cinematic medium. I would point to this as an example of the highest quality a film can achieve.

Furthermore, with a simple story that revolves around just a handful of characters, it is the classic example of how completely absorbing a motion picture can be. It doesn't get much better than this when no bombastic visual effects are involved.

Glenn Close, nominated for a Best Lead Actress Oscar for this role, is absolutely superb, squaring off against the great Jonathan Pryce.

Max Irons, Christian Slater, Harry Lloyd, Annie Starke, and Elizabeth McGovern round up the great cast.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you're looking for a drama with an underlining mystery and outstanding acting look no further.

Grade: 9