Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story opens with words of respect and love from its main adversaries. These kindnesses demonstrate the humanity of both parties and show that, while divorce can certainly be painful, it doesn’t have to evolve into hatred and spite. Further, as things begin to spiral out of control, we can look back at these eloquent words and see that sometimes an honest examination of feelings (good or bad ones) is the healthiest path to resolution. A messy divorce may be the structural backbone of Marriage Story, but it’s really about the choices that life gives us, regret, loss, and ultimately forgiveness and happiness.
Throughout the film, outside influences attempt to paint Nicole and Charlie (Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver) as something they’re not. Those with something to gain from their impending divorce over-exaggerate insignificant incidents and intentionally misconstrue or conflate motives, words, and actions. Shark-like divorce lawyers manipulate sentiment to gain a leg-up in custody proceedings while knowingly gaming the system. It’s eye-opening, and novices like Charlie and Nicole become easily caught up in the machine.
Navigating this litigious environment proves frustrating for everyone involved, including us. Driver and Johansson both turn in powerhouse performances that convey these aggravations with plenty of sympathy, but also doses of justifiable anger and cruel, petty outbursts. Baumbach doesn’t take sides, but he doesn’t paint his protagonists as saints either. Both are flawed, at times unreasonable, and prone to emotional manipulation, but they’re also very human and relatable.
The angry divorcees don’t start the film as bad people – and they don’t end it that way either – but somewhere in the middle, they both lose sight of who they are and what they believe in. With an amazing supporting cast serving as a contrast (including the wonderful Laura Dern, Ray Liotta, and Alan Alda), Charlie and Nicole – through Driver and Johansson – transform away from themselves, then back into a better, more enlightened version of what they were before.
Marriage Story is not a flashy film. It’s direction, while not flat by any means, allows the story and the characters take center stage. At times it even diverges (albeit slightly) into cinéma vérité or documentary territory, but this is more in feeling or tone rather than style. Randy Newman’s score also enhances the tone by evoking Shakespearian tragedy with melancholy strings and woodwinds. This combination of stylistic choices and acting acumen culminate in a powerful tale of love and loss.
James is a writer, skateboarder, record collector, wrestling nerd, and tabletop gamer living with his family in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the North Carolina Film Critics Association, and contributes to The Daily Orca, Razorcake Magazine, Mountain Xpress, and Asheville Movies.