Blue Valentine - Movie Review

Dean (Ryan Gosling) is a big kid. He is a great dad, a loving husband, but a chronic under-achiever. Cindy (Michelle Williams) appears to be tired of always being the adult. Dean didn't finish high school and works as a painter. A job that allows him to drink all day. It doesn't appear that Dean is a mean drunk, but he never seems capable of an adult conversation or setting goals.

Dean and Cindy have an odd relationship. Their background has a fairy-tale aspect, with a chance second meeting on a bus beneath a double rainbow. Maybe their relationship is built on a lie. Or maybe their strained lines of communication has taken a toll. Either way, love doesn't necessarily seem capable of conquering all.

Blue Valentine is an exceptionally well written story. Derek Cianfrance, Cami Delavigne and Joey Curtis give us regular characters who suffer from dysfunction rooted in normalcy. The characters are average people with enough romanticism to make the audience want to see them resolve their conflicts. While the pacing seems slow at times, the rich dialogue and interesting back-story create a volatile environment filled with emotion.

The first film I recall seeing Ryan Gosling in was Lars and the Real Girl. I was an instant fan. While I like Michelle Williams (who was amazing in Wendy and Lucy), I can't believe the Academy nominated her for Best Actress for this film, while passing over Ryan Gosling for Best Actor (both were nominated for the Golden Globe in 2010). She was solid, but his performance was awesome. Together, they make each other better...creating great drama.

It is hard for me to believe that the MPAA initially gave Blue Valentine an NC-17 rating. They changed the rating on appeal to an R, based mostly on the sexuality. The film has drinking, an assault, some intense arguments and adult themes. The hardest part for me was watching a medical procedure, the details of which will remain unspoken as it could be a plot spoiler. The film has some nudity and sex scenes, but not excessive and completely contextual. The film has a one hour, 52 minute run time.

Blue Valentine examines life from a very intimate viewpoint. There are no clear "good guys" and "bad guys." More often than not, the same can be said of most relationships. How things get off track from the storybook beginnings is never explored in depth. And that is what makes this film seem so dreadfully real. While sluggish, the film clings to the audience through brutal reality, strong dialogue and incredible acting. The ending could have been better, but I accept it for what it is. Worth renting. 7.5/10.