One of the most buzzed about films at the Sundance film festival this year,
Derek Cianfrance's '
Blue Valentine' is a film that demands your attention. It begins with Dean (
Ryan Gosling) and Cindy's (
Michelle Williams) marriage already in flux; their antagonism towards each other manifests in passive-aggressive acts rather than snide words, and their only common ground seems to be the intense love they share for their daughter, Frankie (
Faith Wladyka). In juxtaposing this, the apparent end of their relationship, with flashbacks to the intense, bright-burning love that defined the beginning of it, we observe in devastating terms how even the most hopeful couple can fall prey to the various hurdles - aspirational and existential - that life has to offer. Though there is clearly angst permeating through their relationship from the first frame, Cianfrance patiently allows tension to slowly build through several scenes of pure passive aggression, as Dean and Cindy are snappy and short with each other, while using their kid as a buffer. In frequent, discriminately-spliced flashbacks, the present is given greater emotional context, eventually building to the film's devastating juxtapository climax. Though the two leads are firmly pitted against one another, Cianfrance makes it a fair fight and seems keen not to take sides. In an early flashback, Gosling's character waxes philosophical on the nature of love, claiming that men are the true romantics, as they have to be strong-armed into assuredly marrying "the one", whereas women have a greater proclivity to settle for security, yet a crisp cut back to the present brings us back to Earth, where Dean is a scruffy, myopic alcoholic. Cindy, meanwhile, is no picnic either; she is difficult, fussy and a poor communicator, which only exacerbates Dean's jealous streak and his penchant for drink. Managing that rare feat of being even-handed without seeming self-consciously so, the film ticks a lot of dramatic boxes in set-up alone.
Bear in mind that this is no date film, nor is it a flamboyant reworking of the rom-com style such as the excellent '(500) Days of Summer'; it is achingly raw, essentially to a fault. Though we see flashes of happiness in the wonderful "Honeymoon stage", these scenes are presented only in the context that they ultimately decay into the present situation, effectively tainting our enjoyment of them, as Cianfrance cruelly, brilliantly intended. Indeed, the view here of love is a mostly depressing one, that it is vaporous and not nearly as assured as self-effacing chick flicks will tell you; this is for my measure the feel bad film of the year, but what a film it is. Painstakingly and heartbreakingly, the formula of the romantic drama has its neck wrung here; the story of boy-meets-girl exists only with our prior knowledge that it is doomed; a flashback to their joyous first formal meeting on a bus is the film's best scene, full of optimistic hope and promise, which is dashed catastrophically as we are expertly sutured straight back into the present hopelessness and reminded of what lies ahead for them.
Jim Helton and
Ron Patane's rivetting editing job should unquestionably earn them an Oscar nod next year; the confident juxtaposition of images generates its own meaning that sticks in the mind long after the lights come up.
The film's third act is crucial in forming a summation of its various stylistic and thematic motifs; small revelations reveal surprising amounts about Dean and Cindy, and the lack of communication between them is aptly exemplified, leaving the viewer with plenty to ponder for themselves, as is perhaps true of relationships themselves in the midst of crisis. Not to be mistaken for sloppy writing, Cianfrance reflects the communication breakdown between the couple in a peculiar, enticing way by passing the sense of bemusement onto the audience. Having performed superbly in their respective indie endeavours (Gosling received an Oscar nomination for 'Half Nelson', while Williams earned her own Oscar nod for 'Brokeback Mountain'), it is little surprise that their frisson on-screen together is spectacular. Beginning with an air of subtly and building to a stupendously well-acted final confrontation at a doctor's office, Gosling and Williams make for one of the most compelling, well-matched romantic pairings in years. The devastating final scenes cleverly, beautifully sew together the duality of good and bad shown to us throughout (in a stroke of expressive editing that is downright upsetting), and it positively must be watched carefully to soak in the little details. There is one thing made startlingly clear to those with a keen eye, providing several earlier scenes with a clearer, more potent meaning. Wonderful film that will surprise many at next year's Oscars.