blue valentine

let me introduce this film by first saying that, before you have the opportunity to hear any more of the already rampant (but well-deserved) hype about this film, you need to watch it. i made the mistake of: a) not seeing this the weekend it opened and b) listening to slate's culture gabfest podcast about the film, in which stephen metcalf and his fellow hosts,  praised the film so highly that my expectations for the film were surely tainted. so, yea, i went into this film expecting a lot but luckily for me, blue valentine delivers.

blue valentine is a film by newcomer, derek cianfrance and stars michelle williams and ryan gosling. this movie is a heartbreaking account of the courtship and dissolution of a couple. cianfrance very effectively toggles the past and present, using different filming techniques (the past is filmed in 16mm and the present in RED), juxtaposing the impulsive, light-hearted days of their courtship with the heavy and bleak reality of their currently crumbling marriage.

the performances by williams and gosling trump everything in this film, however. williams is subtle, yet powerful, in her portrayal of cindy and gosling, who first impressed me in lars and the real girl*, is captivating as the over-sensitive dean. both performances have since been nominated for several awards.

watching blue valentine is like watching your really great friends, who you always thought would be together forever, break up. my heart still aches a little from seeing this film but it's so worth it. every minute of this film will tear your heart apart but i promise you will walk away from this film with the feeling that you've gained something.

i know, i know, i'm just adding to the already rampant hype i was just complaining about. i guess what i'm saying is, stop reading about this movie and go see it.

*the truth is, he impressed me the first time in breaker high but that's not something i generally like to say out loud.