Directed by Noah Baumbach
Starring: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern
Rated R for language throughout and sexual references
Divorce is a tough topic that isn’t explored often in film too often. The only film that seriously explores divorce, to my memory, is “Kramer vs Kramer”. The film explores the life of a single father and shows how a messy divorce can have an effect on children. 40 years later, writer and director brings us “Marriage Story”, a film that shows how a divorce has an effect on a family and how messy it can get. Charlie (played by Adam Driver) is a successful New York director whose marriage to Nicole ( played by Scarlett Johansson), who is a actress, is crumbling. But when Nicole goes to Los Angeles for an acting role, she asks for a divorce from Charlie. The divorce shows how emotions can run high and cause a rift within the family.
“Marriage Story” has a stellar cast who give strong performances. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson possibly give their best performances of their careers. There are multiple scenes where each respective actors give it their all in conveying the emotions the characters are feeling. There is one particular scene where Driver and Johansson go at it in a screaming match. These two actors go back in forth only for the both of them to end the argument in tears. Not only do the actors beautifully put the words on the screenplay onto the screen, but they display the character’s emotions on the screen and made the audience feel sympathetic for them.
In addition to Driver and Johansson, Laura Dern and Ray Liotta also give strong performances. They both play lawyers who represent Nicole and Charlie, respectively, in the ensuing divorce. Dern’s character in particular evoked a mixed reaction from me because she seems to care at first about the situation, but she ends up being a typical lawyer that we often see in films. This is due to Dern’s strong acting as the lawyer who just wants to win and doesn’t seem to care how this is tearing people apart. On the other hand, Alan Alda is the lawyer for Driver’s character at first and is sweet but doesn’t seem to fight dirty. I certainly enjoyed Alda’s time on the screen and wished he would have been in the film much longer.
Noah Baumbach’s writing and directing also shine in the film. Baumbach brings out the best in each actor, not only through his direction, but from his screenwriting as well. Never have I felt so much compassion for two people as I did for Charlie and Nicole. It is saddening to see their marriage just crumble in front of our eyes and seeing how nothing, not even therapy, could save it. The screenplay is not only heartfelt, but it knows what to say at the right moment. There was never a dull moment in the film, the dialogue in the film keep everything on track and interesting.
“Marriage Story” is a film that perfectly shows the heartbreak and anger that comes with a divorce. The acting, directing, and writing are all top notch, as Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson give one of the best performances of the year. “Marriage Story” is a heart wrenching film that cannot be missed.
4/4
Edward's Film Reviews 