The Wife

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The Wife

R

Released Aug 17, 2018

1h 40m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

234 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Joan and Joe remain complements after nearly 40 years of marriage. Where Joe is casual, Joan is elegant. Where Joe is vain, Joan is self-effacing. And where Joe enjoys his very public role as the great American novelist, Joan pours her considerable intellect, grace, charm and diplomacy into the private role of a great man's wife. As Joe is about to be awarded the Nobel Prize for his acclaimed and prolific body of work, Joan starts to think about the shared compromises, secrets and betrayals.

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Critics Consensus

The Wife relies on the strength of Glenn Close's performance to drive home the power of its story -- and she proves thoroughly, grippingly up to the task.

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Edward Porter

Times (UK)

The story is eventually revealed to be a tad far-fetched, but its events make it a page-turner, and Close is not its only first-rate performer.

Nov 29, 2022

Full Review

Nell Minow

AWFJ.org

Her name is Joan and his name is Joe, suggesting that the boundaries between them are blurred. It is that blurring this movie explores, with a performance of mingled rage, guilt, passion, and integrity by the magnificent Glenn Close.

Sep 30, 2021

Full Review

Anupama Chopra

Film Companion

The Wife is an insight into long relationships, the way men and women heal and hurt each other. There are moments here that all husbands and wives will recognize. But the biggest reason to see this film is to experience the power of Glenn Close.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 15, 2019

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

Regardless of whether you are looking for drama mixed with superb acting, The Wife is simply not the film to scratch that itch. It is a miscalculating, dreadful, and painfully boring way to spend one hundred minutes.

Rated: C-

Aug 7, 2024

Full Review

Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

The film has its faults, but Glenn Close’s performance ensures that it is also sincere and convincing.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 4, 2024

Full Review

Calum Cooper

Source (Scotland)

With her doubts acting as a juxtaposition to the legitimate chemistry and sense of love between the spouses, her character is fascinating, but Close is what makes the role so astonishing.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 14, 2024

Full Review

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Catherine B

A friend walked back to his PC when I said I wanted to watch this - glad I didn't capitulate and watch something else - his loss. I loved it. A very complex storyline with great dialogue addresses complex questions at many levels with terrific performances generally but yes, Glenn Close's performance is just stunning. Don't let anyone talk you out of watching it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/06/24

Full Review

Anna G

stunning show , i was gripped by it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/29/24

Full Review

Liz P

Glen Close is brilliant, just so believable.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

Derek C

It was a good movie, but not one that left me thinking "Wow...that was one of the better movies I have seen in a while!" Not a three but not up to a four. Very glad that Rotten Tomatoes allows 0.5 ratings - 3.5 fits perfectly.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/24

Full Review

Jeff M

Despite some fine performances and a couple powerful moments, I found this to be quite the disappointment. I was surprised to find myself bored during long stretches of the film, and I didn't find much passion in the drama. It's all a bit too polished and polite. Unfortunately, we are taken out of the story on multiple occasions by unnecessary flashbacks showing the leads when they were younger. The son, played by Max Irons, is a horribly written character who adds nothing pertinent to the story. Most of what does work can be attributed to the committed performances of the leads, although I don't think this is the best work of Close's or Pryce's filmography. Much was made about Close losing the Oscar, but I don't think this is an awards-caliber role - just a lot of staring off into space with faintly glistening eyes. And I frankly think she overplayed a couple of her more dramatic moments. With a few tweaks here and there, I think this could be turned into a good stage play. But as for the movie, it was a pondering and often predictable misfire.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/18/24

Full Review

Kati B

Really well constructed, directed, and acted!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/11/23

Full Review

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Björn Runge

Director

Glenn Close

Joan Castleman

Jonathan Pryce

Joe Castleman

Christian Slater

Nathaniel Bone

Annie Starke

Young Joan Castleman

Harry Lloyd

Young Joe Castleman

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28:03

The Wife: Trailer 1

2:17

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Synopsis

Joan and Joe remain complements after nearly 40 years of marriage. Where Joe is casual, Joan is elegant. Where Joe is vain, Joan is self-effacing. And where Joe enjoys his very public role as the great American novelist, Joan pours her considerable intellect, grace, charm and diplomacy into the private role of a great man's wife. As Joe is about to be awarded the Nobel Prize for his acclaimed and prolific body of work, Joan starts to think about the shared compromises, secrets and betrayals.

Director: Björn Runge
Producer: Piers Tempest, Rosalie Swedlin, Meta Louise Foldager, Claudia Bluemhuber, Peter Gustafsson
Screenwriter: Jane Anderson
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Meta Film, Silver Reel, Anonymous Content
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 17, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 25, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.6M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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