An excellently written, directed and acted story of social alienation and the emptiness of upward mobility. Written by Eleanor Perry (from the novel by Sue Kaufman) and directed by Frank Perry the film stars Carrie Snodgress as Tina Balser, the long-suffering wife of the obnoxious, pretentious, social-climbing Jonathan (Richard Benjamin). Living a horrendous life of quiet desperation she begins an affair with handsome poet George Prager (Frank Langella) only to find that he's just as callous and unfeeling as her husband. "Dairy of a Mad Housewife" is a superbly constructed story of middle class angst that works on a number of different levels - it is deals with everything from isolation within a marriage through to intellectual elitism and the pretentious need to wear the right clothes and be seen in the right circles. The Perry's manage to combines elements of black comedy, satire, drama and feminists critique, while leaving open the possibility that the whole thing could be in Tina's own mind. Frank Perry's direction is tight and economical, downbeat for the most part but building to powerful climax. The acting is first class throughout - the Oscar nominated Carrie Snodgress is sensationally good in a difficult role, her anger and frustrations bubbling beneath a veneer of domestic compliance; Richard Benjamin is obnoxiously perfect as the ultra-critical, verbally-abusive, socially-obsessed husband and Frank Langella as the poet is the epitome of ugly self-centredness. "Dairy of a Mad Housewife" works exceptionally well thanks to the highly controlled script and the measured direction. The characters and situations are well developed, with the film employing clever nuance and allusion to deliver its story and message. Although the end of the film doesn't deliver a pat resolution, it offers a very true ending that puts real perspective on everything that's gone before. A brilliant, perceptive film that deserves to be much better known than it is. ( )