Marriage is a hard, yet beautiful thing. For me, my marriage is probably the one thing in life I’m most proud of. Perhaps, I’m old-fashioned in the desire to be married. I’m like that of like Robbie Hart in that way - having a desire birthed within me to spend my life with someone. I’ve had the joy of being married to my wife for the better part of almost six years now. I will say that it has been the best years of my life. Though, it hasn’t been without sacrifice and work. Isn’t it within sacrifice and work, though, that true happiness lies?
In the weeks leading up to our wedding, I had countless people aiming to discourage me away from marriage. To be fair, their relationships weren’t always steady and several of their own marriages ended in divorce. Divorce almost seems like this societal normal now. Once again that’s where my old-fashioned soul comes in. I knew from the moment I stood across from my wife that I would marry her. Our marriage story is even weirder than that. However, that is neither here nor there. I’m convinced that no one ever enters into marriage with the goal of divorce. Life happens and multiple different roads can lead us directly to the doors of the divorce attorney.
Divorce is hard on more parties past just the marriage ending. That is the backdrop to the latest film from Noah Baumbach. Marriage Story chronicles the divorce process of Nicole (Scarlett Johannsen) & Charlie (Adam Driver). Marriage Story is raw, passionately delivered and brutally honest. Though, it doesn’t get there overnight. The film has a slow burn charm to it. Though it quickly lays the foundation of the marriage at hand, thanks to a brilliant duel, opening narrative from Johannsen & Driver. Honestly, it’s hard to know who shines better Driver or Johannsen – they feed off one another’s’ brilliance so well. Both performances feel like a cycle of memorization just being funneled from one person to another. For as surface level as Marriage can feel at times, Driver & Johannsen equally bring a haunting level of depth to the roles.
Writer-director, Baumbach, manages to captivate audiences through a very humanistic story. The nature of how Baumbach manages to unfold his story is a beautiful practice unto itself. Delivering a simplistic desire for a couple to divorce quietly at first but demonstrating the reality of its ugliness the deeper you go. Baumbach conveys a portrait of real humanity. That perhaps maybe the most endearing quality of Marriage Story – its depth, honesty and humanity. Even in the midst of agony, that divorce brings, Baumbach manages to carry some humor. The humor takes the level of humanity and gives Marriage an even deeper, more human story. Reminding viewers that even when life looks terrible, there is still something to laugh about or to find joy in.
There is no performance within Marriage Story that is ever wasted. Even co-stars like Laura Dern & Ray Liotta deliver electrifying performances. The very little use of such seasoned actors is astonishing. Yet, Dern and Liotta both make an impact as the divorce attorneys. Once again, that pours into the strength of Baumbach’s script. Divorce can be an agonizing experience. Though, it affects more than the parties at the center. It can affect children, families and friends as well. Marriage manages to brilliantly showcase just how deep the roots of divorce can go. It’s very subtle in its delivery. However, it is within that depth that lies the only real issues for the film. There are a couple of sequences that tend to linger. Bringing nothing to the larger narrative but also halting the story. They are far and few between, but they do exist.
Overall, Marriage Story, is a powerful story of humanity. Writer-director, Noah Baumbach, manages to create a raw, powerful and brutally honest atmosphere about the realities of divorce. This film is home to powerfully moving performances from Adam Driver & Scarlett Johannsen, both of which feed off each other with utter intelligence. Driver & Johannsen create a cycle of memorization, in which manages to feed off one another with ease and impact. Marriage Story has a level of simple sophistication that grows with the story and its depth. Baumbach’s script and vision for humanity grows uglier, yet more beautiful with the endearing performances from every actor that graces the screen. There are a few moments in which the Story can drag but they are small sins not worthy of attention. Marriage Story is an intimately honest and powerful.
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