When I first saw the trailer for Marriage Story last year I knew it was going to be a good film. My gut feeling was confirmed when it started garnering Oscar buzz and favorable reviews last December for its riveting storytelling and its powerful performances by its lead actors, Adam Driver, and Scarlett Johansson. I finally watched it yesterday and I have to say, it was pretty spectacular.

Marriage Story is everything you’d expect it to be; a depressing film about a couple who are dealing with the hardships of divorce, but what I found the most surprising about this movie was its strong attention to detail and sense of humor.

Every scene is permeated with a feeling of hilarious realism as the whirlwind of having a divorce slowly breaks down these characters, Nicole (Johansson) and Charlie (Driver) until they’re red in the face and screaming at one another in a thin-walled apartment complex.

The music, when it is heard, fills each scene with a sense of effervescent solemnity that gives the movie a distinct feel. The writing by Noah Baumbach is top-notch brilliant, digging deep into the meat of these characters without ever feeling exposition-heavy or like you’re obtaining small details that you don’t need.

And Adam and Scarlett are a match made in heaven. No, I never thought Black Widow and Kylo Ren himself could come together to be a believable married couple who have to split up with one another but yes, they did, and it was great casting. Continue reading ‘Marriage Story’ Is a Really Good Movie →