This is not a story. It is a revelation

Rating: 10/10 (9 January 2020)

Marriage Story
Marriage used to be primarilly a social contract. It still is a contract. It is also "an intimate and personal relationship." Nothing makes you more vulnerable than marriage and divorce and most of us are terrified of this. We deny it and avoid it however we can; but either way we are "hostages to fortune" as Francis Bacon said.
The contract between Charlie and Nicole starts out to be that the marriage will be bicoastal. She is from LA. Though from the Midwest, Charlie is more into theatre so we meet them in New York where he has established a successful theatre with Nicole being his usual leading lady. They have a son and Charlie has come to consider them to be a New York family. Nicole hasn't forgotten LA, and she's just been offered the opportunity to star in her own TV series to be filmed in LA, In a two careeer family who moves? Who compromises?
Up to this point, it's been Nicole. The original contract has not been fulfilled. They try counseling first. Each is supposed to share a list of what they love about each other. Charlie is prepared with his list and eager to share it. Nicole has also prepared a list but is not able to share it. Baumbach does not tell us why he reveals it to the discering viewer
The hostages believe everything can be settled amicably but inevitably stumble into their mutual vulnerabilities. It unfolds into a shatteringly climactic fight. The contract had not been fulfilled. The intimate and personal is ripping them apart. There is a son. There are custody issues, financial issues, adversarial lawyers exacerbating issues. Nicole in LA becomes alive. Charlie copes.
In spite of some reviewer's biases the brilliance, insight. and compassion of Baumbach takes no side. He portrays no victims nor victors. Eventually, Charlie, ironically, reads Nicole's list - to their son while Nicole watches unobserved.
They are no longer hostages to their contract. What they are and may continue to be is symbolized in the tying of an unlaced shoelace., Baumbach does not tell a story. He reveals one.. This is the magic of art.
Brilliant writing. Brilliant directing. Brilliant acting. Brilliant use of music. It should win many awards, but no matter. I'll wager it will be studied in film schools for years.