The Land of Steady Habits

Perhaps as a middle-aged man, I can relate to the main character a bit better than some other reviewers. I liked the setting of the movie. It did not show the happily ever after situation where most movies end. Instead, we see the results of a failed marriage. A lonely, broken man who wonders where it all went wrong. We did not need flashbacks of the past that much, just the situation which the main character was. It was also apparent that he had failed as a father as well and tried to become one a tad bit late.

In fact, the main character tries so hard to pick up the pieces of his lost life and ends up with some decisions that might sound unrealistic to some others, but if you know someone who has suddenly changed their life in middle-age, it sounds about right.

Someone had criticized the movie because it was about rich people problems. True enough, the setting was Hollywoodish. For example: I had a laugh when a specific apartment was described as "small". Despite that, I felt this was about people, not about wealth. What I was hoping was a bit stronger ending, somehow the "climax" of the story was a bit weak emotion-wise.

All in all, a movie worth watching for. And if you're a bit older than the average superhero movie fan, you might actually enjoy this quite a bit.

I enjoyed it. Didn't check my phone once while watching it. No plot, per se. Low-key family drama, slightly hollow and cliche in spite of what it tries to be. I liked it particularly because I can relate. I grew up 30 minutes from where the movie was filmed, and I have a relative who lives in Westport. Each character reminds me of at least one person I know in real life-it's a very real movie about real problems. Interesting because there is no overt moral to the story but rather a vicarious lesson in how relationships and pain are inextricable.

This is not a movie for everyone. The characters are flawed and that's what makes them real. We do certain things in life without any reason. And that's what happens in this movie and that's what people are criticising but it is also that thing that made me like this movie. Not all characters are free of fault and the ones who look like the victims are equally to be blamed for everything that happened in the movie. I haven't read the novel but the movie is making me want to pick it up. Anders(played by the brilliant Ben Mendelsohn) has taken an early retirement but decorating his house and sleeping with strangers is not bringing him the happiness he expected to find after cutting ties with his old life. Even if you can't relate to his story, you'll be able to relate to him. I know Netflix has been failing in the action and romantic movie genres but in my opinion, they're not doing so bad in drama movies.

I've read enough reviews stating things like 'no one to root for' and that the film is slow. I basically view both types of opinions on this film as coming from those that are the type of audiences that enjoy the endless Marvel/Star Wars drivel; where the action and pace is non-stop and unnatural and where cliche characters are everyone's favorite.

This film has solid natural pacing, and it is slow yet befitting the theme, so those that have an attention span and are in the right mood for such a film should give it a go. The film, as the synopsis says, is about a divorcee (Mendelsohn) that feels lost after the end of his marriage and abandoning his career - as most people would. Married to this sense of aimlessness is poor decisions which ultimately lead to a sort of redemption with those that ultimately matter. Mendelsohn is great as always and the supporting cast is solid. Avoids usual structure of films that many are unfortunately acclimated to that result in a firework worthy crescendo. A film about a man's life that is upside down in this regard isn't an edge of your seat film, complete with heroes and action scenes; some people really need to take the thirty seconds to read a synopsis and think (if possible) for another thirty seconds if that film is up their alley.

Bottom line: Solid movie, slower pace yet befitting of themes involved, and solid performances. Soundtrack is a dud. Those that did enjoy the movie and are readers should check out the book that preceded it.

People giving this film a review of 1-5 are trolls. Nothing good going on in their lives. This movie is real with real life situations. Slow? Sure....but it's honest. IMbD has lost loads of integrity with these terrible reviews.