Marriage Story
3.5/4
Starring: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Azhy Robertson, Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta
Rated R for Language Throughout and Sexual References
When "Marriage Story" begins, the union of Charlie (Driver) and Nicole (Johannson) is already over. Nicole is more certain about it than he is, even though she has trouble articulating why she gave up trying to save it. Charlie is still stuck in surreal mode. Initially, they try to keep things as simple as possible and avoid bringing lawyers into the equation. After all, they don't have much money or possessions and neither wishes to make trouble for the other. Of course, reality sets in and things get ugly very quickly. Certainly to an extent that neither of them anticipated. Or wanted.
In this story, there are no villains. That's what gives the film its power. Charlie and Nicole are not bad people and they love each other very much. But they need things from each other that their spouse can't, or is unwilling, to provide. So the decision to divorce is wrenching for both of them on a personal level. That they are put through the wringer emotionally and financially makes the situation that much worse. We feel for them because we know they feel for each other.
This film is all about Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson. Both are terrific actors and neither has ever been better. Charlie is a rising star in the avant garde theater scene and Nicole is an actress who left stardom to be his muse. Both have their flaws (he has tunnel vision as far as his relationship with Nicole goes and she is more than a little self-centered, and they both have stubbornness issues), but they don't want to hurt the other. But divorce always brings pain for its participants, especially when ambitious lawyers become involved. Notable supporting performances are given by Laura Dern as Nicole's hyper ambitious lawyer, Alan Alda as Charlie's more laid back attorney and a frightening Ray Liotta as a tough lawyer who acts like he's prosecuting OJ Simpson.
The film has its share of brittle humor to keep things from becoming too grim. The scene where Charlie and Nicole become pawns in a proxy war between their attorneys is both laugh aloud funny and truthful in the ways that it shows how ambition and the need to "win" can cause a lot of unnecessary pain.
But the film's biggest scene comes after that when Charlie and Nicole try to work things out themselves after mutually agreeing that their lawyers are going too far. From a writing and acting standpoint, the scene is an absolute triumph. It forces Driver and Johannson to use all of their talents as they show the complete arc of a vicious argument. From bringing up the past to hurling insults at each other, the scene is impossible to turn away from. This single scene, which was fully written, virtually guarantees that Driver, Johansson and Noah Baumbach will get Oscar nominations for this film. And perhaps a win.
I understand that writer/director Noah Baumbach drew on personal experiences to make this film. It is based on his split from actress Jennifer Jason Leigh. He also sought advice from his actors (all of whom have experiences with the subject) and divorce attorneys for the screenplay. That makes sense. This film has the ring of truth that comes from someone who not only has skill but intimate knowledge of divorce and the wreckage it causes. I don't know how closely it mirrors his own divorce, but he is willing to reopen old wounds to make this film feel authentic. It pays off tremendously.
Flaws are few and easy to overlook. Some scenes last too long (such as the song Charlie sings at the end) while others, such as his experience with a social worker, are never capitalized on. All things considered, they are not noticeable and do little to hurt the film's strengths. This is one of the year's best films.
Starring: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Azhy Robertson, Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta
Rated R for Language Throughout and Sexual References
All you need is love.So spoke John Lennon. Ah, if only that were true. Maybe the divorce rate wouldn't stand at about fifty percent. Love, or lack thereof, isn't the problem for the two lead characters in this movie. That's probably why their split is so painful for them.
When "Marriage Story" begins, the union of Charlie (Driver) and Nicole (Johannson) is already over. Nicole is more certain about it than he is, even though she has trouble articulating why she gave up trying to save it. Charlie is still stuck in surreal mode. Initially, they try to keep things as simple as possible and avoid bringing lawyers into the equation. After all, they don't have much money or possessions and neither wishes to make trouble for the other. Of course, reality sets in and things get ugly very quickly. Certainly to an extent that neither of them anticipated. Or wanted.
In this story, there are no villains. That's what gives the film its power. Charlie and Nicole are not bad people and they love each other very much. But they need things from each other that their spouse can't, or is unwilling, to provide. So the decision to divorce is wrenching for both of them on a personal level. That they are put through the wringer emotionally and financially makes the situation that much worse. We feel for them because we know they feel for each other.
This film is all about Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson. Both are terrific actors and neither has ever been better. Charlie is a rising star in the avant garde theater scene and Nicole is an actress who left stardom to be his muse. Both have their flaws (he has tunnel vision as far as his relationship with Nicole goes and she is more than a little self-centered, and they both have stubbornness issues), but they don't want to hurt the other. But divorce always brings pain for its participants, especially when ambitious lawyers become involved. Notable supporting performances are given by Laura Dern as Nicole's hyper ambitious lawyer, Alan Alda as Charlie's more laid back attorney and a frightening Ray Liotta as a tough lawyer who acts like he's prosecuting OJ Simpson.
The film has its share of brittle humor to keep things from becoming too grim. The scene where Charlie and Nicole become pawns in a proxy war between their attorneys is both laugh aloud funny and truthful in the ways that it shows how ambition and the need to "win" can cause a lot of unnecessary pain.
But the film's biggest scene comes after that when Charlie and Nicole try to work things out themselves after mutually agreeing that their lawyers are going too far. From a writing and acting standpoint, the scene is an absolute triumph. It forces Driver and Johannson to use all of their talents as they show the complete arc of a vicious argument. From bringing up the past to hurling insults at each other, the scene is impossible to turn away from. This single scene, which was fully written, virtually guarantees that Driver, Johansson and Noah Baumbach will get Oscar nominations for this film. And perhaps a win.
I understand that writer/director Noah Baumbach drew on personal experiences to make this film. It is based on his split from actress Jennifer Jason Leigh. He also sought advice from his actors (all of whom have experiences with the subject) and divorce attorneys for the screenplay. That makes sense. This film has the ring of truth that comes from someone who not only has skill but intimate knowledge of divorce and the wreckage it causes. I don't know how closely it mirrors his own divorce, but he is willing to reopen old wounds to make this film feel authentic. It pays off tremendously.
Flaws are few and easy to overlook. Some scenes last too long (such as the song Charlie sings at the end) while others, such as his experience with a social worker, are never capitalized on. All things considered, they are not noticeable and do little to hurt the film's strengths. This is one of the year's best films.
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