Intimate and heartbreaking

Rating: 9/10 (8 March 2020)

A truly beautiful film with two outstanding performances from Driver and Johansson. Detailing the increasingly fraught divorce proceedings of the couple, Marriage Story provides an intimate insight into their lives and their attempts to create some semblance of normality for the sake of their son.
The real standout of Marriage Story is the performances. Driver and Johansson were fully deserving of their Oscar nominations, both putting in some of their best performances. I felt every emotion alongside the pair of them, finding the pain and anger that each of them expressed to be so incredibly real and believable. Alongside these two powerhouse performances comes a superb supporting cast, particularly Nicole's family who provided some delightful comic relief.
This comedic element is another triumph of the film. It escaped being a very sombre film through its clever and subtle comedy, which added another layer to the film and further highlights the talent of Driver and Johansson in creating such light and dark in their work.
What also struck me about Marriage Story were the constant close camera angles which delivered a connection to the characters and enhanced the intimate feel of the experience. This really drew me in and, alongside the solid script and outstanding performances, made me connected to the film and engaged in a way I hadn't anticipated.
Everything about Marriage Story felt so real. It was this realism and rawness which earns it a solid 9 out of 10 and makes it a must watch.