Starring Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, and a Stellar Ensemble Cast
Cinema Review: The Roses
Director Jay Roach (Bombshell, Trumbo) returns to the forefront of cinema with The Roses, a darkly comedic and emotionally charged reimagining of Warren Adler’s classic novel. Starring Academy Award winner Olivia Colman and Emmy winner Benedict Cumberbatch, the film presents a gripping portrait of a power couple whose seemingly perfect life disintegrates into a vicious battle of ambition, ego, and emotional unraveling.
Set in a world of contemporary success and sleek suburban wealth, The Roses follows Ivy (Colman), a rising star in her profession, and Theo (Cumberbatch), a once-acclaimed architect struggling to remain relevant. As personal and professional pressures mount, the couple’s marriage transforms into a modern-day warzone, exposing the fragile seams of love under the weight of individual ambition.
Colman is magnetic as Ivy—balancing fierce determination with moments of poignant vulnerability—while Cumberbatch delivers a nuanced performance filled with both quiet despair and explosive frustration. Andy Samberg adds sharp wit as a calculating colleague, and Allison Janney is razor-sharp as Ivy’s brutally honest confidante.
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Roach’s direction brings cinematic precision and emotional intelligence to Tony McNamara’s (The Favourite) screenplay. McNamara’s dialogue swings effortlessly between biting satire and devastating realism, offering a sharp dissection of modern relationships. Rodrigo Prieto’s cinematography elevates the film visually, using stark contrasts between the couple’s lavish surroundings and the psychological claustrophobia of their unraveling bond.
While nodding respectfully to the 1989 classic The War of the Roses, this adaptation confidently stands on its own, swapping ’80s decadence for today’s anxieties around gender roles, personal fulfillment, and societal expectations. The result is a story both timeless and urgently current.
The Roses is not just a marital drama—it’s a cinematic spectacle that forces viewers to confront the cost of success and the myth of perfection. With its outstanding performances, sharp writing, and lush visual storytelling, this film stands out in 2025.
Release Date: August 29, 2025 – In cinemas worldwide.
Directed by: Jay Roach
Screenplay by: Tony McNamara
Produced by: Jay Roach, Michelle Graham, Adam Ackland, Leah Clarke, Ed Sinclair, Tom Carver
Cast: Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Kate McKinnon, Ncuti Gatwa, Zoë Chao
CWEB News Rating: 4.5/5 – A cinema triumph that cuts deeper than thorns.
