Oh...now I get it!

Rating: 9/10 (7 December 2019)

So, Baumbach, huh? Ah, I see, that;s Adam Driver! Did Scarlett really just make me wipe a tear off my cheek?
Absolute revelation for me. I finally got why Baumbach is held in such high esteem. I enjoyed Squid, Frances, and Greenberg, found Meyerowitz watchable. Far preferred what he wrote for Anderson (Zissou and the exceptional (and also fantastic) Mr Fox). Marriage Story though towers above those. The writing is so nuanced, what happens offscreen so evident and understandable to all, The dialogue is powerful, tender, bitter, and yet also reserved - there are times when you want to scream at the characters to just say the things that in all our lives that go unsaid. But mostly it's how the screenplay paces and drives a movie that is almost entirely about the words spoken - it would work well on stage and even radio - which builds to a satisfying and appropriate end to the movie. (Desperately avoiding any emotionally descriptive words so as not to spoil the end.)
Never been a fan of Driver. Girls is mostly what I've seen him in, felt his wildly unstable character was hard to consider well acted. Seen a number of movies he's featured in too, none were memorable performances. In MS though, he delivers a tour de force. A character so well rounded and identifiable that - despite revelations that should make us dislike the character - we empathise and sympathise with, and positively root for him. Oscar material for me.
And Johansson. I knew she could act. Had seen it in Pearl Earring, Translation, remembered elements from Vicky Christina, but this is the first time in a good many years that a movie depended so much upon her being able to deliver a genuinely believable character. She does it with aplomb! It's the juxtaposition of our support and feelings for her character balanced in equal measure with Driver's that is at the root of the success of MS. Scarlett is superb.
This is on a par with Kramer vs Kramer. Actors and writer/director deserve that level of recognition for a stunningly good movie.