Private Life (Tamara Jenkins)

[Stay Puft]

PRIVATE LIFE
Dir. Tamara Jenkins



IMDb page

[Stay Puft]

I watched this nearly back to back with Holofcener's The Land of Steady Habits. Not exactly comparable, but they're both observational dramas about upper middle class white New Yorkers, and I couldn't help but compare them in my mind. I found this one a lot more successful. Lots of good details (the "emotional scam" at the start of the film, which has nothing to do with the main plot involving their niece/egg donor, configures the ending, which features the best segue into credits this side of Let the Sunshine In). Great performances, too (Hahn and Giamatti are the draw, and deserve the accolades, but the supporting cast is just as strong; John Carroll Lynch steals the show during a pivotal scene). Jenkins has an engaging story here, providing a window into something I'm not familiar with, or knew little about. It didn't blow me away or anything but I enjoyed it and am glad I watched it.

A certified "hidden gem" c/o Netflix.

[Grouchy]

Not great, but definitively raises the bar for Netflix-produced dramatic comedies.