Never underestimate the power of ONE. Due to an underwhelming total number of votes (one!), I shall offer my views on Blue Valentine.
O.k., here it is. I do not shy away from sad love stories, and I sure don't shy away from films with Ryan Gosling (I adore him and think he is very talented). I start every film assuming I will value it. However, from first to last scene I was dragged down to not caring. This VERY blue-collar (generous label), very rural couple have lost their love-way in marriage. Much of story told in flashback to when they were happier. But I never bought it. They were young, had bleak futures, she was pregnant (she thinks by him!). Is this really the stuff of great romances in celluloid? Gosling is so sympathetic as we watch his devotion to his toddler daughter, while watching his drinking get in the way. Michelle Williams does non-glam very effectively.
You see, I just didn't see a "great love" go so badly. They were doomed from the start. Actually, I do not see this as a love story so much as a statement about an economic class and its fall-out. THAT is a socio-tragedy. And it touches me.
I expected to be moved. I expected to shed a tear. Instead, I just wanted it to be over. With a somewhat ambiguous conclusion, I was just glad it was over. These two people depressed the hell out of me. I know I sound very anti-sentimental. I am not. This just wasn't the film for me.
Now, Sara, please set me straight.
I hope to view this movie soon. Sounds like you were disappointed. Liked your reference to the "socio-tragedy"...will watch for this theme. Your review got me thinking of other great marriage-decay films. The one that really got me years ago was An Unmarried Woman. Did you ever see it? Came out in the early 70's. Jill Clayburgh was outstanding as the naive mate of a cheater who grows and changes as her marriage falls apart. Not my favorite genre, but worth viewing, since most marriages these days are going south.
ReplyDeleteI do remember it, but as soon as I read that, my like-era mind went to Kramer vs. Kramer. That will forever stand out to me for its excruciating poignancy when children are involved.
ReplyDeleteAnd there was Ingmar Bergman, who loved to depict marriages in decline. His 1973 film, Scenes from a Marriage, were haunting. Yes, Kramer v Kramer comes to mind. Also, The Story of Us was tough to watch. As I've mentioned, there are two genres of film that are really too dour for me to enjoy: death/dying and hospitals.... but a close third is marriages going kaput. I just know too many folks who have suffered in relationships.
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