Once again we have another New England Thanksgiving celebration, but I like to think of this movie as a kind of precursor to Mad Men, which takes a look at a time from the past, but with a cynical eye. It's 1973 and the free love attitudes of the 1960's are finally seeping into the upper class, and Kevin Kline and Joan Allen are an unsatisfied married couple who are attempting to brave the new waters. It examines the way gender roles were changing, but it also looks at how the kids (played by Toby Maguire and Christina Ricci) of these repressed parents are dealing with the cultural shift. It's a very well acted and directed movie by Ang Lee, who shows off his versatility by exploring a completely different genre, and it's perfect for this holiday because it all takes place over Thanksgiving weekend.
Original Trailer:
