Married Life (Blu-Ray)

Sony | 91 minutes | 2008 | PG-13 | Directed by: Ira Sachs |
Blu-Ray reviewed by: Fusion3600

Harry (Chris Cooper) has a good marriage with his attractive wife Pat (Patricia Clarkson), a woman he loves too much to ever leave behind. This devotion poses a problem however, as Harry has fallen in love with a beautiful blonde much younger than himself, the seductive Kay (Rachel McAdams). As much as he cares for his new love, he could never divorce his wife, but he decides that he could murder her. After all, if he has to end his marriage to Pat, better she be dead than suffer than pain of the loss, or at least that is how he sees the situation. Harry's plan seems to be possible, but when he introduces Kay to his friend Richard (Pierce Brosnan), things get complicated and begin to spiral out of control...

This was a fun movie, a modern film noir with great performances, an effective hook, and ample twists & turns. I will admit that Married Life runs on fumes toward the end, but the first half or so is a treat to experience. The writing is superb, which allows the cast to really go to work with their characters and they do just that. Chris Cooper is solid as always, while Rachel McAdams and Pierce Brosnan slip into their devious roles quite well also. This is the kind of movie where you're never sure of someone's real intentions and the cast plays into that, great performances across the board. As I said, the wheels slow down in the second half, but it is still solid and never dull. The first half is so damn good, its hard not to be a little let down by the final stretch. Married Life isn't perfect, but it is fun and a welcome change of pace from Hollywood's usual output. So the movie itself is highly recommended, as is this Blu-ray release, so don't miss Married Life.

Married Life is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a terrific visual presentation, one that replicates the intended look quite well. This movie does have some grain, but that is intentional here, though some edge enhancement that pops up is not as welcome. The visuals here are a touch soft for high definition at times, but detail is good in most scenes and a step up and then some from the standard edition. The colors are natural in scope and while contrast seems darker than usual, that is due to the lighting used, not this transfer. I found this to be a warm, natural looking visual effort that captures the film's intended look well and should delight fans.

was more than satisfied with this Dolby TrueHD 5.1 option, as it provides an effective, natural soundtrack. This movie is driven by dialogue, but that doesn't mean this track is lifeless. While power isn't a factor here, this mix does provide subtle touches that make this a more immersive audio experience. The music sounds smooth and well placed here also, while dialogue is crystal clear and never wavers in the least. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English, French, and Arabic.

This disc includes an insightful director's commentary with Ira Sachs, as well as three alternate endings.