Not all relationships stay in the beautiful “I love you” phase and in director, Derek Cianfrance’s (Dream The Impossible, Black And White: A Portrait Of Sean Combs) new film, Blue Valentine he sets out to show just how dark a relationship can become. Although exploring a depressing topic this film turns out so well that it has won back this reviewer’s faith in American cinema.
When Dean (Ryan Gosling – Lars And The Real Girl, Fracture) and Cindy (Michelle Williams – Shutter Island, Mammoth) first meet he has the ability to make her laugh and to forget about sadder parts of her life. But along the way things started to change, she feels pressure at work, he develops a drinking problem, she doesn’t believe that he has reached his full potential, they have had a daughter but more importantly they have lost their spark, something that makes Cindy wonder if she still loves him. Dean is desperate to hold his family together, so he plans one night in a ‘tacky’ motel-room where they can remember the past and once again try to re-ignite their marriage.
Despite its depressing nature Blue Valentine is one of the most beautiful films to come out this year. It is impossible to fault and Derek Cianfrance may well be one of America’s most under-rated directors. Everything about this film works sensational well. The scriptwriters have fleshed out these characters amazingly well and the team has created dialogue so realistic that at times you almost feel like you are watching a documentary. This feeling is further enhanced by the fact that in a twist of brilliance Cianfrance decided to cast industry-professionals in some parts rather than actors, and use actual locations and not always a studio. Some of the more dramatic scenes are so well-written that they stay with you a long time after the final credits close.
Cianfrance also takes the delightful subplots that the scriptwriters have armed him with and he allows their hidden meanings to be exposed without jamming the metaphors and morals done the throats of his audience. His natural filmmaking style only enhances the real-feel of the script and as an audience you are completely sucked into Dean and Cindy’s world. So much so that it is impossible for this film not to emotionally affect you in some way.
The other thing that makes Blue Valentine so special is the amazing acting performances by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. Gosling’s performance is enough to make you forget he was the romantic lead in The Notebook. It is easy to see that Gosling becomes one with the character of Dean… he has complete control and understanding of the character and that results in one of the finest acting performances of the year. Michelle Williams was also the perfect choicee to play opposite Gosling. There is an obvious chemistry between the two and she once again puts in a brilliant performance. Her performance here, grouped with her ones in Shutter Island and Wendy And Lucy only goes to show that she is clearly one of the best actresses going around at the moment.
To be brutally honest Blue Valentine is one of the films of the year. It has one of the best scripts to surface in a long time while Gosling and Williams’ performances are worthy enough to earn them some Oscar buzz. Blue Valentine will emotionally affect you, but will also leave you content in the knowledge that you have just watched one of the best dramas of the year.
Year: 2010
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams
Classification: MA
Runtime: 112 mins
Rating: