Marriage Story

2019 divorce story

Rating: 15/20

Plot: Marriage story? More like divorce story.

Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver both feel like they're really living in these roles. We meet them in medias res, a pair of montages accompanying the reading of lists of what each spouse likes about his or her partner. It's both mundane and powerful, more striking with the juxtaposition of a very cold shot of the couple in the movie's present in a counselor's office. I really enjoyed both performances because they feel very honest, and the characters' likability makes this whole thing all the more heartbreaking. In a way, you wish the screenplay would have picked a side, chosen a villain other than the lawyers who muddle everything up. You wish the villain--more than likely Driver since it's usually men who are ill-equipped for this whole relationship thing--would get the ending he or she deserves so that the other can enjoy a happy ending. Instead, this shows the flaws and faults of both of these human beings, and as a viewer, it's impossible not to understand both sides in this conflict. Both Driver and Johansson get their moments to really shine here, the former adding to a filmography that continues to show a surprising versatility and the latter busting out of this action heroine rut she seems to be in the last few years.

The supporting cast is good, too. Alan Alda and Laura Dern are great as attorneys though the screenplay definitely paints one of them as more of a villain. Ray Liotta's in there, too, and even Wallace Shawn makes an appearance and has a few funny bits.

Oh, I want to pause here to let you know that this movie, despite subject matter that is depressing on the surface, isn't all doom and gloom. There's a lot of humor in this one. Most of the best bits of comedy involve Julie Hagerty's character as the mother of Scar-Jo's character. She's just wonderful here. My favorite humorous scene is a lengthy one where Driver's character arrives at his mother-in-law's house and another character has to serve him divorce papers. It's sitcom stuff, but it's quality sitcom stuff.

Most of the greatness is from the little moments, some of them touching, some of them heartbreaking. Slumped shoulders at a hearing, a second trick-or-treating adventure, troubles with a car seat, a punched wall. Both characters get songs, Driver's a strong contender for musical moment of the year. The movie's longish, but you do really feel these characters, empathize with their struggles, and hope for their futures.

Oh, the kid (Azhy Robertson) was pretty good, too!

I'm still trying to make up my mind about Randy Newman's score. I think it was really good though!