Ed Burns wrote and directed some of the best films of the late 90’s and early 2000’s in The Brothers McMullen, She’s the One, and Sidewalks of New York. His output since then has not matched that, though a lot of it has not been released in the UK, and, Millers in Marriage, his latest, has gone straight to video on demand. It covers familiar ground in that it focuses on the relationships of a group of linked characters in their 50’s. Former indie musician Eve Miller (Gretchen Mol) takes a romantic interest in a music journalist as an escape from her unhealthy marriage. Maggie (Julianna Margulies), Eve’s sister, must contend with shifting marital dynamics as her writing career begins to surpass that of her husband and fashion executive Renee (Minnie Driver) begins a relationship with the third Miller sibling, Andy (Burns), despite him recently divorcing her former colleague.
Burns’ style of writing and direction have seemingly gone out of fashion, and some may dismiss this as just rich peoples’ problems. Indeed Burns makes reference to that by having Maggie refer to champagne problems towards the end of the film. But, I found this to be a perceptive drama with flawed but believable characters going through problems in their relationships that are universal. There are no easy answers or fairy tale happy endings, just messy, complicated lives.
The weakest of the three stories is the one involving Maggie as her affair with a man who lives in the town where her holiday home is located felt the most contrived and unlikely relationship. However, everything else was beautifully written and the performances of Burns, Driver, Mol and Benjamin Bratt who plays Eve’s potential love interest are all superb. Andrea Vanzo’s piano based score also adds both class and a level of melancholy. It is a shame that there is no market for well made dramas like this featuring recognisable human beings in realistic scenarios in cinemas these days, but it is a great watch on the small screen.
Rating: 9 out of 10