The Land of Steady Habits

The Land of Steady Habits is an engaging 2018 drama film directed by Nicole Holofcener that explores the human element of finding happiness, identity, and purpose. The film, a mix of comedy and drama, is based on a 2014 novel by Ted Thompson bearing the same title. The story’s setting is the Connecticut suburbs, also known as "The Land of Steady Habits".

Boasting an impressive cast, Ben Mendelsohn takes the lead as Anders Hill, a 60-year-old man who is caught in a mid-life crisis. Anders quits his finance job, divorces his wife (played by Edie Falco) and looks forward to living a worry-free life filled with freedom and endless opportunities. However, the reality of his decisions does not match the idyllic picture he’d envisaged.

After 30 years of maintaining steady habits of marriage and a career, Anders finds his new situation to be not as free-spirited and liberating as he originally thought. His son Preston (played by Thomas Mann), is an adult recovering from addiction, and there’s a lingering resentment towards him because of the abrupt changes he’s made. The audience becomes immersed in this familiar landscape of upper-class suburban life, where the long-term effects of impulsive behavior, and the true extent of the mess Anders has created, gradually become clear.

Ben Mendelsohn delivers a captivating performance as the troubled Anders. Mendelsohn is well-known for playing villains in Hollywood blockbusters, but in The Land of Steady Habits, he showcases a range of emotions in a father and a husband role, culminating in a character that's complexly human, flawed but relatively relatable. Anders is no saint, but Mendelsohn's portrayal gives him a depth that allows the audience to understand his predicament.

Director Nicole Holofcener, known for her sharp insight into human behaviour and relationships, masterfully brings the characters' tumultuous inner lives to the screen. She adeptly navigates the narrative through humorous moments, raw emotions, bitterness and hope, creating a story with shades of both comedy and drama. She manages to expose the character's vulnerabilities in conjunction with their resilience, thereby encouraging the audience to empathize with them despite their profound weaknesses.

Natalie Gold portrays Helene, Anders’ ex-wife who also struggles with their new circumstances. Gold gives an outstanding performance, showing Helene's determined effort to move on after the divorce while still dealing with a hard-to-break emotional bond. Thomas Mann as Preston, turns in a performance filled with convincing conflict and difficulty, as a son striving to find his way in an environment that’s in a state of flux due to the actions of his father.

The excellent supporting cast, including Charlie Tahan and Bill Camp, adds depth to this multi-layered narrative. The movie also does an excellent job of presenting the underbelly of affluence, showing that all that glitters is not gold and that the repercussions of impulsive choices create ripples affecting those around you.

Holofcener’s film gently addresses regret, refinement and personal redemption by embedding them in a series of intertwined relationships and circumstances. All characters in their own way have to grapple with changes, redefining their power structures, family dynamics and self-perception.

The Land of Steady Habits guides you through a journey of self-discovery tinged with despair, optimism, drama, and humor. Its exploration of a mid-life crisis and its ramifications paints a vivid picture of the human condition and our search for happiness and meaning. Despite the backdrop of upper-middle-class suburban life, the issues dealt with are universal and will resonate with many viewers.

This film urges the audience to re-evaluate their own life choices, underlining the need to understand the fine line between freedom and responsibility. The Land of Steady Habits is not just a film; it's a candid exploration of humanity, decisions, and their corresponding consequences in this thing we call life.