The Secret Lives of Dentists **½ (2002, Campbell Scott, Hope Davis, Denis Leary, Robin Tunney) – Classic Movie Review 13,311

Alan Rudolph’s toothsome 2002 film The Secret Lives of Dentists is based on the novel The Age of Grief by Jane Smiley, and stars Campbell Scott, Hope Davis, Denis Leary, and Robin Tunney.

Alan Rudolph’s 2002 film The Secret Lives of Dentists is based on the novel The Age of Grief by Jane Smiley, and stars Campbell Scott, Hope Davis, Denis Leary, Robin Tunney, and Peter Samuel.

While introverted dentist Dave Hurst (Campbell Scott) is at home cheerfully caring for his three young daughters, his dentist wife Dana (Hope Davis) grabs a chance to sing with an opera company and Dave soon finds she’s having a fling with one of its members. Troubled Dave then fantasises conversations with a tricky patient, musician Slater (Denis Leary).

The confusing fantasies and dreams make a cavity in the intriguing toothsome drama, but the gaps are filled by excellent turns from Scott and Davis, which greatly help to make Alan Rudolph’s film worthwhile.

The screenplay is by Craig Lucas.

The New York Film Critics Circle awarded it Best Actress for Hope Davis and Best Screenplay for Craig Lucas.

Its premiere at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival was followed by a limited US cinema release on 1 August 2003.

The cast

The cast are Campbell Scott as David Hurst, Hope Davis as Dana Hurst, Denis Leary as Slater, Robin Tunney as Laura, Peter Samuel as Larry, Jon Patrick Walker as Mark, Gianna Beleno as Lizzie Hurst, Lydia Jordan as Stephanie Hurst, Cassidy Hinkle as Leah Hurst, Adele D’man as Carol, Kate Clinton as Elaine, Kathleen Kinhan, Sara Lerch, and Lori Mirabal.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,311

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