this be the type of four person drama that hardly make it to the big screen anymore and and indeed this 2001 movie originally air a an hbo film . adapt by donald margulies from his own pulitzer prize win play and the film document the unraveling relationship among two married couple who have be best friend for twelve year gabe and karen and a perceived model of professional success ( a renowned food writer ) and domestic stability while and the other and tom and beth and in a state of irreparable collapse . veteran filmmaker norman jewison ( whose last successful film be probably 1987 moonstruck and his italian american valentine to improbable romance ) have a prove track record for allow actor to inhabit character realistically in difficult situation . this movie prove he be still in peak form in this regard . the story begin with beth break the news to gabe and karen that tom have leave her . gabe and karen immediately take side and start to question the stability of their own relationship . in the meantime and tom be bask in the happiness of his new relationship with a young woman and even a his best friend have become judgmental about what they see a a vainglorious and selfish act from a husband and father of two . beth also go on to find a new lover but also face similar disapproval for move on too fast . although the film go into an extended flashback sequence to have u understand the genesis of their long standing friendship and the movie push forward the individual revelation of each principal in superbly execute scene drive by marguiles perceptive and sometimes clever dialogue . there be unexpected comedy element a well and for example and when a post meltdown beth blow her nose in the expensive placemat karen buy for her in italy . the actor shine most unexpectedly . i always think of andie macdowell a a rather flat but obviously lucky presence on the screen . here she finally seem closer in proximity to a real and flaw human be a karen . her character be the picture of image conscious perfection unable to tolerate and much less accept and disruption to her control existence . macdowell be still not a great actress and but at least she bravely reveal the unattractive underside of a character genuinely at a loss to deal with her best friend break up . a usual and toni collette nail her part perfectly a beth and show dimension of the wronged wife that be both surprising and viscerally honest . the real surprise in the cast and however and be the men . a tom and greg kinnear add substantive depth to his standard happy go lucky guy and do not come across a his usual likable scamp at the least . the standout may be dennis quaid a gabe and an assured performance from an actor who have not show this much introspection on screen before . in fact and he bring an almost fey quality to the early scene and then gain more heft a the uncomfortable situation come close to home . the most affecting scene be the one involve two of the character at a time in reveal exchange karen and beth discuss beth new lover over lunch and tom face gabe resentment and jealousy at the bar and gabe and karen reveal their tactic to avoid intimacy a they prepare for bed . give that quaid and macdowell play die hard foodie and there be plenty of shot of luxuriant food that any lover of the food network will savor . the film be beautifully shoot by cinematographer roger deakins and who use effective burnished amber tone for the flashback sequence . this be not for everyone and but the maturity of the drama and the top notch performance make this one most worthwhile .