The Secret Lives of Dentists

2002 American film

The Secret Lives of Dentists

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Alan Rudolph
Screenplay by| Craig Lucas
Based on| The Age of Grief
by Jane Smiley
Produced by| George VanBuskirk
Campbell Scott
Starring| Campbell Scott
Hope Davis
Denis Leary
Music by| Gary DeMichele

Production
company

Holedigger Films

Distributed by| Manhattan Pictures International

Release dates

* September 9, 2002 (2002-09-09) (TIFF)
* August 1, 2003 (2003-08-01) (United States)

Running time

| 104 minutes
Country| United States
Language| English
Box office| $3,764,286[1]

The Secret Lives of Dentists is a 2002 drama film directed by Alan Rudolph. The screenplay was written by Craig Lucas, based on the novella The Age of Grief by Jane Smiley. It had its world premiere at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival and was subsequently screened at several other festivals, including Sundance and Cannes. It had a limited theatrical release in the United States on August 1, 2003.

The film won two awards from the New York Film Critics Circle, including Best Actress for Hope Davis and Best Screenplay for Craig Lucas.

## Plot

[edit]

David and Dana Hurst are dentists who are married with three daughters and share a dental practice in Westchester County, New York. Dana is in the chorus of a community opera production, and when David goes backstage to give her a good luck charm, he sees her in the arms of another man. As he contemplates how to handle this, he begins having imaginary conversations with a difficult former patient. When the whole family gets the flu, everything is brought to a head.

## Cast

[edit]

* Campbell Scott as David Hurst
* Hope Davis as Dana Hurst
* Denis Leary as Slater
* Robin Tunney as Laura
* Peter Samuel as Larry
* Jon Patrick Walker as Mark
* Gianna Beleno as Lizzie Hurst
* Lydia Jordan as Stephanie Hurst
* Cassidy Hinkle as Leah Hurst
* Adele D'man as Carol
* Kate Clinton as Elaine

## Critical reception

[edit]

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, The Secret Lives of Dentists has an approval rating of 85% based on 94 reviews. The critics' consensus states, "A witty and honest look at marriage in decay."[2] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 76 out of 100 based on 35 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[3]

In a three-star review, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote, "What you will find [here] is a film with an uncanny feeling for the rhythms of daily life, acted by Scott and Davis with attention to those small inflections of speech that can turn words into weapons", adding that "Scott is wonderful here in the way he shows his character caring for the family while coming apart inside."[4]

Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle gave a warm review, writing "Lucas' script captures the intimacy of marriage and the ways in which married couple can easily fall into a pattern of irritation and recrimination. The film presents a realistic and artful treatment of a subject not often dealt with in cinema -- and rarely with honesty. Davis and Scott respond with heartfelt, edgy performances."[5]

## Awards and nominations

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Year  | Group  | Award  | Nominee  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2004 | Independent Spirit Award | Best Supporting Female | Hope Davis | Nominated  |

[6]

2003 | NYFCC Award | Best Actress | Won[a] |

[7]

Best Screenplay | Craig Lucas | Won

### Notes

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1. ^ Also for American Splendor

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Secret Lives of Dentists". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
2. ^ "The Secret Lives of Dentists". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
3. ^ "The Secret Lives of Dentists". Metacritic. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
4. ^ Ebert, Roger (August 1, 2003). "The Secret Lives Of Dentists". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
5. ^ LaSalle, Mick (August 1, 2003). "FILM CLIPS / Also opening today". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 27, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
6. ^ ""In America," "American Splendor," and "Raising Victor Vargas" Top Nominees for 2004 IFP Independent". IndieWire. December 4, 2003. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
7. ^ "Rings wins US film critics' prize". BBC. December 16, 2003. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* The Secret Lives of Dentists at IMDb
* The Secret Lives of Dentists at Rotten Tomatoes
* The Secret Lives of Dentists at Box Office Mojo

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Alan Rudolph

* Premonition (1972)
* Nightmare Circus (1974)
* Welcome to L.A. (1976)
* Remember My Name (1978)
* Roadie (1980)
* Endangered Species (1982)
* Return Engagement (1983)
* Songwriter (1984)
* Choose Me (1984)
* Trouble in Mind (1985)
* Made in Heaven (1987)
* The Moderns (1988)
* Love at Large (1990)
* Mortal Thoughts (1991)
* Equinox (1992)
* Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
* Afterglow (1997)
* Breakfast of Champions (1999)
* Trixie (2000)
* Investigating Sex (2001)
* The Secret Lives of Dentists (2002)
* Ray Meets Helen (2017)

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