This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
10/11/2018 12:01 AMThe Netflix Original Film The Land of Steady Habits is the sixth feature film from writer-director Nicole Holofcener (Friends with Money and Enough Said). Adapted from the novel by Ted Thompson of the same name, The Land of Steady Habits takes place in Westport, Connecticut. It highlights the life of a middle-aged man struggling to find himself and the lives of affluent members of what was once his inner circle.
Ben Mendelsohn (The Dark Knight Rises and Ready Player One) stars as Anders Harris, a man who had an epiphany about his own unhappiness within the past year and essentially quit his life to start over again. Anders was a successful businessman in the world of finance who started to loathe the industry that had made him a wealthy man. He retired from his job, divorced his wife, and moved out of his family’s home to search for a deeper happiness.
When viewers begin following Anders’ story, he has been divorced from his wife Helene (Edie Falco of The Sopranos and Nurse Jackie) for six months and is attempting to keep himself busy by decorating his new condo. Anders left his old life behind to find a new happiness, but seems to be stuck in a sort of limbo—no longer connected to anyone or anything from his former life, but not yet established in his new one.
Feeling lost at a Christmas party thrown by old friends who have clearly chosen his ex-wife over him, Anders befriends a troubled, drug-addicted teenage boy named Charlie (Charlie Tahan of I Am Legend and Charlie St. Cloud). Theirs is an unlikely friendship, particularly since Anders struggles with his relationship with his own adult son, Preston (Thomas Mann of Project X and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl).
As the story progresses, Anders makes one bad decision after another. Although he didn’t like his old life, it seems as if he isn’t sure what he does like. He has little to do with his time, so he spends it making poor decisions that typically involve alcohol, drugs, and a whole lot of bizarre and antisocial behavior.
Mendelsohn gives a strong performance as Anders, a man who isn’t exactly likable nor completely unlikable either. The supporting cast is just as good, too, which is particularly important given that The Land of Steady Habits is largely a film about relationships. Watching The Land of Steady Habits is like watching a slow-moving train wreck and strangely being able to be simultaneously focused on each individual involved in the wreck.
In Addition:
Apostle is a horror film written and directed by Gareth Evans (The Raid: Redemption and Footsteps) set to debut on Netflix beginning Friday, Oct. 12. Set in 1905, it is the story of a man who is forced to set out on a dangerous mission to rescue his kidnapped sister who is caught up in a dangerous religious cult.
Also set to begin streaming on Netflix beginning Friday, Oct. 12 is the original film, The Kindergarten Teacher. Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight and The Deuce), The Kindergarten Teacher tells the story of a teacher who takes a peculiarly strong interest in the life of one of her students whom she views as a uniquely talented prodigy.
Available to stream on Friday, Oct. 19 is the new animated kids’ film Gnome Alone. Another Netflix Original Film, Gnome Alone is about a girl named Chloe who discovers that the garden gnomes at her family’s new house are alive. It includes the voice talents of Josh Peck (Family Guy and Drake & Josh) and Fallout Boy’s lead singer, Patrick Stump.