The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby Review - 2 Stars

Jessica Chastain plays a young woman with an unfortunate name:  Eleanor Rigby.  The movie opens with a breathtaking act which I won’t reveal but which is explained for the rest of the story.  Originally shot as part of a two-part back to back story of a marriage through a woman’s view and through a man’s —“Eleanor Rigby”  also called “Them” combines the two tales into one long look at a failed relationship.  I found the characters hard to appreciate and that may be the result of combining the two viewpoints.  The very likeable James McAvoy spends most of his time trying to win back his wife who leaves him to move back in with the parents William Hurt and Isabelle Huppert.  I liked the interesting casting of Huppert as Chastain’s mother.  Most of the time, this story feels depressed as it should because it examines two people going through a depressing time.  Possibly the original idea of telling the story of “Him” and of “Her” could redeem this material.  But I left the screening wondering why I should care about these two.  Does it deliver what it promises?  A marriage fails with little hope.  Is it entertaining?  Not in the least.  Is it worth the price of admission?  I’m mixed but go if you want to view an interesting failure.