Town & Country

Town & Country is a romantic comedy-drama film from 2001 that revolves around a group of rich, middle-aged friends who experience various issues in their relationships. The movie marks veteran actor Warren Beatty's return to the big screen after a hiatus of almost a decade. Directed by Peter Chelsom, the movie also stars Diane Keaton, Nastassja Kinski, and Goldie Hawn in prominent roles.

Beatty plays the role of Porter Stoddard, a successful architect who has been married to Ellie (Keaton) for 25 years. Although they have two grown-up children, it is clear that their marriage has lost its spark. Porter soon finds himself attracted to Eugenie Claybourne (Kinski), a charming cellist who lives in the same building as him. However, his attempts to pursue a relationship with her are hampered by his loyalty to Ellie and guilt over his infidelity.

Meanwhile, their friends are also grappling with their respective issues. Griffin (Gary Shandling) is openly cheating on his wife Mona (Hawn), and their son is in a relationship with a woman twice his age. Another couple, Mona's sister and her husband (Andie MacDowell and Matt Mulhern) have a strained relationship due to the husband's obsession with his mother's death.

As the story unfolds, the characters go through a series of misadventures that test their relationships and bring out their inner truths. Porter goes on a road trip with Eugenie, hoping to sort out his feelings for her, but ends up getting lost and encountering a strange, cult-like community. Ellie discovers Porter's infidelity and is devastated, but her distress is compounded by the fact that her father is gravely ill, and her son wants to drop out of college.

The movie explores themes of love, commitment, betrayal, and self-discovery. The characters are flawed but relatable, and their interactions are often funny, awkward, and poignant. The dialogue is sharp, and the performances are top-notch, particularly from Beatty and Keaton, who have great chemistry despite their characters' strained marriage.

However, the movie received mixed reviews from critics and was a commercial failure, grossing only a fraction of its $90 million budget. Many criticized the disjointed plot and unsatisfying resolution, while others praised the nuanced portrayal of middle-aged relationships. Nonetheless, Town & Country remains an interesting and unique entry in the rom-com-drama genre and a showcase for the talents of its veteran cast.