Noah Baumbach's films are best known
for using a blend of comedy and drama to focus on the relationships
between family and friends, which is why his new film, Marriage
Story, feels like a culmination of all of his previous work.
Starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver as a couple going through
an increasingly bitter divorce, Marriage Story is a depiction
of love and separation the likes of which hasn't been seen since
Kramer vs. Kramer exactly 40 years ago.
After opening with a montage centering
on Nicole (Johansson) and Charlie (Driver) in the years prior to
their separation, the film quickly brings things to the present, where
we witness them go through the first awkward steps of their
separation. Nicole and Charlie have a son named Henry, which further
complicates matters as Nicole takes him to Los Angeles to further her
acting career while Charlie remains in New York to begin production
on a new play. As the film progresses, the situation gets worse as
Nicole and Charlie bring lawyers into the mix and friendly exchanges
turn into angry confrontations.
The film is structured around this
divorce that slowly worsens throughout the course of about a year. It
shows specifically how a series of miscommunications, hidden agendas,
and outside influences are a driving force behind the state of their
divorce. The film makes a point early on of showing how Nicole and
Charlie interact with one another. They are friendly and civil. For
Henry's sake, they'll make the divorce as simple and painless as
possible. Each character is quick to make concessions to one another
early on, but then a colleague recommends Nicole consider hiring a
lawyer, which naturally leads to Charlie being forced into finding a
lawyer as well. Eventually suppressed feelings begin to emerge, and
the lawyers start pushing for more resolute measures. It's in these
moments that the film displays its most unique trait, the ability to
keep itself from designating a good guy and a bad guy. Most other
stories about divorce tend to paint each party as either good or bad.
Marriage Story makes it a point to keep things complicated on
both sides, and not force its audience to side with Nicole or
Charlie, instead allowing us to view things evenly and understand
everyone's position.
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| We're on a train to nowhere. |
Eventually, the tension leads to a
climactic showdown between Nicole and Charlie where they lose all
restraint and finally lay everything out. This fight ends up becoming
one of the tensest, most dramatic scenes I've seen in a film all
year. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver have both already delivered
incredible performances in several films this year alone, but their
work in Marriage Story rises above the rest as they both
deliver the performances of their respective careers. Of course, this
film's supporting cast forms a great base for Johansson and Driver to
work with. Laura Dern in particular stands out as Nicole's lawyer,
Nora. Julie Hagerty, Merrit Wever, Ray Liotta, and Alan Alda also
make significant contributions to making Marriage Story work
so well.
While separation plays a prevalent role
here, it can't go without mentioning that at its core, Marriage
Story is really about a family coming together, in its own unique
way. That's why it was so important to show both points of view
without taking sides. As an audience, its vital for us to see these
characters split apart while also finding a way to still care for one
another, and work together to raise Henry. Marriage Story
works so effectively in its ability to portray how a family can
continue to function in unconventional ways. There's a realism here
that's rarely seen. It's in this authenticity where Marriage Story
really shines, and sets itself apart as one of the greatest dramas of
the decade. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver are best known for
their pivotal roles in two of the biggest film franchises of all
time; however, it would be a shame to overlook their work in this
exquisite Netflix drama.
-Derek Miranda
