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Blue Valentine is by far, the best dramatic and romantic experience put on screen in 2010
-
Jan 22, 2011
- by julianleft
- posted in Movie Hype
Rating:
+3
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 intuitions and views the world in just one dimension. Although he is not trusty in adapting to the society and to the family's needs he has a great heart and acknowledges the great responsibility he must have inside a family. Cindy is an immature, confused and I could say pitiful person but her reason and judgment save her in a lot of harsh situations although her life seems to be conducted not by her wishes but by her personal mistakes and even fantasies. Blue Valentine it's a great in-depth analysis of the ups and downs in a family built on lies, at least from one individual if not both.
Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams gave life to their characters and although their judgment is one dimensioned they are three dimensional characters. They have a great chemistry between them and they manage to combine romance with anger and frustrations, self control with delusional behavior, optimism with pessimism and love with hate. A moving mixture of on-going real life problems. One of the best actors of their generation and Gosling proves once again why he needs to step out under the rock that has a "underrated" mark on it.
The camera work was fantastic. Great balance, contrasts, colors and close-ups. I really enjoyed watching this movie even more thanks to the way it was shot. The sound was also clear and the songs used, especially those choir moments were incredible. Blue Valentine is by far, the best dramatic and romantic experience put on screen in 2010. It promotes unity but at the same time it admits the influence of materialism or selfishness in many situations. Sometimes, women spend all their time wandering in the wilderness looking for their prince but decide to stop and marry the guy who has a bigger paycheck while men always dream about having harems and be classy playboys and end up being more romantic than anyone and fall in love for the girl next door. I guess life tricks us all, but in the end who has the luck to trick it back?
Storyline/Dialogue: 8,5/10.
Acting: 9/10.
Art Direction: 8/10.
Cinematography/Editing: 8,5/10.
Score/Soundtrack: 8,5/10.
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Overall: 8,6
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woopak_the_thrill
January 25, 2011
This was truly a great film for me. Yeah, it had some rough spots but the acting just delivered. The script was well-written.
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More Blue Valentine reviews
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 … more
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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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Compliments (3)
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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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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About the reviewer
Julian Left (julianleft)
Ranked #24
Ranked #24
Member Since:
Nov 4, 2010
Last Login: Mar 2, 2013 02:52 PM UTC
Last Login: Mar 2, 2013 02:52 PM UTC
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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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