Outstanding

Yasmina Reza's stage play was well adapted for this film. I've seen it a lot because of the seamless skill of the acting, direction and cinematography. It's easily one of the funniest and most entertaining films I've ever seen.

The dialogue is intelligent and the comedy has some very fine moments. The men play well. Most typically complacent, they are faster to shrug off the inconvenient truths about their relationships and views on life. Nancy gets drunk a little too quickly but she is a superb foil for Penelope who is the engine of much of the comedy and Jodie the dynamo delivers with angst and heartbreak through flinty looks, mini-meltdowns and brittle interactions that have such a powerful comic effect. After some misadventures (Flightplan, The Brave One, The Beaver) it's nice to see Jodie doing a stellar job with a great script.

The writing is great and the performances are rock-solid, reflecting the skill of the players. For me the women (actresses I deeply admire) really carry this film.

Nancy: "Bacon?" (of a book on the coffee table)
Penny: "Yes, Bacon."
Nancy: "Cruelty and splendour."
Penny: "Chaos, balance."

Adorably pretentious and a nice way to hint at how the women would like people to think they see their respective worlds. Jodie's reaction to the spew-covered Kokoshka art book is superb, as are her lines "Their son is a threat to homeland security" and her whiny "Awww! The Foujitaaaah!" Winslet is terrific, aside from the drunkenness thing, Reilly delighted me and Waltz worked well with him delivering a top quality performance.

When Penelope finally drops her mask and lets rip to Nancy I thought Jodie was going to pass out she was working so hard.

If you are/have been married, or even in a long-term committed relationship, there may be much familiar territory here that can be the source of many rueful chuckles and perhaps some ear-warming guilt flushes.

This compact and symmetrical film seems to improve with repeated viewings. I wish there were more films like this.

9/10