Perhaps one of the earliest Oscar-worthy films to release all awards season, with a September release in the London a lot of people went out and have since been routing for Glenn Close to finally get her first Oscar. It seems like the time has come, she is completely worthy of all her accolades for her mesmerising performance in The Wife.
Arguable Close’s greatest performance ever – subtle, controlled and quiet. Close commands the screen with her ever controlling yet subtle eyes piercing through the screen. She remains loyal to her family, Jonathan Pryce is her husband to which she lies in the shadows, silently expressing two sides of a book.
After receiving a call in the early hours of the morning, the American couple receive the greatest news one could hear. To which they fly to Sweden, Joe’s Nobel prize awaits. Joan is Joe’s deeply loving wife, living a supposedly happy existence together a range of flashbacks tell of their history. Unknown to the public Joan was once an aspiring writer, told she would never find success in a male-driven society.
The Wife plays a little like a theatre performance, the director Björn Runge leave a void of space in which the actors control everything. His direction is simple and sleek, adding a perspective that perhaps could be seen as the spectator’s own eyes – precise, still and occasionally handheld. To enhance the effect of the mesmorising moments (there is a lot of those).
Like Glenn Close’s nuanced-powerhouse performance, Pryce is remarkably excellent. He is infuriating and cold which serves as a contrast to Joan, it only furthers our connection to her and our disdain for Joe as she silently suffers in the background. Wading in his fame and reputation, Joe is unloyal and scandalous as said throughout he has had many affairs, but was always welcomed back…
The Wife is a clever, subtle and moving portrait of a hidden woman brought to life by the Oscar-worthy Glenn Close with her quiet yet all-powerful performance.
4/5 Stars
Ben Rolph
THE WIFE IS OUT ON DVD NOW
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