Honest, Raw & Heartfelt

Rating: 9/10 (9 December 2019)

Marriage Story - Probably the most real, honest and heartfelt movie seen in this year.
I remember being completely smitten by Scarlett Johansson ever since I saw her in Woody Allen's Match Point, but, then again, never considered her to be anything more than a decent actor. And as for Adam Driver, never considered him anything. Probably, Logan Lucky was his only movie which I barely liked.
Had it not been for the glowing reviews, I might've skipped this one too.
So, despite MS not being my first choice to watch on a Friday Night, I reluctantly gave in to the reviews and was prepared as well to feel little underwhelmed with the final product, as it happens to me most of the time.
But this one got me from it's unconventional opening scene itself, where each of the character's voiceover sharing all the positive things about their respective partner that made them fall in love in the first place. And the movie begins.
Honestly, I never knew Scarlett Johansson can ACT and I mean ACT this good. Was simply blown away with the plethora of emotions she portrayed and that too without ever going over the top.
And, then there is Adam Driver, if Scarlett Johansson was great, then he was out of the world. His character was selfish, arrogant and demanding. And yet, never in the movie his flaws were sugarcoated to gulp down the audiences' throat. People are flawed and this movie is as real as it's characters. There's a scene where his character breaks down, and weeps uncontrollably with an equally broken down Johansson consoling him. That, to me, is the performance of the year. Then again, we have Joaquin Phoenix's Arthur Fleck as well this year.
This ultimately is the poignant tale of a NYC couple going through a divorce in LA and how they both cope up with the new changes, lawyers, courts, judges & dealing with their respective professions and still maintain their sanity for their only son, builds the simple premise.
Though I don't think the movie will find the appreciation from all corners as it's on a very serious subject devoid of any entertainment, but those, looking for really good and sensible dramas, should certainly look it up.