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People Change and Feelings Change...Life in Marriage And Marriage In Life....
-
Jan 9, 2011
- by woopak_the_thrill
- posted in Movie Hype
Rating:
Love and Marriage. Life and Marriage. How about life and love in marriage? We’ve all heard the stories; why some couples make it and some don’t. I guess I would be lying if I said that director Derek Cianfrance’s “Blue Valentine” brings something new to the table as with films about the hardships of marriage. No, it doesn’t offer anything different, but I guess it is its familiar elements that makes it easily accessible and believable. For some reason, this film reminds me of “The Story of Us” with Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer, albeit that movie had a more uplifting end theme. However, if at all possible, “Blue Valentine” may offer a much more pessimistic view about marriage. Beware, this film is very real and offers the portrayal of a couple who was so taken by each other during their younger days and those feelings begin to wane after a time.
+4
Please keep in mind that the MPAA had given the film’s original version the dreaded NC-17 rating; only after careful editing by the director was the film given a friendlier R rating. Boy, why do those clowns in the MPAA have to cramp my style?
Cindy (Michelle Williams) and Dean (Ryan Gosling) is a married couple with one child. The two are making ends meet, Dean is an ordinary laborer while Cindy works at a medical clinic. Cindy seems to have become more ambitious while Dean is content with their everyday life; Cindy wants more from the marriage while Dean is happy with just being a husband and a father. To make things worst, their busy hours seem to keep them apart and one day, the two decide to go on a getaway in a distant love hotel to try and rekindle the seemingly elusive feelings and perhaps the couple can bond once again. But as the evening passes, the effort seems to be hampered by alcohol and some unwelcome sexual advances. Now, it seems like the two are finally starting to talk, but the responsibility of real life may damper the candle of love….
Again, I have to say that the film has little to nothing new to offer in the stories of a broken marriage. The events that take place between our two protagonists are very familiar, and the roots of their problems are nothing new in our eyes. What makes “Blue Valentine” innovative is the fact that the film is structured in a way where the past plays a parallel to the present. We see similar scenes and yet they are so different. The direction was very wise to develop the characters and the story in a manner that cements the present and at the same time, makes the viewer long for the past. It was a touch that emulates that cause and the effect while we see exactly why things are the way they are and what they were before.
“Blue Valentine” has a very contrived plot. A wife who wants more ambition and plans for success from her husband (there were hints of Cindy complaining to co-workers about Dean), while the husband is content with what they have. They have one last bond they share and this is their child. The film is about how people changing with their situation, responsibilities and as they get older, some minds tend to re-think the marriage while other minds stay the way they are. There is no right or wrong in a situation like this. Dean is a committed husband and father, he sees no wrong in what he is doing and in a way there is nothing really wrong; she keeps that care-free attitude as he goes through his life. Cindy seemed to have outgrown that naivety, she wants more from Dean, for her child and for family. Cindy dreams while Dean stays within his limits. There is nothing right or wrong, and yet the two are in a crumbling marriage.
For a film like this to succeed, the performers would have to be really convincing and effective in their roles. Gosling and Williams does form dynamic chemistry with each other. Their scenes together as they talk about their situation is troubling and what makes it more bothersome is the fact that the two could communicate so well in the past and now they almost appear like strangers. The film has several moments that define their relationship, all revolving around their past sweeping moments of love and that feeling of excitement, then the realization of marital dead weight in the present. What once was humorous in the past now serves as something irritating. The director was also smart to focus on human behavior to bring forth the emotions, the viewer witnesses the extremes of the time periods and it makes it easy for one to feel the effects of such changes. It was easy to feel attached to our protagonists; and I know the male point of view may take Dean‘s side while the female viewpoint may sympathize with Cindy.
Love is fulfilling. Marriage is something that celebrates love. Marriage means duty. Life is hard and sometimes, marriage is even harder. You work on a marriage everyday and what’s more, you work harder on staying in love everyday. You make marriage work. You need to work as a team and believe in each other. “Blue Valentine” brings forth a rather grim and very pessimistic view of marriage. But one has to remember, people grow and oftentimes they change because of the problems life throws at them. You know what is harder than staying single, it is working on a marriage and trying to stay in love. Hey, life never gives you a free pass…so one has to do the best he can.
Highly Recommended! [4+ Out of 5 Stars]
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More Blue Valentine reviews
It's a movie about life, or rather marriage, as they say. Is it really? If marriages are like this, then it's uninspiring and one wonders why so many people are flocking to the church for the wedding of a lifetime! This year, Prince William and Kate Middleton are getting married. That's right, despite his parents' failed marriage. It shall be the wedding of 2011 for most people in the UK. That's sidetracking... Anyway, Blue Valentine is not … more
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**** out of **** "Blue Valentine" is a film that speaks to me because it shares my exact philosophies and musings on the mere concepts of love and romance. I felt like I knew these two lovers within myself; which was a good feeling, even through their often times difficult-to-watch hardships. "Blue Valentine" will not be the easiest of films, but it's one of the strongest depictions of on-screen romance I've seen in quite some time. Love it or hate it; "Blue Valentine" does … more
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review by rmurray847.
January 18, 2011
BLUE VALENTINE is a low budget film, telling us about the beginning and end of a marriage. It stars Ryan Gosling & Michelle Williams. The movie shows us "now" over the space of just a couple of days, as we see this couple along with their roughly 5 year old child, going through mundane tasks and the final arguments that lead to their split. The film also bounces back to the few weeks or months from their first meeting until the day they get married. We see them about 5 or 6 years younger, naïve … more
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BLUE VALENTINE I came into this movie expecting nothing mainly because I didn't care enough about it. I hadn't heard to much about it when it came out so I didn't pay much attention to it. But after reading the review of this film from Sir William of Woopak I decided to give it a try. I am really glad I did now because the story is very real and the performances here are excellent. The film follows Michelle Williams … more
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“Blue Valentine” is about as perfect a film as any you’re likely to see. Even with the recent release of the brilliant “Rabbit Hole,” it’s been ages since I’ve seen a story so resonant with characters so real. Many wonderful films have taken life issues and heightened them for dramatic emphasis; this movie presents itself so authentically that, if it weren’t for the casting of Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, I might have mistaken it for a work … more
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Now there are moments that some may not want to see and this is not a particularly happy film. Still with all that said I still think it is worth a rental at least. Sure it may not be for every body but it just may be for you. So in the chance that is you, pick it up. This is a great flick with excellent acting.
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This movie was never going to have a happy ending, I knew that going in. All I kept hearing was that was the most depressing movie of all time. Knowing that I took this to be a classic who done it? Like most people I want a fall guy, I want to know what happened here. I want to know why these beautiful and crazy kids are doomed to fail. Enter Ryan Gosling as the care-free Dean, i doubt he had too much going for him before this story starts and is not too worried about his future. While … more
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review by virharding.
January 31, 2011
Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams) are a married couple with a little girl named Frankie who looks to be about three or four. Cindy works as an ultrasound technician. Dean is a house-painter. Dean is really good with Frankie, in part because he's still kind of a kid himself, and not in a good way. After agreeing with Frankie that the oatmeal Cindy made her looks disgusting, he plops spoonfuls of it all over the table and suggests that they eat the raisins … more
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Without taking sides, Blue Valentine deals with extreme situations and draws parallel lines between his two main extreme opponents. The relationship between Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams) evolves beautifully by covering touching issues and contrasts within the life of two once-lovers. It doesn't get too melodramatic, it doesn't get cheesy nor predictable and it juggles with the emotional core of the movie. Dean is a low-educated guy, who is ruled only by his … more
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BLUE VALENTINE Written by Derek Cianfrance, Joey Curtis and Cami Delavigne Directed by Derek Cianfrance Starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams Cindy: How do you trust your feelings when they can just disappear like that? Gramma: I think the only way to find out is to have those feelings. When they say, “For better of for worse,” in wedding vows, I believe they are referring … more
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William (woopak_the_thrill)
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About this movie
Blue Valentine is a 2010 American romantic drama film written and directed by Derek Cianfrance that premiered in competition at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. It is co-written by Joey Curtis and Cami Delavigne and stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. The film was scored by Brooklyn band Grizzly Bear.
The film centers on a married couple, Dean and Cindy, and their relationship over a number of years by shifting between different time periods. Problems with the marriage centre around Cindy's ambition, juxtaposed to Dean's contentment to centre his life around his wife and child.
The script recently won the Chrysler Film Project, a competition that awards cash to an outstanding new feature film director, selected from over 550 submissions from across the country, overseen by Independent Feature Project, and evaluated by a panel of eminent film industry professionals.
The film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. It will be distributed by The Weinstein Company, and set for a limited release on December 31, 2010 in USA. The movie will be released earlier in Australia on December 23, 2010.
Director:
Derek Cianfrance
Genre:
Drama,
Romance
Release Date:
Dec. 31, 2010
MPAA Rating:
Unrated
Screen Writer:
Derek Cianfrance,
Joey Curtis
Runtime:
120 minutes
Studio:
Think Films
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You do makes point there, Sharrie, a team has to change together but what if....?