[Review] The Wife: Glenn Close's Masterclass Performance!!

The Wife premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival two years ago, and Glenn Close's name has been consistently in the awards season conversation ever since, though her buzz was initially overshadowed by rivals Lady Gaga and Olivia Colman. After winning the Golden Globe last month, her name finally became the clear frontrunner, and she subsequently won Best Actress at the Critics' Choice Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Next week's Oscar for Best Actress is practically hers. Last week, I was fortunate enough to be invited by the distributor to an advance screening of the film, and I finally understood how truly exceptional her acting is, making her wins entirely deserved.

Watching The Wife was a very interesting experience because almost the entire plot is revealed in the synopsis and trailer. Unless viewers had absolutely no prior exposure to this information, they would already know before entering the theater that Joan (played by Glenn Close) has been ghostwriting for Joe (Jonathan Pryce), and that their relationship becomes complicated and contradictory after he wins the Nobel Prize in Literature. The film primarily focuses on 1992, the year Joe wins the award, interspersed with flashbacks that fill in the background of their relationship, from their first meeting to their marriage and the beginning of their "collaboration." As mentioned, many viewers might already know about Joan's ghostwriting before watching, but the film never explicitly states this at the outset. Instead, it gradually sprinkles clues throughout the developing plot, building up their relationship, and only reveals the full truth later in the film. This approach made me curious whether the production team originally intended for audiences to know this truth before entering. If they hadn't, then burying clues and gradually revealing the truth later on would have brought a surprise to the audience, finally allowing them to understand the context, which is a common practice in filmmaking.

However, the "spoilers" in the synopsis and trailer actually provided an alternative benefit to the viewing experience: audiences could fully focus on Glenn Close's superb performance. If viewers already knew about Joan's ghostwriting, they would pay closer attention to Joan's reaction upon learning of her husband's award, and her subsequent psychological changes, witnessing Glenn Close's nuanced acting even more clearly. In academic research and artistic creation, we always include the names of all participants to acknowledge their contributions. In the film, Joan ghostwrites for Joe, allowing Joe to take all the credit, even winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in her stead. The Nobel Prize in Literature is considered one of the most important honors in the literary world, a dream for many writers. Therefore, Joan's emotions were naturally very intense when she heard the organizers notify Joe of his win and laud his (i.e., Joan's) contributions to literature. But beneath the excitement, Joan's feelings seemed even more complex, mixed with helplessness, regret, and even anger.

As the film suggests, a writer needs to constantly create, or they will feel creatively drained. Joan understands that in the society of that time, women were undervalued in the literary world, and even good works by women were not well-received. Therefore, she decided to ghostwrite for her husband, allowing herself to continue creating. However, creation also requires validation and appreciation from others; otherwise, there might be no motivation to continue. Joan consistently worked hard, but all the credit went to Joe. In the eyes of outsiders, her identity was merely that of a devoted wife behind a brilliant writer. Seeing her own works appreciated and even winning the highest honor in literature, yet unable to personally receive this honor in her own name, she naturally felt helpless and regretful. But this was ultimately a decision she was forced to make by circumstances, and I believe she anticipated such an outcome at the time. However, what made her even angrier was her husband constantly thanking her in front of outsiders for her endless dedication and care. As mentioned earlier, Joan certainly desired credit and honor, but she yearned for recognition in literary creation, not as a dutiful wife assisting her husband. What she least wanted was her husband continuously thanking and praising her, thereby further reinforcing the idea that women's contributions are limited to assisting men, rather than achieving literary renown. Therefore, she often asked people not to view her as a victim, and she didn't want her husband to thank her in his speeches. She preferred to remain anonymous rather than receive misunderstanding or pity, as that would be an even greater insult to her creation and credit.

This film essentially revolves around the character development of Joan, depicting her psychological transformation after her husband receives the Nobel Prize, shifting from years of silent endurance to an outburst at the film's climax. Glenn Close's portrayal of Joan in this role, from the initial helplessness and regret to the later eruption of anger, constantly masking her true feelings with a smile, truly showcases her acting prowess. The most outstanding aspect of her performance lies in her ability to vividly convey the different layers and multifaceted nature of this character's emotions. As mentioned earlier, Joan's feelings are filled with contradictions; she is certainly proud when she hears her literary work praised, but simultaneously feels helpless for not being able to personally receive the award. Thus, Glenn Close needs to convey these two contradictory emotions simultaneously. Beyond being a writer, Joan is also a devoted wife. The credit spoken of in the film is not just for literary creation but also includes her care and forbearance as a wife to her husband and family. The film features two crucial argument scenes where, after portraying Joan's fury, Glenn Close immediately shifts back to the gentle, caring side of a wife and mother. The stark contrast and rapid transition between these two aspects are extremely challenging, yet Glenn Close naturally embodies such complex emotions. In the film's climax, she further transitions from anger to care, then to sorrow—it's nothing short of a masterclass in acting from Glenn Close. Of course, Jonathan Pryce has many compelling scenes opposite her in the film, and his performance is by no means overshadowed by Glenn Close, contributing significantly to the overall film.

Beyond the superb acting of the two protagonists, director Björn Runge's skill in handling different scenes should not be underestimated. Although a considerable portion of the film takes place in Stockholm, Sweden, most of the scenes occur indoors, including in cars and hotel rooms, making the settings relatively simple. Despite the limitations of the settings, the director still manages to shoot each scene, especially the argumentative ones, with extreme tension, allowing the two protagonists to fully unleash their performances, which is truly commendable. Additionally, even though many scenes are confined to a hotel room, the production team skillfully utilized indoor lighting and color palettes to create different atmospheres that align with the plot's development, further immersing the audience. Of course, with Glenn Close's outstanding performance, the screenwriter Jane Anderson who penned the script also deserves immense credit, and given Hollywood's current emphasis on women's rights, this film is also very timely. The most important aspect of this script is its ability to highlight Joan's contradictions and complexity; her feelings for her husband are even more intricate than "Stockholm Syndrome," while also revealing a very authentic side of women.

Glenn Close has received 7 Oscar nominations to date without a win, making her the most nominated living actor without an award. It seems this time, it's finally her moment!