Watch The Party

In the movie The Party, we are introduced to Janet (Kristin Scott Thomas), a successful politician who is celebrating her promotion to minister of health with a small gathering of friends and colleagues. Her husband, Bill (Timothy Spall), seems a little distant and distracted throughout the evening, but his behavior becomes increasingly odd as the night wears on.

As the guests arrive, we meet a colorful cast of characters, each with their own quirks and hidden agendas. There's April (Patricia Clarkson), a cynical academic who seems to take pleasure in insulting everyone around her; her German partner Gottfried (Bruno Ganz), who is obsessed with Eastern mysticism; Tom (Cillian Murphy), a wealthy financier with a drug problem; and his wife Marianne (Emily Mortimer), who is heavily pregnant and having doubts about their marriage.

The tension between these characters builds as the evening progresses, and as secrets are revealed, alliances are tested, and relationships are strained to their breaking point. We watch as the characters spiral into chaos, betraying each other and themselves in equal measure.

At the center of it all is Janet, who begins the evening full of hope and optimism for her future, but who finds herself increasingly disillusioned by the people around her. As the night wears on, she is forced to confront the reality of her situation, and the sacrifices she has made to get to where she is.

The Party is a darkly comic look at the British upper class and the people who orbit around them. It is a film about power, privilege, and the corrupting influence of both. It is also a film about the intersection between our public and private lives, and the way that our professional ambitions can come at the expense of our personal relationships.

The performances in the film are top-notch, with Kristin Scott Thomas giving a particularly standout performance as Janet. Her nuanced portrayal of a woman slowly coming undone is equal parts heartbreaking and compelling. Timothy Spall is also excellent as Bill, playing the role with an understated intensity that makes his character's slow unraveling all the more unsettling.

The other actors in the film are all fantastic as well, with Patricia Clarkson and Cillian Murphy both delivering scene-stealing performances. Emily Mortimer is also great as Marianne, particularly in the later scenes of the film where her character's vulnerability is on full display.

The Party is stylishly shot, with director Sally Potter using a minimalist approach to highlight the performances and the dialogue. The film is set almost entirely in one location - Janet and Bill's London home - which gives the film a claustrophobic feel that adds to the tension.

Overall, The Party is a smart, funny, and darkly entertaining film that offers a sharp critique of the British upper class. It may not be for everyone - the film's humor can be quite dry, and the characters are not always likable - but for those who appreciate dark comedies with a bite, it is an absolute must-see.

The Party is a 2018 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 11 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 73.