DINNER WITH FRIENDS
US, 2001, 90 minutes, Colour.
Dennis Quaid, Andi Mc Dowell, Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette.
Directed by Norman Jewison.
Dinner with Friends is a very interesting drama about two married couples, one in the reflections on the long marriage, the other in the middle of a breakup with memories of their coming together in the ups and downs of their marriage.
The screenplay, for television, was adapted by the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Donald Margulies. The director is the long-experienced, Norman Jewison, one of his last films after his career began in the 1960s, a highlight being the Oscar-winning In the Heat of the Night. He also directed Jesus Christ Superstar. The cast is also very good, each of them contributing fine performances and Toni Collette standing out.
As the film had theatre origins, most of the action takes place in the homes of the couples and in restaurants – although there is a flashback scene, opening the action, to a summer holiday at Martha’s Vineyard.
While the film highlights the happiness and stresses of a marriage that has lasted for over a decade, husband-and-wife being professional cooks, travelling together, writing articles together. The film also highlights a marriage that began, more whims than love, that made the husband feel lonely while superior to his wife and she both controlling and resentful.
The film also raises the question about the breakup of the marriage where husband-and-wife, close friends of the other couple, feel the effect on the married couple in learning truths they were not aware of and the breaking of friendships and the consequent hurt.
1. A picture of marriage, fidelity, infidelity, crisis, coping with crises?
2. The origin of the film as a play, winning the Pulitzer Prize? The author adapting it to the screen? The reputation of the director and his long career?
3. The strong cast, screen presence, performances?
4. The settings: the interiors of each of the homes, dining room, bedroom? The flashback to Martha’s Vineyard and the holiday and the coast? Dining out, the two restaurants? The musical score?
5. The introduction to Gabe and Karen, seeing them at work with their cooking, their skills, tastes, writing? Publications? The years of marriage? The children?
6. The opening dinner, Beth arriving alone, tension during the meal, Gabe and Karen wondering, telling all the stories of their Italian trip, the children making noise upstairs and irritating their parents? Beth saying all was well? The bursting into tears? Her telling the whole story, Tom leaving her, taking up with Nancy, Beth calling her a stewardess when she was a travel agent? Her weeping, pouring out the truth, the bewilderment for each of the listeners? Interventions, putting their foot in it, sensitivity and insensitivity? Beth and her eating the desert, calming down? Leaving with the children? Karen and Gabe, their bewilderment, Gabe saying they wanted to hear both sides, Karen and her immediate dislike of Tom even though he had beat been a great friend? The tension between the couple?
7. Beth, at home, with the children, reading in bed, Tom arriving home, the cancellation of the plane, not getting accommodation, talking with Beth, his aggressive manner, her defensiveness, denying that she had told the story? Tom pressing her, and with the details of what they had to eat? The bitterness about the past? The anger, rage, sexual encounter – and Tom later explaining to Gabe that this was a sexual motivation?
8. The version of the past, Beth, marrying, love, her artwork, Tom mocking it, not supporting her, yet building her the studio? His saying that she was cold, would not allow him to touch her, his being lonely, exasperation, finding sympathy with Nancy?
9. Tom, going to visit late at night, the rain, Karen and her distant reaction, Tom and his plea to be listened to, Gabe and his long friendship, trying to be fair, providing the meal? Tom accusing Gabe of having his agenda and giving opinions, not listening to him?
10. The flashback to the days Vineyard? Setting up Tom with Beth? Beth, her appearance, on the beach, her painting, Gabe and his rude remarks about it, Tom having seen Beth at the wedding, the dancing? His arrival, at home with Karen and Gabe? Hospitality, the meal? Beth coming in, the talking with Tom, the flirting, Tom thinking he should settle down, Beth and her art? The marriage?
11. The passing of time, the marriage, the tensions, the children?
12. The final sequences with Gabe and Karen and the meals with Tom and Beth? Karen, with Beth, the meal, Beth looking glamorous, revealing the relationship with David, Tom’s partner, previous knowledge (and the question whether there had been an affair)? Beth and her decision to get married? Karen and her reaction, Beth turning against her, saying that Karen had an imperfect family and she wanted to escape, trying to create the perfect family with her friends? Karen surprised and upset about the resentment? The shift in friendship? Gabe and Tom, the meal, Tom looking well, exercising with Nancy, being happy, sexual fulfilment? His recounting the past, the loneliness? Gabe, the feeling of alienation, reassessing the past friendship, the friendship being broken?
13. At home, Gabe and Karen, the night, and older couple, the children, reading the bedtime story? Karen and her dream, of herself and Gabe as an old couple, present couple, wanting Gabe to talk, some explanation? His beginning the explanation about growing old, the practicalities of life, distance – but the attraction and the beginning of a sexual encounter and the film ending there?
