Blue Valentine

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Faith Wladyka, John Doman, Mike Vogel
Directed by: Derek Cianfrance
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Romance
2010

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A married couple (Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams) deal with the disillusionment that comes from falling out of love with each other.

Review:

Tim: Blue Valentine is a depressingly realistic look at the dark side of relationships. It is gritty and graphic, showing what people in a relationship are capable of when their dreams turn to dust and all they have left is hollowness where their love used to be. I can't say I "liked" this film because there's not much to like about two people who have lost what they once had. However, the film deserves a great deal of credit for its mature portrayal of a disintegrated relationship and what it once was. This is a very good movie.

The film is greatly helped by its two leads. This is one of those films where the performances are more important than the movie itself. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams give powerful, raw, emotional performances. Neither is blameless, both are guilty, and they embrace those flaws in their performances. Gosling deserves credit for his insistence on making these kinds of movies. While he occasionally does more mainstream fare, he hasn't "sold out" in the least. I'm fascinated by his career and his movie choices. They are unconventional and difficult, yet they stretch him as an actor and show his range. I feel like Gosling is creating something amazing with his career, not just chasing a buck. He's hard to watch here. It does take courage to so embrace a character that could be viewed as very unlikable. His performance is impressive.

I am also very impressed with Michelle Williams. It took me the longest time to take her seriously as an actress. However, she has chosen her movies roles wisely, and I have to admit she's one of the better actresses in Hollywood right now. She gives a great performance alongside Gosling. They are believable together, both in the scenes at the beginning of their relationship, and at the impossibly difficult scenes near its end. Williams almost explodes with her pent up anger and frustration on screen. It was something to behold.

I am glad Williams received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress (the film's only nom). I am actually pretty disappointed that Ryan Gosling received nothing for his efforts. I think he was clearly better than Jeff Bridges in True Grit, but Bridges is hot right now, and he received the slot that should have went to Gosling.

As I mentioned, this movie isn't exactly easy to watch. This movie reminded me of the worst of myself in relationships. There is something so horrible and ugly about a couple when they have given everything to each other, only to find that it was squandered. Sometimes people simply fall out of love, for one reason or another, and this movie brought that to mind. I have to believe it is the little things that keep a relationship alive, and these two characters let the little ones build into the big ones. It's fascinating to watch different time periods from this couple- from when they met, to dating, marriage, children, and eventually, their breaking point.

This movie does have a few powerful, memorable scenes. I loved the scene with Gosling playing the song and Williams dancing. This was absolutely brilliant- captured brilliantly, acted wonderfully, and will probably forever stick in my mind. The scene on the bridge was another important, memorable one.

This is a movie about a realistic relationship, told in gritty detail- whether that is in their sex scenes, their fighting with each other, or in their desperate, feeble attempts to hold it all together. Blue Valentine is not a film that pulls any punches. That translates into a film that is difficult to watch, but also one that is difficult to forget.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Lars and the Real Girl, Brokeback Mountain, Wendy and Lucy, Half Nelson