Marriage Story - 2019
In some ways, Marriage Story is the hardest film to recommend to you. It's not glitzy or glamorous. It's not particularly suspenseful or filled with twists. It's talky and limited in scope. It's not full of great costumes or grand set designs. Yet, what it is, in fact, is sturdy as an oak. What it is is somehow beautiful and deeply human, even as its subjects' lives undergo devastating transformation.
Marriage Story is a tale about the disintegration of a couple's relationship. So, why in the world should you see it? Well, let's start with this: This film stars three of the strongest acting performances of the year. Or, how about this: Noah Baumbach's screenplay is a clinic in fantastic writing. Watch it for Laura Dern's no-nonsense attorney (even if her portrayal is a bit too much like her Renata from HBO's Big Little Lies). Watch it for Scar Jo, who drastically raised my respect for her as a dramatic actress in the course of this picture. Finally, tune in to Adam Driver - the big man with an even bigger heart.
Speaking of heart, this film has it in spades. Indeed, it is the remarkable humanity and excessive grace that Baumbach imbues the story with that makes for such a compelling viewing. It's a story about heartbreak, yet he chooses to begin it with two absolutely fantastic monologues. Words, in this case, read as voice overs delineating all of the many idiosyncrasies that they cherish and love about one another. These kind words hang over the entire narrative and are brought back around at the film's conclusion. This symmetry with which the director chooses to paint his portrait of the couple's entire history is simultaneously poignant and crushing.
Finally, if I can borrow a term from the world of music, what makes Marriage Story such grand filmmaking is its dynamics. The film's general tone is rather muted. We get the sense that SO much tension and conflict is brewing under the surface of these characters, yet Baumbach allows the tale to simmer. While tears do fall, far more of their actions are calm, calculated, and often feature inexpressive facial features. That is until about 2/3 of the way through the picture when it all comes rushing out in one of the realest fight sequences I've ever observed. The acting in that scene is impeccable, and Baumbach's writing is somehow such that even as they're saying these horrid things to one another, we're well aware of just how much they've cared. It's a top 5 scene of the year, and this top 5 film has more than a few grand flashes.
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