Powerful, wrenching portrait of a divorce

Rating: 8/10 (6 December 2019)

While the title of "Marriage Story" may give off the impression of a romantic comedy, this soulful but often very bleak divorce drama certainly isn't that. However, it's an extremely well-made film that absolutely demands to be seen and fully paid attention to. Written and directed by Noah Baumbach, the film tells the story of a theatre director in New York City who is on the verge of making it to Broadway, and his wife, an actress who moves to Los Angeles after finding employment there. As the two main characters, Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson both do an outstanding job of portraying a near-perfect blend of strong emotions and down-to-earth, humanistic realism in their performances. Baumbach's script is witty and powerful, complemented by a subtle yet ultimately impactful and enthralling score.
Another highlight in the film is Laura Dern's exceptional performance as the divorce attorney for Johansson's character. She manages to come across as both empathetic yet deeply pragmatic and convincing, and her character is thoughtfully developed. I've always really liked Dern as an actress, but her supporting performance here is truly exceptional and will hopefully be rewarded come awards season. The film's emotional power is also commendable, as it simple yet potent nature hits the viewer like a gut punch. We actually truly feel for all of the characters involved, both the main couple as well as the supporting characters. The film is also improved by Baumbach humanizing both of the two main characters. We are able to see both of these two individuals as not only spouses, but flawed yet sometimes well-meaning individuals going through extremely difficult times personally. While it's slightly long and has a few somewhat clichÃ© moments, this is otherwise an extremely well-made film from Baumbach that will be remembered long after the credits roll. 8.5/10