Blue Valentine (2010)

Studio: Hunting Lane Films/Weinstein Company/Anchor Bay Entertainment

Theatrical Release: December 29th, 2010

Blu Ray Release: May 10, 2011

R

Review by James Klein

There have been many films in all different kinds of genres about falling in love. We've seen it in comedies, dramas, action/adventure, science fiction, westerns, even horror. There aren't however a lot of films about falling OUT of love. Blue Valentine shows both sides of the coin and it is both heart breaking and tense to lay witness on what is about to come. This is not a film for everyone as the movie's plot revolves around a couple whose lives just aren't meant to be. However, if you turn your nose on this because of the serious subject matter then you will be missing one of the best films from 2010 and probably one of the best acted films in recent years.

Director Derek Cianfrance got his start in documentaries and his talent shows in Blue Valentine. The film is shot documentary style, giving the viewer a raw look at the life of Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams). From the very opening we see Dean and Cindy playing a mind game with one another at the breakfast table. As Dean plays with his young daughter at the table, Cindy is the one who is forced to feed her by  giving her oatmeal. When the child doesn't like it, Dean starts in on Cindy about how she made the oatmeal wrong by not soaking it long enough. he gets his daughter to pick out the raisins and eat them off the table. Cindy quickly puts a stop to it saying she doesn't need two kids acting up on her. Neither parent has a smile on their face. Neither are kidding with one another. There is a resentment and anger among the two and from there it escalates.

The film bounces back and forth in time between Dean and Cindy's life and how they first met to where they are now. Both come from broken homes with parents who did not love one another, it seems as if Dean and Cindy are almost doomed from the start. But we see a sweet side to both characters as Dean works for a moving company and helps an elderly man move into his assisted living home, decorating his home for him. Cindy cares for her elderly Grandmother and studies to be a doctor, a profession in helping others. Although the odds are against these two young people, we almost right away root for them to live a happy life together. But as the film goes back to the present, we see  what their life has become. There is just no love, no compassion anymore. Even when Dean tries to do something romantic for Cindy, he takes her to a sex hotel where they continue with the mind games and struggle to be intimate with one another. It's both unpleasant to watch and uncomfortable. As the film comes closer to the conclusion we know what is in store for these characters but yet hope that maybe love will save the day or they both wake up and realize they are and have always been meant for one another. That's just not going to happen. Things don't always happen the way we want them to. Life isn't full of roses and yes, there are more valley's than hills. Does anyone truly live "happily ever after"?

Cianfrance not only directed but wrote the script as well. He worked on this film for years and in the all too short documentary on the blu ray, he went through 66 drafts of his screenplay before he got it right...and on the set he threw most of it out the window and allowed his actors to improvise. Cianfrance also shot footage of Dean and Cindy in love using 16 mm film, giving the film a nostalgic look. The present day footage of the characters in their state of despair was shot with a modern RED camera, giving the film a more modern but cool look.

Gosling and Williams were always Cianfrance's first pick as the character of Dean and Cindy. He worked with them for years getting their character profiles and history and background down to a T. Not once did I ever feel like I was watching movie stars. Williams was nominated an Academy Award for her brave performance as Cindy and Gosling reminded me of a young Robert DeNiro as he breaks our heart as the troubled Dean. I was in complete awe watching them on the screen. Casting is so key to a film like this. I couldn't imagine any other actor that could have done it better.

This is the kind of film that makes me want to become a film maker. This is the kind of film that makes me love movies. It makes me so happy to see original film making still alive in a world of CGI, remakes, sequels, and comic book adaptations. Blue Valentine does have a 1970's vibe to it with its performances, writing and tone so it may not be for everyone. It is also a tense film to sit through and extremely sad and gut-wrenching. But it is also an unforgettable film as it sticks with you well after it is over. Not a whole lot of films still do that these days. That is because Blue Valentine has heart.