Blue Valentine
Relationships.
They are hard. There is no lie about that. They are possibility one of the hardest things you can do in life. Even friendships navigate the choppy waters because you are tied to another soul, having to think about their needs and try not for those needs to affect you; exhausting.
Yet fairy tales and romantic comedies have spent are whole goddam existence making out that all that matters is the immediate crush, the chase and that one kiss can lead to happily ever after. Sadly, that isn’t the case. There is no up-lifting crescendo after you meet someone you are attracted and finally, get them in the bag.
Blue Valentine is one of those movies to show both sides; the immediate rush of a first relationship and the crushing blow when they realise things just aren’t the same anymore. Starring Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling as Cindy and Dean a married couple who are on the brink of breaking up. She’s a hard working nurse and he paints houses for a living, being more relaxed and a little too laid back. The film also highlights the beginning of their relationship and how they met and blossomed together
Our two leads are haunting together. Showing that Gosling is much more of an actor than people make him out to be, it’s movies such as this and Half Nelson just proves it. Gosling as a sublime way of evolving into a character and understanding what happens underneath that steely poise. Aging seamlessly between the enthusiasm he is and the person he tries to be, Gosling is captivating. It helps that he stars alongside the incredible Michelle Williams, a women with not only just grace, put this powerful women who is pushed towards the edge. She is incredible to watch and the chemistry the pair have together is wonderful.
The film is beautiful, achingly beautiful. It smatters of both the hollow and the sublime. Cutting out the narrative into two stories and intertwining them in such a way that plays havoc with your emotion. Juxtaposing two relating scenes but at different points of the couples time together makes it horribly and wonderfully captivating. The movie would simply be a melodrama without this air of sweetness and vulnerability of their younger selves played opposite the older worn out version falling out of that same love. It’s striking and director Derek Cianfrance does this so well.
Blue Valentine is a look at the fundaments of love and how much sweat, muscle and sorrow is poured in at the same time. With the strength of the cinematography, story and narrative as well as some impressive acting, Blue Valentine is the movie for everyone to watch. Not only because it is damn near impeccable, but because it looks deep into the truths of love and marriage and bares it naked on the screen.
So go on, give yourself a blue valentine this year...
TTFN
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