Hope Davis and Campbell Scott play married dentists in this insightful dramatic comedy from director Alan Rudolph (AFTERGLOW, DOROTHY PARKER AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE). Based on the novel THE AGE OF GRIEF by Jane Smiley, the story begins with husband David's suspicion that his wife (and mother of their three adorable daughters) is having an affair. The details of their family life and David's mounting suspicion are brilliantly evoked via overlapping dialogue, great editing, and masterful camerawork. David's jealous mind soars onto some hilarious flights of fancy and eventually caustic comedian Denis Leary turns up as his cigar-smoking alter-ego, expressing all the independent and antisocial traits David has tried so long to repress for the sake of his family. All of this culminates in a hilarious yet harrowing week when the family is hit by a flu virus.

SECRET LIVES' performances are very strong, with Scott proving himself an actor of great restraint and subtlety. The young actresses who play the daughters are uniformly talented, as is Robin Tunney (THE CRAFT) as a dental assistant. The lion's share of credit is due to director Rudolph, who is in top form with this film, displaying his mastery of the ensemble cast, camera, and audio tricks; Rudolph and his mentor, Robert Altman, are of the few directors capable of working with such perceptive, funny, and warmly human results.

Theatrical Release: AUGUST 1, 2003 (NY/LA)

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Gag Reel
Audio Commentary - 1. Alan Rudolph - Director
Featurette -1. Sundance Channel's Anatomy of a Scene
Deleted Scenes

Campbell Scott: American Actor, indie film director
Hope Davis: Actress
Denis Leary: American Comedian/Actor
Robin Tunney: Supporting Actress
Gianna Beleno: Actor, SECRET LIVES OF DENTISTS (2003)
Cassidy Hinkle: Actor, SECRET LIVES OF DENTISTS (2003)
Lydia Jordan: Actor, SECRET LIVES OF DENTISTS (2003)

Alan Rudolph: American Director/Screenwriter

George Van Buskirk: Producer, THE SECRET LIVES OF DENTISTS (2003)
Campbell Scott: American Actor, indie film director

David Newman: Screenwriter, worked with Robert Benton, BONNIE AND CLYDE
Alan Rudolph: American Director/Screenwriter

Gary DiMichele: Composer, SECRET LIVES OF DENTISTS (2003)

"...Intensely appealing....Mr. Rudolph employs a lightness of touch that's gracious in its generosity..."
"...THE SECRET LIVES OF DENTISTS is an excellent adaptation of a wonderful work of fiction that sheds light on the complexities and emotional truths of married life..."
"...Alan Rudolph sketches a portrait of a seemingly idyllic marriage with briskness, economy, wit and grace..."
"...A luminous specimen of independent filmmaking..."
"...Scott and Davis could not be better. You're in for something special..."
"...An astute dissection of marital crisis..."
"Wonderful family scenes, as the parents try to protect the kids from their own smash-up, and a remarkable sequence as everyone gets the flu."
"Scott and Davies' truthful performances are the film's pulse."
"Rudolph conjures up his distinctive mood of subtle yearning with gently probing camerawork....Enduringly affecting."