No one really knows what happens inside a marriage except the spouses—and sometimes not even they do, because even the closest couples keep secrets from one another. Novelist Evan S. Connell came closer than most to a rounded portrait when he wrote the classic Mrs. Bridge (1959) and Mr. Bridge (1969), whose stories sometimes overlapped but whose perspectives were strictly limited; following his lead, writer-director Ned Benson made his feature debut in 2013 with two versions of The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, one subtitled Her and the other Him. I haven’t seen either of those movies, but this combination of the two, subtitled Them, is so maturely written, richly characterized, and flawlessly acted that I can’t wait until they’re made available. Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy star as a New England couple who have separated in the wake of a family tragedy; the fine supporting cast includes William Hurt, Isabelle Huppert, Ciarán Hinds, Viola Davis, Bill Hader, and Jess Weixler.
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby
R • 2 hours 2 min • 2014
