I love complex films like this that instead of blantantly telling the audience important information like we're to stupid to comprehend it, they use the dialogue between and the expressions of their characters to hint at or suggest something then let the audience perceive it in any way they wish. It makes the film tighter and more complex.

Every actor does a terrific job expressing their emotions as well as subtle hints of character development. Mark Ruffalo's hint of guilt makes his character a bit compassionate; like he's a bastard for cheating on his wife, he knows he is, but he just can't stop. Whether you're compassionate towards him or just see him as a bastard, you understand his pain. Naomi Watts plays her character with enough remorse that you feel just about the same. Laura Dern, the standout of the film, is probably the most complex of these four characters. She loves her husband, but cheats because she wants to feel something that she just can't feel with her husband but still manages to want to go back to him and strive to make it work. Peter Krause, who sadly isn't given enough screen time, gives some subtle hints that you get at least a small idea of the situation he's in. I was disappointed that Naomi Watts and Peter Krause don't have enough screen time together. Don't get me wrong, Dern and Ruffalo are the strength of the film provide most of the film's memorable moments, but I wanted to see more from Watts & Krause; I wanted to see their characters evolve as much as Dern & Ruffalo. I wanted to watch their chemistry grow more and develop and I wanted more of understanding of their relationship as well as a look at the infidelity from Watts or Krause's perspective, but the film does'nt have many moments of their characters together.

Still, this is a very interesting character study that is well written with amazing dialogue and well acted by amazingly underrated actors.