Private Life
Netflix | Release Date: October 5, 2018
7.8
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 52 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
45
Mixed:
6
Negative:
1
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
10
froglegsOct 29, 2018
Why do brilliant directors get so little work? Tamara Jenkins didn't direct anything since The Savages which came out 2007 and was also really good. Just about every scene is a masterpiece.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
pomattovichOct 5, 2018
Tamara Jenkins’ long overdue return is a hilarious & devastating depiction of modern child conception. Kathryn Hahn is outstanding & Giamatti is the most on brand since Sideways. Great support from Molly Shannon and John Carrol Lynch as well.Tamara Jenkins’ long overdue return is a hilarious & devastating depiction of modern child conception. Kathryn Hahn is outstanding & Giamatti is the most on brand since Sideways. Great support from Molly Shannon and John Carrol Lynch as well. I love both of Jenkins' other two films and have long lamented her absence. She is so great at mining from life experiences that almost anyone can recognize and relate to, while still crafting carefully plotted stories filled with humor that never feels forced. Hopefully this will be a big hit and Netflix will give her a ton of money to make another film sooner rather than later! I love this film, I adore Jenkins and I hate that we've only gotten 3 films from her in 22 years.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
jeremypOct 6, 2018
A depressing and jocular view of a couple's journey into fertility land. No heroes here, just regular folks trying to adjust to a world in which they have been cast childless, despite considering every possibility. This results in the severeA depressing and jocular view of a couple's journey into fertility land. No heroes here, just regular folks trying to adjust to a world in which they have been cast childless, despite considering every possibility. This results in the severe test of their relationship, and the relationship of close friends, with some very bad decisions thrown in to the mix. It's done New York style, so the characters are rawer, more transparent, and feistier than middle America.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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4
movieducationOct 25, 2018
PRIVATE LIFE prohibits life in its narrative. Hahn and Giamatti are sore, emotionally undeveloped in opposition to parade of disappointments where the hope is cruelly situated. Insinuating to keep it real, barely connecting.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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7
LegendaryLassDec 14, 2018
There's a tone of middle-aged realism here that's both cozy and heartbreaking. It would be easy for the film to slip into depressed navel-gazing or an all-too-typical affair plot, but instead the film, like it's protagonists, puts one footThere's a tone of middle-aged realism here that's both cozy and heartbreaking. It would be easy for the film to slip into depressed navel-gazing or an all-too-typical affair plot, but instead the film, like it's protagonists, puts one foot in front of the other and keeps moving and is a touching journey to witness.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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9
justwibiOct 23, 2018
oh, it's so tender, truth, sweet, fun, hilarious & heartwarming! The cast was brilliant, it just feels so good watching it.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
amheretojudgeNov 5, 2018
with equal sincerity..

Private Life Jenkins's journey is quite out there, it doesn't flinch on exploring such a delicate subject, the honesty and the nakedness of it is what's poetic about this unusual family drama. Jenkins accounts in eachwith equal sincerity..

Private Life

Jenkins's journey is quite out there, it doesn't flinch on exploring such a delicate subject, the honesty and the nakedness of it is what's poetic about this unusual family drama. Jenkins accounts in each character with equal sincerity. Her mannerism is to respect the entire tale, no matter how small the character factors in on the bigger picture, she justifies their action by conveying their entire tale into a conversation. And the conversations are pragmatic, sharp on the point and is smartly weaved out from the narration.

The bickerings are the best part. They elevate the momentum and Jenkins has captured the real essence of how a couple argues, and after picking you up and dropping you from the peak of this soothing tale, it melts down into an emotional moment that lets you float down the road rather than have a free fall. This subjective procedure of hers is carried on throughout the course of the feature by her, the quality is persistent. The magnitude of the exhilaration that this couple feels on taking such bold new steps is communicated clearly with the audience.

The movie, television and pop culture references imputed on the conversations works like a charm, it eases off the viewers and draws out the humor through it with fluidity. It has a buoyant script. Jenkins keeps giving it back as soon as you finish up your little packets of appetite. The emotionally fueled middle act leaves a long lasting impact on you where each explicitly written word on script foliates aptly into the screen. The guards of the characters are straight away down from the first frame of the feature. The awkwardness, pointing out the elephant in the room, the humbleness, these are the real gem of the feature.

The feelings that this complex family share is immensely pleasing to encounter. Giamatti brings out that typical "guy" from a couple especially when there is an argument. Actually, his character is much smarter and mature than we usually gets. And he fabricates it aptly on the screen. Hahn on the other hand is more moody and emotionally driven as she should be. Her portrayal is heartwarming and grows more and more on you as it ages on screen. Carter, Lynch and Shannon, the supporting cast are convincing too in their roles. It is accurately suffice. Jenkins is very well aware of each character's perspective.

She lets them put their points on table and gives the actors enough range and space to steal the moments on the screen. The narration is adaptive and gripping and even though it may not be metaphorical or poetic, it is certainly layered and competent enough to keep you hooked for its runtime. It keeps you busy with its screenplay that keeps enfolding into a much more juicier content than we ever expect it to be. Private Life might be private, but is still general, only the topic of discussion is different, the soul reasoning is meticulous and deeply gritty in this practical world.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
jessicalaurenOct 11, 2018
Stark and sad, with bits of humor. I ached for this couple trying to conceive, trying to persevere one depressing setback after another. Their niece, young and idealistic and so naive, makes the perfect foil.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
MovieloverNikMay 20, 2021
Private Life works really well with some comedic Scenes and devastating scenes on the other. Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti deliver career best performances.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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9
Richard552Aug 12, 2022
like it's protagonists, puts one foot in front of the other and keeps moving and is a touching journey to witness
$1 to buy a Netflix account, Google search: vtvshare
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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