Marriage Story Review A Genuine Tale of Love & Heartbreak

Marriage Story Review: A Genuine Tale of Love & Heartbreak

Marriage Story is a poignant and heartbreaking portrait of love falling apart, fueled by powerhouse performances and a gripping screenplay.

You Are Reading :[thien_display_title]

Marriage Story Review A Genuine Tale of Love & Heartbreak

Divorce is a very personal topic for writer/director Noah Baumbach. Years after his 2005 film The Squid and the Whale, Baumbach is once again exploring the territory in highly intimate fashion via Netflix’s Marriage Story. While the streaming service has Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman generating plenty of buzz on the awards circuit, Marriage Story has been earning about as much praise since it premiered at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year and has emerged as a top contender in the Oscar race. Following a limited theatrical run, the film is now streaming on Netflix, giving cinephiles the opportunity to see it definitely lives up to the hype. Marriage Story is a poignant and heartbreaking portrait of love falling apart, fueled by powerhouse performances and a gripping screenplay.

Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson star in Marriage Story as Charlie and Nicole Barber, two parents going through a trying divorce. Nicole, an actress, moves to Los Angeles with the couple’s son Henry (Azhy Robertson) so she can film a television series, leaving Charlie in New York as he prepares his theater company for a Broadway play. Custody of Henry is the primary point of contention in the divorce proceedings, with Charlie desperate to have as much time as possible with his son so he can continue to be a loving father. With lawyers involved and things threatening to get messier, Charlie and Nicole attempt to reach a settlement that benefits all parties.

See also  Disney Kingdoms 10 Other Disney Park Attractions Which Could Inspire A Marvel Comic

Marriage Story Review A Genuine Tale of Love & Heartbreak

Marriage Story finds Baumbach’s craftsmanship in top form, particularly in regard to shot composition and scene construction. He’s able to visually convey pertinent information about his characters and what they’re feeling, designing striking images that immediately stand out (see: multiple instances of Charlie and Nicole being separated in the same frame). One can feel Baumbach’s in-depth connection to the material shine through onscreen (Marriage Story is partially based on his own experiences), which only makes the film that more touching and gut-wrenching. The emotion of the narrative is further elevated by Randy Newman’s beautiful musical score, which perfectly sets an affecting and melancholic mood that carries through the complete running time.

Stylistically, Baumbach presents Marriage Story almost as a stage play, smartly allowing his cast to command the viewer’s attention. Driver and Johansson both deliver bravura performances that rank among their career best, digging deep into Charlie and Nicole’s respective psyches with extremely naturalistic turns. At times, Marriage Story doesn’t feel like a scripted drama; there are multiple moments that ring true to real-life, capturing all the ups and downs of a relationship and the immense pain when it starts to collapse. Driver and Johansson deserve all the Oscar buzz they’re getting, but much credit also has to be given to Baumbach’s impeccable script. Through his writing, he’s able to portray both sides of the failed marriage equally, providing his leads with dynamic roles to sink their teeth into. Charlie and Nicole are essentially dual protagonists, which is one of the best things about Marriage Story and what makes it so achingly relatable for anyone watching.

See also  What Warcraft 3 Reforgeds Best Cheats Are (& What They Do)

Not to be outdone is the supporting cast, with Laura Dern leading the charge as Nicole’s divorce attorney Nora Fanshaw. She’s an absolute delight to watch, painting Nora as a cunning and tough lawyer who would be a legal opponent’s worst nightmare. Alan Alda and Ray Liotta are also memorable as Bert Spitz and Jay, two very different lawyers Charlie goes to for help with his case. The latter is hard-nosed and brash, while the former brings about a calming, soothing presence to the insanity of the situation. Both make the most of their limited screen time and are responsible for some key bits of levity to help balance out the undercurrent of sadness. Obviously, Driver and Johansson do the heavy lifting (with Robertson doing his part to help complete the film’s emotional backbone), but the whole ensemble is terrific.

Authentically depicting the mundane and explosive moments of life, Marriage Story ranks as one of the best films of 2019 and will surely find itself in the running for numerous accolades as awards season heats up (it’s already picked up multiple mentions ahead of its streaming date). December brings about some high-profile tentpoles that are garnering plenty of attention, though viewers should still make an effort to add Marriage Story to their Netflix queue and watch the deeply moving work Baumbach and his team delivered. Because everything about it is so genuine, the film may not always be the easiest watch (this packs heavy punches and isn’t light-hearted entertainment), but it’s a truly rewarding experience across multiple fronts.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/marriage-story-movie-reviews/

Movies -