The Secret Lives of Dentists (2002)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Alan Rudolph

Writers (WGA):

Jane Smiley (novel)
Craig Lucas (screenplay)

Release Date:

22 July 2004 (Argentina)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

An introspective dentist's suspicions about his wife's infidelity stresses his mental well being and family life to the breaking point.

Plot Keywords:

Dentist | Opera | Flu | Infidelity | Alter Ego

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Campbell Scott	...	David Hurst
Denis Leary	...	Slater
Robin Tunney	...	Laura
Peter Samuel	...	Larry
Hope Davis	...	Dana Hurst
Jon Patrick Walker	...	Mark
Gianna Beleno	...	Lizzie Hurst
Lydia Jordan	...	Stephanie Hurst
Cassidy Hinkle	...	Leah Hurst
Adele D'Man	...	Carol
Kathleen Kinhan	...	Virgin
Sara Lerch	...	Virgin
Lori Mirabal	...	Virgin
Mark Ethan	...	Conductor
Flora Martínez	...	Female Patient (as Flora Martinez)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and language.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:M | Singapore:M18 | USA:R | Argentina:16 | Chile:14 | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Westchester County, New York, USA

Company:

Holedigger Films

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: There is a boom mic visible in the upper right of the screen in the scene where the father comes to check on the mother while she's sick in the bedroom. As the camera zooms in, the mike disappears from the frame.

Quotes:

Slater: Now, you should really listen to her because she is on the ball.
Leah: Nobody asked you, ya big slimebucket!

Movie Connections:

References The Boys from Brazil (1978)

Soundtrack:

Nabucco

Secret Lives and Quiet Desperation

This film is a gem, quiet and powerful modern masterpiece that deals with the marriage in crisis. Shifting seamlessly from humor to drama, from reality to the imagination and back, the movie is a stylish, compelling and very intelligent work of a sophisticated and remarkable filmmaker. There are not many films that explore the quiet desperation of a family's crisis (or should I say any relationship's crisis) with such honesty, poignancy, and subtlety. Alan Rudolph masterfully explores the mysterious connection between two people, the ability to deal with its possible loss, and the secret longings in all of us.

Campbell Scott is very impressive as an introvert Dr. David Hurst. He does not say much in the film but we feel all emotions he goes through - love, fear to lose it, anger, desperation, depression, and confusion. Hope Davis, Dennis Leary and three young girls all gave great performances.