The War of the Roses 1989

Harvard Law student Oliver Rose, played by Michael Douglas, encounters Barbara, portrayed by Kathleen Turner, when they both vie for the same antique at an auction. Their immediate chemistry quickly blossoms into passion, leading to a relationship that culminates in marriage and the growth of their family, complete with two children and a spacious home in Washington, D.C. As the years roll on, Oliver devotes himself to climbing the corporate ladder and accumulating wealth, while Barbara tirelessly transforms their house into a pristine sanctuary filled with material possessions.

However, as their children prepare to leave for college, Barbara begins to feel a sense of emptiness, reflecting on the sacrifices she made for her family. She develops resentment towards Oliver’s overwhelming dedication to work, his controlling demeanor, and his unawareness of her emotional struggles. In pursuit of independence, she starts her own catering business.

When Oliver experiences a serious health scare, suspected to be a heart attack, he pours his hidden feelings into a love note for Barbara in case he doesn’t make it. Yet, upon his return home, an unbothered Barbara, instead of showing concern, reveals that the thought of him dying brought her joy and a feeling of freedom. She candidly admits her contempt for Oliver and expresses her desire for a divorce. Realizing the gravity of their situation, Oliver reluctantly concurs.

In a meeting with Barbara’s lawyer, the atmosphere thickens as she declares her desire for nothing more than the house and its furnishings. The lawyer seizes Oliver’s note, arguing that he owes Barbara everything, deepening the rift. While Barbara feels pangs of regret for sharing the letter, Oliver aggressively insists he will never let her have the house. Stuck at home, he exploits a legal loophole suggested by his less-than-reputable colleague Gavin d’Amato.

As attempts to reconcile crumble due to his adamant refusal to acknowledge any wrongdoing, Oliver tries to bribe Barbara with cash in exchange for the house—a move she spurns as she begins to flirt with Gavin for support. Facing the reality of his situation, Gavin counsels Oliver to concede and move on, prompting Oliver to dismiss Gavin as his lawyer.

After an unfortunate incident where Oliver accidentally runs over Barbara’s cat, tensions escalate. Barbara retaliates by trapping him in the sauna to suffocate. Their toxic relationship hits a new low when Oliver interrupts one of Barbara’s client dinners, leading to a humiliating spectacle where he urinates on their food, which sparks a violent confrontation that ravages both the furnishings and their memories, including the cherished antique that first connected them.

While their children embark on their college journeys and their housekeeper Susan departs, Oliver and Barbara are left alone, brewing further animosity. During a tense dinner invitation that Barbara extends, her desperation clashes with Oliver’s refusal to face reality, resulting in Barbara’s chilling remark about using their dead dog for a dish. In a fit of chaos, they physically assault each other, ultimately reaching a climactic moment in the attic as Barbara attempts to loosen the chandelier to drop it on Oliver.

When Susan innocently enters, she is met with a chaotic scene of their intense conflict, prompting her to seek help from Gavin. By the time he arrives, their feud has escalated to hanging precariously from the chandelier, creating an impactful scene where Oliver confesses that, despite their tumultuous relationship, he has always loved Barbara. However, her silence signifies the finality of their estrangement. The chandelier’s cable gives way, dropping them to the ground. In their last moments, as Oliver reaches out to Barbara, she vigorously pushes his hand away, thus sealing their fate with a haunting declaration of hatred even in what appears to be death.

After recounting the tumultuous saga of the Roses to a new client, Gavin presents two paths: pursue a generous and quick divorce to facilitate rebirth, or return and remember the love that once bound. With the client departing, Gavin, transformed by the Roses’ experiences, takes a moment to call his wife, voicing his love and intent to return home.