DINNER WITH FRIENDS

US, 2001, 94 minutes, Colour.

Dennis Quaid, Andie Mc Dowell, Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette.

Directed by Norman Jewison.

Dinner with Friends is based on the 2000 Pulitzer Prize winning played by Donald Margulies who has adapted his play for the television screen. It is one of the many very interesting films made by HBO in the 1990s and the to thousands.

The film retains a great deal of the dialogue from the play as well as the structure, a series of set scenes, in a restaurant, in homes, on a New York street. And the film has a very strong cast who bring the characters alive.

The dinner with friends of the title is the first sequence, at the home of top chefs who are in the public and media eye, who just travelled to Italy and are enthusiastic. Beth arrives but without her husband, Tom. There is tension during the meal until, finally, Beth breaks down and reveals that Tom is having an affair and that their marriage is broken.

This is followed by a scene when Beth arrives home, which are children to bed, Tommy arriving, not having gone to Washington because of the weather. The have strong discussions, Tom asserting himself in the unhappiness in his marriage, death not really listening to him or appreciating him. Beth is upset at his behaviour, his not appreciating her artwork. The screenplay makes the point that this kind of rage actually is sexually arousing as happens with the couple.

There is an interlude set in 1988 in Connecticut, Beth meeting Tom, Gabe and Karen fostering the relationship.

In the latter part of the film, Karen has a lunch with Beth at a restaurant, Beth looking particularly glamorous, indicating that she has relationship now with one of Tom’s colleagues and is not looking back. Karen has a more traditional view and is very cautious. This is compared with Gabe having a meal with Tom, Tom infusing about his new life and relationship and his being appreciated and feeling fulfilled. Gabe is also of a more traditional perspective and wonders whether he can really be a friend to Tom.

The final scene is with Karen and Tom, reflecting on their own lives, Karen recounting a dream and insisting that Tom verbally respond to it, their acknowledging their love for one another.

Dennis Quaid and Andie MacDowell are Gabe and Karen. Greg Kinnear and Toni Collette are Tom and Beth.

The film was directed by numbers Norman Jewison, some light comedy is in the early 60s, then The Cincinnati kid, In the Heat of the Night, The Thomas Crown Affair, Jesus Christ superstar and a strong career until the early to thousands ending with the war crimes film, The Statement.

1. The title? Ironies? Based on the Pulitzer prize-winning play? Emphasis on dialogue, on characters and interactions?
2. The settings, 2001, homes, storms and roads? 1988, Connecticut, vacation? New York restaurant and street sequences? The musical score?
3. The initial dinner, the background to Gabe and Karen, chefs, photo shoots, menus, cooking? Their holiday in Italy? The children? Preparing the dinner, expecting Tom and Beth? Their children upstairs, watching Willy Wonka, complaints, parent intervention? Tom not arriving?
4. The meal, conversation, about the holiday, Beth looking morose, eventually in tears? Telling her story? Gabe, listening, Tom his best friend, some insensitive responses? Karen, Beth as her best friend, upset, believing the worst about Tom?
5. Beth at home, upset, the children, in bed, Tom’s return? The storm? His manner, conversation, clashes, Beth hurt, the rage, the sexual encounter and Tom’s later explanation?
6. The flashback to 1988, the four friends, younger, happy, Tom meeting Beth, the prospects for the future?
7. Tom and eating out with Gabe, Tom’s revelation about himself, his complaint that Ben never listened to him, never affirmed him, his feeling he was not alive? His realisation that he did not want children? That his father influenced his life, the law, relationships? His complaints to Beth – and the scene between them, his belittling her art, her reaction, the discussions about Nancy, travel agent not studious?
8. And Karen and their lunch together, Beth and her appearance, glamorous, the revelation about her relationship, the past with David, the intention to marry? Karen and her shock, suggesting more time to think the issue through? Later wondering about her friendship with Beth?
9. The effect of the conversation on Gabe, more traditional attitudes, expectations, acknowledging ups and downs, yet love, fidelity, getting older, Karen and menopause, the growing alienation from Tom, wondering about his friendship? Tom wanting him to meet Nancy, gave hurrying to the taxi, Tom and Nancy across the street?
10. Tom, audience sympathy, audience understanding? His complaints about his past, ambitions, disappointments?
11. The final sequence, Gabe and Karen, at home, taking each other for granted, the years passing, Karen and her dream, the two couples, both themselves, her wanting Gabe to respond, his ultimately speaking? The experience of the years, yet their love for each other, the final image?