Adam Driver Breaks Your Heart

Rating: 10/10 (2 January 2020)

I can see why this is an award season favorite and rightfully so. Everyone does such an amazing job in this film and the story is told in a subtle yet wonderful way. You really see this couple's relationship deteriorate as the film progresses on. What I love is how they show the effect that a divorce can have on children. The mother, in this case, plays the role of a "Sunday Father" and buys the kid into preferring to be with her than his father. Yet you see how the little boy becomes less and less happy. It's so sad.
Both parents are imperfect but you really feel more for the father at the end of this than the mother. Maybe it's to do with Adam Driver's heartfelt performance, but I was left feeling so bad for him. You see how he holds on to the hope that she's still the same woman he fell in love with or that maybe their relationship will be healed, but you see how all that hope dies off as the divorce procedures get nastier and nastier. Scar Jo does a fantastic job in her role too. You see her frustration and indecisiveness so clearly. Her character really seems to act out of spite, especially after hiring that cruel LA lawyer. Laura Dern does an amazing job playing this horrid lawyer with the fake smile, I absolutely hated this woman the whole movie - that's how you know the actress played the part perfectly.
Every direction that was taken to tell this story was chosen so perfectly. The score, the dialogue, I'm just in love with this film. It felt like I was watching a play being performed on stage. That scene where they're in court before the judge and the lawyers are saying these horrid things about both and you see how both of them are so hurt by what's being said cos neither one truly felt or believed what their respective lawyers were saying. It's a scene that just breaks your heart and come to terms with the horrid reality of divorce and disillusioned marriages. Adam Driver though, he deserves an Oscar nod. I kid you not, this man just delivered with this role.
Highly recommend this film and congrats to the cast & crew on creating such a wonderful film.