The 21st century version of Kramer vs Kramer

Rating: 8/10 (31 January 2020)

Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver give two Oscar worthy performances, in this poignant, funny, sad and eventually somewhat uplifting picture, about a marriage falling apart. Sometimes two people just can not live together and divorce is the only logical option. Other times people call it quits way too quick. Whether Nicole and Charlie belong in the latter category or the former, is for each viewer to decide for themselves. Noah Baumbach, for his part, does a good job of presenting both points of view and never standing in judgment. Undoubtedly this is a film that will hit some harder than others but if you have a pulse, you will not come out of this experience unmoved. The only issue I have with the film is that some of the comic scenes mess with the tone. But that is a minor issue and does not hurt the film in a meaningful way. Marriage Story is not groundbreaking or fresh. We have seen this story before. But what Baumbach's film offers is a well-acted, heartfelt and poignant story, that in spite of its unoriginality, is still worth your time.