The Dinner

The Dinner is a 2017 drama film that boasts a compelling narrative driven by mystery and a thorough exploration of complex moral dilemmas. With a well-constructed script by Oren Moverman who also takes the director's seat, this provocative film has a stellar cast including Michael Chernus, Taylor Rae Almonte-Roman, Steve Coogan, Richard Gere, Laura Linney, and Rebecca Hall. The film astutely delves into a myriad of intersecting themes such as family dynamics, morality, privilege, mental illness, and how far parents are willing to go to protect their children.

The film’s setting focuses mostly around the dinner mentioned in the title, where two couples meet at a luxurious restaurant in order to discuss an urgent matter that involves their children. However, this seemingly ordinary dinner soon unveils layers of tension, bitterness, and resentment that spark intense confrontations and soul-searching discussions throughout the course of the night. As the high stakes and the eerie ambiance of the narrative unfolds, the audience is thrown into a whirlwind of suspense and anticipation.

Steve Coogan plays Paul Lohman, a former high school history teacher, who is haunted by his past and struggling with his mental health. The underrated charm of Coogan's performance adds depth to the character, turning Paul into an engaging, albeit flawed figure. Richard Gere takes on the role of a charismatic and machiavellian politician, Stan Lohman, Paul's brother. Michael Chernus delivers an impressive performance as Dylan, Stan's political advisor, a principled man caught in the middle of the unfolding family drama.

Opposite to these men, Rebecca Hall flawly exhibits the cold, practical Katelyn Lohman, Stan's wife who is unyielding and stringent, a woman steeped in the bourgeois lifestyle that comes with her husband's political career. Laura Linney, on the other hand, portrays Claire Lohman, Paul’s wife, who depicts a loving and dedicated mother with a certain ominousness lurking beneath her surface.

The relatively new yet promising talent, Taylor Rae Almonte-Roman, does justice to her role portraying a significant character related to the tense narrative, adding an indispensable layer of depth to the film's storyline.

The Dinner is a film that builds its narrative on social commentary and psychological complexities. The high-drama dialogue and increasingly tense atmosphere convey the impending doom that lurks beneath an otherwise formal family dinner. The clever use of flashbacks gradually reveals a sinister backstory, giving a new dimension to each character and outlining why each person at the table bears their individual agendas.

The movie's settings are artfully crafted, notably the elite restaurant where the dinner takes place, which exudes an atmosphere of opulence and artifice, both contributing to the narrative's escalating tension. The frustratingly capricious nature of the dinner, where courses are being horrendously stretched out by the restaurant's overly pretentious chef, amplifies the high-stakes atmosphere.

The Dinner is not a film that offers comforting solutions or easy answers but rather inspires introspection about ethical boundaries and familial ties. It is a showcase of masterful acting, a robust script, and patient filmmaking that constructs a tension-filled story from an ordinary situation.

In sum, The Dinner is a film showcasing layered characters, family dynamics, and ethical dilemmas. It mixes subtle satirical undertones with a serious narrative that keeps the audience at the edge of their seats. It's an engaging cinematic experience that demands attention and provokes thought long after the final credits roll. While it may delve into dark and uncomfortable places, it's a fascinating exploration of human nature that is sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers.