HIM: Anticipation around our house has been high for this film for several reasons. We both love the director's debut, Kicking and Screaming (1995). It's eternally a Top 5 personal favorite for me. We both love Adam Driver and, especially, Scarlett Johansson. The idea of seeing how Kylo Ren and Black Widow would handle this emotional movie would have been enough to ensure we would be watching it. On top of all of this, the topic of marriage and divorce is such a relatable one that it becomes easily a must-see event.
HER: Anyone who follows me on social media knows I love Scarlett. I first noticed her in Ghost World. Then she made Lost in Translation with family favorite Bill Murray, and I became a forever fan. Add in Adam Driver and director Noah Baumbach, and Marriage Story quickly rose to the top of my list. Not surprisingly, the awards are already stacking up for the film and its cast and crew.
HIM: About the story. The story is about Charlie (Driver) and Nicole (Johansson) who are married with an 8 year old son. They live in New York and have a working relationship together in the theater. The movie does a terrific job of drawing you into their lives and painting a picture of who these people are. I won't offer more detail than that on their background, except to say one of the brilliant aspects of the script and the direction is in how the story is told and how you are filled in. From there, you are with them on their journey through separation and the process of filing for divorce. It's uniquely sweet, humorous, tragic, dire, wonderful, and nightmarish in all the ways life can be, and certainly in the ways a marriage falling apart can be.
HER: So I absolutely loved the separate trailers and how they gave you a snapshot of Charlie & Nicole's characters through the other's words. The movie begins like that but with extended descriptions. It's a fabulous way to introduce the characters and the love that they have for each other before the pain train arrives.
HIM: About the director. Noah Baumbach has made a mature film. Mature in both subject matter and presentation. As much as I adore Kicking and Screaming, I'd pick Marriage Story as his masterpiece. All of his writing and directing skills are peaking with this movie. It's obviously a very personal film for him, and it brings out the best in his abilities. The dialogue is dense and memorable. The speeches and scenes are realistic and feel lived in. He injects humor in light ways that provide the viewer with much needed levity at times. For Baumbach, it's nothing short of a triumphant work of art and skill.
HER: I frequently read about movies online. I check IMDB probably once a day and always after I finish a film. An interesting tidbit about Noah Baumbach's direction and writing is that he did not want any improvisation in the big fight scene. Every word, every hesitation is in his script. I find that fascinating because it all feels so in the moment as it unfolds. There is also a heavy theater aspect to the way the scenes are set up and how the actors move throughout. While watching, Jason and I agreed it felt very much a like play, which is what Baumbach intended.
HIM: About the actors. Driver and Johansson are equally at their best. I've never entirely understood why people are so enthralled with Driver. I tend to find him almost emotionless. In this film, he breaks beyond that barrier in wonderful and poignant ways. Johansson has long been an actor who can show strength with believability, but in this film she becomes a woman finding her strength. It's a journey she handles with great accuracy and honest emotion. This feels like a movie that probably wore them both down. It's likely that every day was a tough day at work.
HER: I haven't seen much of Driver's work besides Star Wars and a couple indie films. He has an understated leading man quality that is really becoming apparent this year. Much of this movie is about Charlie's journey through the divorce process. Where Nicole was unhappy in the marriage, he is unhappy in the divorce. She flourishes while he flounders. Driver's downward spiral is masterful. Johansson, to me, is so subtle in her performances that sometimes people dismiss her. This role really showcases her talent. The monologue scene where Nicole tells Laura Dern's attorney character the story of her marriage is heartbreaking. My favorite quote of Nicole's: "I never really came alive for myself. I was only feeding his aliveness."
HIM: Final thoughts. At the end of the film, my wife and I dried our eyes and hugged for a long time. The movie is beautiful and brutal. It's not an overstatement for me to say this will likely be my favorite film of the year. This movie was everything I thought it could be and more. It's gut wrenching but worth every moment. One day, I'll brace myself and watch it again. It's a masterpiece. Plain and simple.
HER: I have not experienced divorce. My parents were married for 41 years before my dad's death. Jason and I have been married for 16 years. And yet, I was with these characters completely. I honestly never took a side. I did see moments where one was at fault or handled a situation badly. But I love that there is never really a villain, other than the divorce process itself. Not even the lawyers who are just doing the best for their clients. A major point of this story is that even though Nicole and Charlie want to divorce as simply and amicably as possible, the process tears them apart. It's tragic, touching, and even funny at times. Kudos to all.
Enjoyed your summations. Now I want to see this movie. I previously had no intention of watching it, but I am intrigued now.
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