Movie Emporium

I’d like to say this film was amazing and awful at the same time but that would give the impression I mean the film itself was awful and this is not the case. In fact the total opposite the film is frankly an astoundingly good piece of cinema. The subject matter is what is awful, and awful as in heartbreaking to watch not awful in the just plain bad sense.

The ‘romantic drama’ as it has been dubbed is a total turn on the usual portrayal of love in Hollywood, in fact this shows the decline of a relationship and the struggles of the characters as they live with another person who they can no longer stand. 

It at times is emotionally draining and I found myself feeling for both characters at different points. 

The film starts showing the couple at odds, these arguments and tense periods are interspersed with fleeting moments of affection and humility for each other which is what makes their terrible situation even more heart wrenching. 

We then begin to see how they first met and from that point have an image of them as happy and carefree youngsters, which again when compared to their current state is tragic and really very sad.

You live with Dean and Cindy as they go through a challenging beggining to their flamboyant young love, the turbulent sitatuions they find themselves in and the tense destructive tension that gradually builds.

The efforts of Dean (played by an amazingly good Ryan Gosling) to induce some affection back into their relationship is nothing short of agonizing to watch. Cindy (An also brilliant Michelle Williams) constantly rejects him and the discomfort she feels around him is portrayed on screen subtly but firmly.

The build up of the inevitable boiling over of tensions which is the finale of the film is also accentuated by their young daughters presence. Frankie (Faith Wladyka) is young and carefree and you can see the struggle between Cindy and Dean to shelter her from their growing resentment of each other  as much as possible.  

Their lack of communication comes to a head when they head to a motel for a night in order to escape the tensions of their life but only to find them heightened by the claustrophobic room, the alcohol and the confrontation that happens. 

At the end of the film I was left contemplating their situation and felt exahausted, like I too had gone through an emotional turmoil. Do not however let this put you off, as a viewer it is a rewarding experience and a delight to watch such an original and strong film.

The performances by Gosling and Williams are both breathtaking. Their total change in character from the scenes at the start of the relationship to the scenes at the end and the breakdown of the marriage are Oscar worthy. They work perfectly together on the screen as at the start their is a genuine affection between the pair and at the end they both display visible characteristics that help you understand why they have got to the point we now see them at.

I would highly recommend this film, it made me smile warmly, it made me squirm, it made me laugh and it made me cry. I haven’t seen such a resounding and well performed piece of dramatic cinema in a very very long time.