Private Life: A Netflix Gem!

Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn star in this terrific and emotionally-intense movie about a couple in their 40's trying to get pregnant.  It's one of those movies where I can't say much about the plot without spoiling it, but suffice it to say I think it's a terrific film and it will be in my Top 10 for the year! Rachel (Hahn) and Richard (Giamatti) have, up until recently, devoted their lives to their careers.  Now in their 40's, they want to have a baby, but both have fertility problems.  They have tried a few procedures and have considered adoption, but they are so far without success.  Richard, once a first-rate actor and manager of a theatre company, has been forced to earn a living by owning a pickle manufacturing company.  Rachel is putting the finishing touches on her novel, which is soon to be released.  Like any couple, they have some unresolved issues, but love and respect each other. Feeling a sense of desperation, their relationship becomes almost exclusively focused on getting pregnant, putting considerable strain on their marriage.  Living somewhat beyond their means and lacking funds, Richard borrows $10,000 from his brother Charlie (John Carroll Lynch) to pay for a procedure for Richard's "blocked" sperm, over the objection of Charlie's wife, Cynthia (Molly Shannon), who thinks the couple ought to accept reality and adopt a child.  You'll need to see the movie to find out what happens from there. The writer/director Tamara Jenkins has "given birth" to a unique film and gets great performances from the leads – in addition, her screenplay is my favorite of 2018!  The film is often funny, but it's basically a drama with very serious themes.  I think Jenkins must have known a couple that went through this intimately in order to create a film with such a ring of truth.  It's about as much of an "up-close-and-personal" glimpse of a private family dilemma as you can get.