Rating of
4/4
A fascinating, tragic, realistic love.
memento_mori - wrote on 08/08/13
Since I recently re-watched The Place Beyond the Pines (great movie), I thought I'd share my thoughts on director Derek Cianfrance's first directorial effort: Blue Valentine.
A lot of people have pointed out that even though the title is associated with Valentine's Day, and it is technically a romance movie, beware: do not watch this film if you want to have fun. And whatever you do, don't watch it with your date. If you're looking for a romantic comedy, look somewhere else.
Blue Valentine is an awe-inspiring movie, and that's saying something, because it starts out as just a romance.
But the way this story is told and the film is directed always keeps you on the virtual hook and in love with the characters.
It's told in non-chronological order, something a lot of screenwriters tend to incorporate (Tarantino, Nolan). That really adds a chunk to the movie, because it just emphasizes the troubled, dying relationship between Dean and Cindy in contrast to when they met and fell in love.
The acting is amazing. It's very hard to make a romance relationship work and not come off like your movie is trying to force emotion. But Blue Valentine has all the aspects in there to show you a healthy and a deteriorating couple.
Many have argued that some scenes involving their spousal disputes may seem uncomfortable to some. I won't lie: they are. If you haven't noticed, this is supposed to make you uncomfortable. It's drama.
I probably won't watch the movie twice, but I stand by my opinion.
Derek Cianfrance has shown me that he knows what he is doing behind the camera, choosing to capture a shattering love than a clichéd rom-com love that lasts 90 minutes.
He may understand love more than any of us do, because with his fascinating screenplay and the great talent involved, he has crafted a movie that attempts to define something no one will ever understand: Love.
