Final Rating: 3/5
Matthew Shear’s directorial debut Fantasy Life follows Sam (Shear) and Diane (Amanda Peet) in an awkward journey of self-discovery. Sam is a laid off paralegal who agrees to babysit Diane’s kids and inadvertently becomes their au pair. Diane is an actor whose career and life have seen better days.
Matthew Shear has a small resume as an actor in film, but many of those projects were directed by Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story, Mistress America, and While We’re Young, to name a few). There’s a definite veil of Baumbach’s style as a director and writer that can be found in Fantasy Life, which Shear also writes. It’s a very dialogue-laden film that spends less time on plot and action in favor of character beats and relationships. Save for a cliché dinner scene in the third act when truths come to light, there’s only the barest bones of tension, even if a scene may call for it.
With such a focus on the characters, the film requires steady actors and well-written dialogue, which this has. The entire cast–most of all, Amanda Peet–turn in strong performances and play off each other well. Sam struggles with panic attacks and “intrusive thoughts” while Diane tries to resurrect her acting career as she feels space separating her from her husband.
Sam is a very odd character. He’s introduced through a session with his doctor (Judd Hirsch) whom he tells about the aforementioned intrusive thoughts and how he feels he has “internalized anti-semitism”. The whole scene in that office is bizarre and, in light of the rest of the film, feels largely excessive–at least, the anti-semitic elements of it. That component doesn’t feel particularly relevant as the film progresses. Sam’s mental health is a significant component for his character, but the film doesn’t do as much with it as it could have.
Instead, as soon as Amanda Peet’s Diane enters the frame, the film is far more interested in her plight. Amanda Peet hasn’t been in a feature-length film since Sleeping with Other People in 2015. In the interim, she’s had multiple successful roles on television. Her performance in Fantasy Life is her best since Togetherness, a Duplass brothers television series. She’s the star of the film without question.
Diane is at odds with her husband David, a tightly wound Alessandro Nivola, in between trying to audition for new parts. Her connection to Sam is portrayed very naturally. He’s someone who hasn’t always felt included and valued. Now that he’s babysitting Diane and David’s kids, she notices him. They watch movies and TV together. He tries to help her film her audition tapes.
As Diane’s attention draws Sam out of his shell little by little, Sam’s attention elevates Diane. In his spare time he starts watching all the movies she’s been in. He sees her in a light that David no longer does. As straightforward as their relationship’s progression is, it’s equally as meaningful. Two adults–one finding value and one reclaiming it–grow as a unit in a way that they couldn’t have predicted.
The film spends so much time leaning on Diane’s side of the relationship, though, that it leaves Sam’s side, ironically, feeling less important. Things for Sam seem to change like flipping a switch, while Diane’s growth comes across more gradual and, therefore, rewarding.
Fantasy Life could have had stronger development for Sam and not fallen into the trap of the revealing dinner party. This being Shear’s first screenplay, there’s still a strong base to build from. As a director, it doesn’t feel like he’s found his identity yet. What he’s crafted in his debut is a solid film that may not stick with every viewer, but will likely be enjoyed.
Thank you to Route504 for the screener.
