Communication in Marriage

Film Review # 100437

Communication > Interpersonal
Film > Analysis, Criticism, Etc.

A look at the importance of communication in marriage through an analysis of the movie 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith', written by Simon Kinberg.

974 words () | 4 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that the couple in the movie, 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' believed they knew each other, but even after six years of marriage, they didn't really know each other. In fact, the writer points out that they are both paid killers for different firms but neither one of them knew this about the other. The writer maintains that the movie does a good job of showing the problems a couple can have in their marriage. Further, the writer notes that the moral value of this movie is that couples must develop communication skills where they share their feelings and the ability to have empathy for one another is important in marriage.

From the Paper:

"The setting of the movie begins with the couple being in marriage counseling. When the movie first starts, John Smith (Brad Pitt) and Jane Smith (Angelina Jolie) are attending marriage counseling. While once they found themselves madly in love, after six years they are struggling. Part of the problem is that they hide their feelings especially anger toward one another. The writer focuses on the problems the couple has and then they escalate when they discover they are on opposite teams. Their inability to communicate openly with one another from the beginning has now turned to anger with the desire to kill one another. The writer does a good job at portraying the feelings of the couple."

Sample of Sources Used:

Beam, Joe. "Six Rules for Good Communication in Marriage and Families." Nov 18, 2006. <http://www.familydynamics.net/Communication.htm>.
Brodman, Janet. "Hidden Messages." Good Housekeeping 242.4 (Apr 2006), 152.
Liman, Doug. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith." (2005).
Sanford, Keith. "Communication During Marital Conflict: When Couples Alter Their Appraisal, They Change Their Behavior." Journal of Family Psychology 20.2 (2006), 256-265.