Unflinchingly acted and offering a realistic look into a couple’s divorce, Marriage Story surprisingly balances comedy with the obvious sadness inherent in its story.
First things first: Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, as Charlie and Nicole, are incredible. From the quiet moments to the loud ones (including maybe the best couple-fighting scene on film), they are always believable as a couple who loves each other but is falling apart.
That’s the most refreshing part of Marriage Story: it doesn’t lose track of the love at the root of their marriage, making the split all the more heartbreaking for the viewer.
Noah Baumbach’s writing is strong as always here, fleshing out characters that feel real, with real hopes, dreams, and motivations. As you’re watching Marriage Story, you find yourself understanding the point of view of both Nicole and Charlie, and wanting the best for both of them.
Marriage Story‘s humor also shines through, thanks to Baumbach. Laura Dern and Ray Liotta are especially funny as Nicole and Charlie’s divorce lawyers. I never knew I needed to see Henry Hill from Goodfellas start an argument in a divorce court, but I’m sure glad I got it here.
Despite its humor and remarkable acting performances here, Marriage Story doesn’t leave us with anything we haven’t seen before from films like Blue Valentine. While strongly balancing humor and realism, Marriage Story ends about as I expected it would, leaving me slightly wondering what the point of it all was.
Still, this is one of the best written and acted films of the year, and if you have Netflix, is absolutely worth your time.
The Cast: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern, Ray Liotta
The Elevator Pitch: Kylo Ren and Black Widow get divorced.
The Score: 8.75/10
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