Rudolph, whose reputation rests on ensemble pieces, lets Scott's performance -- as skilled as his pyrotechnical turn in Roger Dodger (2002), but composed entirely of subtle notes -- anchor the film.
The Secret Lives of Dentists (2003)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:93
Fresh:79
Rotten:14
Average Rating:7.2/10
Consensus: A witty and honest look at marriage in decay.
Theatrical Release:Aug 1, 2003 Limited
Box Office: $3,637,833
Synopsis: Hope Davis and Campbell Scott play married dentists in this insightful dramatic comedy from director Alan Rudolph (AFTERGLOW, DOROTHY PARKER AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE). Based on the novel THE AGE OF... Hope Davis and Campbell Scott play married dentists in this insightful dramatic comedy from director Alan Rudolph (AFTERGLOW, DOROTHY PARKER AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE). Based on the novel THE AGE OF GRIEF by Jane Smiley, the story begins with husband David's suspicion that his wife (and mother of their three adorable daughters) is having an affair. The details of their family life and David's mounting suspicion are brilliantly evoked via overlapping dialogue, great editing, and masterful camerawork. David's jealous mind soars onto some hilarious flights of fancy and eventually caustic comedian Denis Leary turns up as his cigar-smoking alter-ego, expressing all the independent and antisocial traits David has tried so long to repress for the sake of his family. All of this culminates in a hilarious yet harrowing week when the family is hit by a flu virus. SECRET LIVES' performances are very strong, with Scott proving himself an actor of great restraint and subtlety. The young actresses who play the daughters are uniformly talented, as is Robin Tunney (THE CRAFT) as a dental assistant. The lion's share of credit is due to director Rudolph, who is in top form with this film, displaying his mastery of the ensemble cast, camera, and audio tricks; Rudolph and his mentor, Robert Altman, are of the few directors capable of working with such perceptive, funny, and warmly human results. [More]
Starring: Campbell Scott, Hope Davis, Denis Leary, Robin Tunney
Starring: Campbell Scott, Hope Davis, Denis Leary, Robin Tunney, Gianna Beleno, Cassidy Hinkle, Lydia Jordan
Director: Alan Rudolph
Director: Alan Rudolph
Screenwriter: David Newman, Alan Rudolph
Producer: George Van Buskirk, Campbell Scott
Composer: Gary DiMichele
Studio: Manhattan Pictures International
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Reviews for The Secret Lives of Dentists
more of an intellectual exercise than a melodrama, but one with its own chilly pleasures.
Mr. Rudolph's opus is already guaranteed a place on my year's 10-best list.
That most extraordinary of achievements, the small, quiet movie that imperceptibly takes its viewers by their throats and doesn't let go until its emotionally explosive -- and equally small and quiet -- final moments.
The points hung on this skeletal plot all seem obvious, the situation ordinary.
A cross between 'Eyes Wide Shut' and 'A Beautiful Mind' -- but more compelling than either.
A faultlessly constructed, artistic look at love, loss and truths we can't ignore.
Scott and Davis turn in subdued but strong performances, and Leary gets plenty of laughs. Dramatic elements are handled austerely, lending the few emotional moments added weight
For me (unlike some critics who have embraced this film), Leary becomes so persistent, so grating and so bloody irritating that I want to scream: Stop the madness! End the pain!
The movie [diverts] into a domestic sub-trauma, and Rudolph is never able to bring it back.
It's funny, dark, different, hard to describe in a way that really does it justice - it's about life's real emotions and behaviors, along with a little fantasy, a touch of opera, and a couple of fillings.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 15% 15% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
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