Gayle Jones

I guess I’d rate The Perfect Couple slightly higher than others have. True, we’ve all seen the story before, but it was basically well-written, well-acted & well-directed; and it was a beautiful location with an engaging cast, so what’s not to enjoy? Nicole Kidman could probably play this role in her sleep, but she never phones it in so she’s always compelling to watch. Dakota Fanning & Jack Reynor gave particularly good performances & Eve Hewson was a sympathetic heroine. The only performance that didn’t hit quite the right note for me was Liev Schreiber’s Tag Winbury. Not to throw shade on Schreiber’s acting, it may just be that he’s more present in the world than I expect of a rich wastrel. But on the other hand, it’s a new take on an old classic, so why not? My favorite relationship was actually between the sheriff & the detective. It was beautifully underplayed by Beach & Champlain, starting with a mild but definite friction & ending with an easy kind of mutual respect. This was a pleasant way to spend a few hours, especially for those of us who don’t want everything turned into a Gothic horror show.