Movie of the Week: The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (Them)
Alexa: A little background for anyone not familiar with “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby” – the project originally screened as two separate movies, “Him” and “Her” versions told from the perspectives of Conor (James McAvoy) and Eleanor (Jessica Chastain) as their marriage falls apart after a tragedy. Director/writer Ned Benson subsequently stitched together scenes from both films into another version, “Them.” I remember being intrigued by the “Him” / “Her” approach when the films were first released, but sadly I only had time to watch one version this week, so I chose “Them” – and I was a bit underwhelmed. The movie is gorgeously shot and features remarkable performances from McAvoy and Chastain. Their haunting work alone is reason enough for anyone who appreciates nuanced acting to watch it. But at least in the “Them” cut, the story felt more familiar than I was expecting based on the buzz surrounding the film when it was on the festival circuit. Other than the acting, n...