Marriage Story

Rating: 7/10 (10 February 2020)

I heard about this film during Awards Season, made by Netflix it was receiving many nominations in various categories at the big award ceremonies, and it was rated well, so I looked forward to it. Basically, Charlie Barber (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Adam Driver) is a successful theatre director in New York City, and his wife Nicole (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Scarlett Johansson), a former teen film actress, is the star of the company's latest production. The couple is experiencing marital troubles and sees a Mediator (Robert Smigel), who suggests that they both write down what they like about each another. But Nicole is too embarrassed to read hers aloud and they decide to abandon marriage counselling. Nicole is offered a starring role in a TV pilot in Los Angeles, so she decides to leave the theatre company and live temporarily in West Hollywood with her mother, taking the couple's young son Henry (Azhy Robertson) with her. Charlie decides to stay in New York, as the play will be eventually moving to Broadway. Despite the couple agreeing to split the divorce settlement amicably and have no lawyers, Nicole hires family lawyer Nora Fanshaw (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe winning Laura Dern). Nicole tells Nora the full story of her relationship with Charlie, the gradual feelings of neglect by him and how he rejects her ideas and desires. Nicole also mentions that she thinks Charlie cheated and slept with the stage manager of the theatre company. Charlie travels to Los Angeles to visit his family, revealing that he has won a MacArthur Fellowship grant, but Nicole serves him divorce papers. Charlie meets with brash and expensive lawyer Jay Marotta (Ray Liotta) who urges him to fight dirty, but Charlie returns to New York without hiring him. Nora calls Charlie and urges him to get a lawyer soon or risk losing custody of Henry. Charlie returns to Los Angeles and hires empathetic and retired family lawyer Bert Spitz (Alan Alda), who goes for a more civil and calm approach. On Bert's advice, Charlie rents an apartment in Los Angeles to be closer to his family and strengthen his custody case. Charles wishes to avoid going to court, so Bert arranges a meeting with Nora and Nicole. Nora argues that Charlie had little respect for Nicole's wishes to move back to Los Angeles and that Henry would prefer to stay with his mother rather than flying back and forth. Bert privately advises Charlie to leave his New York residency, but a frustrated Charlie refuses and decides to fire him. Using his MacArthur Fellowship grant money, Charlie hires Jay. The case moves to court, where Nora and Jay argue aggressively on behalf of their clients and attempt to portray the other party in a negative way. Nora highlights Charlie's past infidelity and emotional distance, while Jay exaggerates Nicole's drinking habits as alcoholism and mentions hacking into Charlie's emails. Meanwhile, Charlie and Nicole remain friendly out of court and share time with Henry, who is increasingly annoyed with the constant moving. The couple are embittered with the legal process and decide to meet in private to talk things through. The discussion starts calmly and friendly, but eventually becomes a bitter argument. Nicole claims he has truly become selfish, and Charlie punches the wall and says he wishes that she would die. He then breaks down in shame and apologises; Nicole comforts him. Expert evaluator Nancy Katz (Martha Kelly) monitors a night in with Charlie and Henry, during which Charlie accidentally cuts himself. Soon after, the couple agree to reach an equal agreement to finalise the divorce, although Nora negotiates slightly better terms for Nicole, against her wishes. One year later, Charlie play has been a success in Broadway, while Nicole has a new boyfriend and is nominated for an Emmy Award for directing an episode of her show. Charlie informs Nicole that he will be living in Los Angeles full-time to be closer to Henry. Later, he discovers Henry reading Nicole's list of things she likes about Charlie she wrote down during counselling. Henry asks Charlie to read it aloud to him, he does so, becoming emotional as Nicole watches from afar. That evening, following a Halloween party, Nicole offers to let Charlie take Henry home even though it is her night with him. As Charlie walks out to his car carrying a sleeping Henry, he Nicole smile at each other, and they part ways once more. Also starring Wallace Shawn as Frank. Johansson and Driver both give exceptional performances as the separating couple who try to remain friendly through a difficult process, their highlight is the argument, it is good to see Liotta and Alda appear as well, but Dern does almost steal the show in most of her scenes, including a magnificent monologue moment. The title is probably deliberately misleading, as it is about a marriage ending, it gets ugly when the lawyers get involved and the custody battle gets heated, it is well written, with moving and emotional moments, but a little room for humour also, it is a worthwhile drama. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Motion Picture of the Year for Best Original Screenplay, and Best Music (Original Score) for Randy Newman, it was nominated the BAFTAs for Best Original Screenplay, and Best Casting, and it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Motion Picture - Drama. Very good!