Private Life

Name: Private Life
Genre: Drama
Released: October 5, 2018
Duration: 123 min
Rating: 83
Cast: Amy Russ, Caroline Martin, Denis O'Hare, Desmin Borges, Emily Robinson

2018

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 48 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 48 Ratings

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Private Life

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: October 5, 2018 | Not Rated

Starring: Amy Russ, Caroline Martin, Denis O'Hare, Desmin Borges, Emily Robinson, Francesca Root-Dodson, Gabrielle Reid, Hettienne Park, John Carroll Lynch, Kathryn Hahn, Kayli Carter, Lizzy DeClement, Maddie Corman, Mandela Bellamy, Molly Shannon, Nick Sullivan, Paul Giamatti, Siobhan Fallon, Tracee Chimo

Summary: Rachel (Kathryn Hahn) and Richard (Paul Giamatti) are a couple in the throes of infertility who try to maintain their marriage as they descend deeper and deeper into the insular world of assisted reproduction and domestic adoption. After the emotional and economic upheaval of in vitro fertilization, they’re at the end of their middle-agedRachel (Kathryn Hahn) and Richard (Paul Giamatti) are a couple in the throes of infertility who try to maintain their marriage as they descend deeper and deeper into the insular world of assisted reproduction and domestic adoption. After the emotional and economic upheaval of in vitro fertilization, they’re at the end of their middle-aged rope, but when Sadie (Kayli Carter), a recent college drop out, re-enters their life, things begin to look up. [Netflix]… Expand

Director: Tamara Jenkins

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 123 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

RogerEbert.com Matt Zoller Seitz

Oct 5, 2018

The film's writer-director, Tamara Jenkins is a brilliant chronicler of upper-middle class white people and their foibles, and her eye for detail is anthropologically exact, empathetic but never begging for sympathy. Read full review

100

A.O. Scott

Oct 4, 2018

Though it is poignant and funny in nearly equal measure, the most remarkable aspect of Private Life may be its lack of noticeable exaggeration. Ms. Jenkins is working at the scale of life, with the confidence that the ordinary, if viewed from the right angle, will provide enough drama and humor to sustain our interest. Read full review

K. Austin Collins

Oct 13, 2018

Jenkins can find the humor and bleached-out irony in something as sterile as a hospital’s oppressively white walls—it’s a true talent. Let’s not wait another decade to get more of it. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Oct 4, 2018

As both writer and director, Jenkins pushes us to rise above judgment by steadfastly refusing to indulge in it herself. Deep empathy suffuses the screen, enveloping every one of the characters. Read full review

Ty Burr

Oct 3, 2018

A modern comedy-drama in the Woody Allen-Noah Baumbach mold — urban intellectuals talking their lives in circles — but what keeps it from being a live-action New Yorker cartoon is the heart beating away in the script and the performances. At over two hours, it’s long but it’s true. Read full review

Inkoo Kang

Oct 2, 2018

Private Life is certainly very good at shivving its characters at close range and gutting these dyspeptic, privileged white people when they deserve it. Save for Sadie’s charmed fate, I can’t fault Private Life for nailing what it sets out to accomplish. But its cultural narrowness, however well-expounded, also left me wondering about the trials and tribulations of all the other couples in that waiting room long after we’d seen the last of them. Read full review

Sam C. Mac

Sep 26, 2018

Instead of offering a probing, nuanced view of the burgeoning technologies and sciences involved in this relatively new outgrowth of the OBGYN industry, though, Tamara Jenkins uses her setting as fodder for lame and discomfiting physical comedy. Read full review

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User Reviews

froglegs

Oct 29, 2018

Why do brilliant directors get so little work? Tamara Jenkins didn't direct anything since The Savages which came out 2007 and was also really good. Just about every scene is a masterpiece.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

MovieloverNik

May 20, 2021

Private Life works really well with some comedic Scenes and devastating scenes on the other. Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti deliver career best performances.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

pomattovich

Oct 5, 2018

Tamara Jenkins’ long overdue return is a hilarious & devastating depiction of modern child conception. Kathryn Hahn is outstanding & Giamatti is the most on brand since Sideways. Great support from Molly Shannon and John Carrol Lynch as well. I love both of Jenkins' other two films and haveTamara Jenkins’ long overdue return is a hilarious & devastating depiction of modern child conception. Kathryn Hahn is outstanding & Giamatti is the most on brand since Sideways. Great support from Molly Shannon and John Carrol Lynch as well. I love both of Jenkins' other two films and have long lamented her absence. She is so great at mining from life experiences that almost anyone can recognize and relate to, while still crafting carefully plotted stories filled with humor that never feels forced. Hopefully this will be a big hit and Netflix will give her a ton of money to make another film sooner rather than later! I love this film, I adore Jenkins and I hate that we've only gotten 3 films from her in 22 years.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

jessicalauren

Oct 11, 2018

Stark and sad, with bits of humor. I ached for this couple trying to conceive, trying to persevere one depressing setback after another. Their niece, young and idealistic and so naive, makes the perfect foil.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Nov 5, 2018

with equal sincerity..

Private Life Jenkins's journey is quite out there, it doesn't flinch on exploring such a delicate subject, the honesty and the nakedness of it is what's poetic about this unusual family drama. Jenkins accounts in each character with equal sincerity. Her mannerism iswith equal sincerity..

Private Life

Jenkins's journey is quite out there, it doesn't flinch on exploring such a delicate subject, the honesty and the nakedness of it is what's poetic about this unusual family drama. Jenkins accounts in each character with equal sincerity. Her mannerism is to respect the entire tale, no matter how small the character factors in on the bigger picture, she justifies their action by conveying their entire tale into a conversation. And the conversations are pragmatic, sharp on the point and is smartly weaved out from the narration.

The bickerings are the best part. They elevate the momentum and Jenkins has captured the real essence of how a couple argues, and after picking you up and dropping you from the peak of this soothing tale, it melts down into an emotional moment that lets you float down the road rather than have a free fall. This subjective procedure of hers is carried on throughout the course of the feature by her, the quality is persistent. The magnitude of the exhilaration that this couple feels on taking such bold new steps is communicated clearly with the audience.

The movie, television and pop culture references imputed on the conversations works like a charm, it eases off the viewers and draws out the humor through it with fluidity. It has a buoyant script. Jenkins keeps giving it back as soon as you finish up your little packets of appetite. The emotionally fueled middle act leaves a long lasting impact on you where each explicitly written word on script foliates aptly into the screen. The guards of the characters are straight away down from the first frame of the feature. The awkwardness, pointing out the elephant in the room, the humbleness, these are the real gem of the feature.

The feelings that this complex family share is immensely pleasing to encounter. Giamatti brings out that typical "guy" from a couple especially when there is an argument. Actually, his character is much smarter and mature than we usually gets. And he fabricates it aptly on the screen. Hahn on the other hand is more moody and emotionally driven as she should be. Her portrayal is heartwarming and grows more and more on you as it ages on screen. Carter, Lynch and Shannon, the supporting cast are convincing too in their roles. It is accurately suffice. Jenkins is very well aware of each character's perspective.

She lets them put their points on table and gives the actors enough range and space to steal the moments on the screen. The narration is adaptive and gripping and even though it may not be metaphorical or poetic, it is certainly layered and competent enough to keep you hooked for its runtime. It keeps you busy with its screenplay that keeps enfolding into a much more juicier content than we ever expect it to be. Private Life might be private, but is still general, only the topic of discussion is different, the soul reasoning is meticulous and deeply gritty in this practical world.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

jeremyp

Oct 6, 2018

A depressing and jocular view of a couple's journey into fertility land. No heroes here, just regular folks trying to adjust to a world in which they have been cast childless, despite considering every possibility. This results in the severe test of their relationship, and the relationshipA depressing and jocular view of a couple's journey into fertility land. No heroes here, just regular folks trying to adjust to a world in which they have been cast childless, despite considering every possibility. This results in the severe test of their relationship, and the relationship of close friends, with some very bad decisions thrown in to the mix. It's done New York style, so the characters are rawer, more transparent, and feistier than middle America.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

movieducation

Oct 25, 2018

PRIVATE LIFE prohibits life in its narrative. Hahn and Giamatti are sore, emotionally undeveloped in opposition to parade of disappointments where the hope is cruelly situated. Insinuating to keep it real, barely connecting.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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