Watch The Lovers

The Lovers from 2017, directed by Azazel Jacobs, is an emotional and captivating portrayal of a long-term, married couple who have fallen out of love with each other. Starring Debra Winger as Mary, and Tracy Letts as Michael, the movie primarily focuses on the couple's personal struggles, their marital problems, and how they attempt to solve them.

Michael is in the midst of an affair with a younger woman, while Mary has her own affair with Robert (Aidan Gillen). While cheating is always a serious issue in any relationship, the movie beautifully portrays it in a realistic manner. Its exploration of the consequences of infidelity is what sets The Lovers apart from other similar movies. It's not a movie about the joy of infidelity, but rather the depth of despair and pain that comes with it.

It's clear from the beginning that the relationship between Mary and Michael is strained. The couple's relationship is on its last legs when they meet their son Joel (Tyler Ross) and his girlfriend Erin (Jessica Sula) for dinner. This dinner provides the audience with a glimpse of their awkward, forced interactions, with plenty of small talk and silent stares. However, things begin to change when Michael and Mary begin to rediscover the intimacy they once shared with each other.

The movie takes a slow pace, allowing viewers to become immersed in the story and develop an understanding of the characters. Mary and Michael each have their own moments to shine, with Winger and Letts giving stellar performances. They effortlessly blend a powerful and realistic portrayal of a couple's struggle with a sense of levity that keeps the movie upbeat.

The portrayal of Michael and Mary's slow rekindling of their relationship is where this movie truly shines. You get the sense that these two people genuinely care about each other, but have lost their passion for one another. There are moments of humor, both dark and light, that provide a welcome relief from the tension that is present throughout most of the movie.

There are moments of brilliance in The Lovers, such as when Mary and Michael have a few seconds of intimacy right before they're interrupted, or a scene in which Mary dances alone in front of her husband, who is struggling with his decision to leave her. These scenes highlight the depth of the relationship between the two characters and their struggle to recapture the love they once had.

Alongside the main story of the couple's failing marriage, the movie also explores the relationships that Mary and Michael have outside of their marriage. While Mary's character is well-developed, the portrayal of Robert is sadly one-dimensional, and as such, feels a little out of place in the movie. The same goes for Michael's girlfriend, who is ultimately more of a plot device than a fully realized character.

The Lovers also has an excellent score that captures the mood of the movie perfectly. The music is whimsical and playful at times, yet mournful and wistful in others. It supports the emotions present in the story, without overpowering the characters or the plot.

In conclusion, The Lovers is a beautifully realized movie that portrays the complexity of human relationships in a realistic manner. While it's a slow movie, it's never boring, with strong performances from the entire cast. Though it doesn't provide a rosy picture of marriage or infidelity, it does provide insights into the human heart, and how we can inadvertently hurt the ones we love the most. A definite must-see for fans of independent cinema or anyone interested in a moving portrayal of relationships.

The Lovers is a 2017 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 76.