Review of Blue Valentine (2010) by Cord M — 29 Nov 2018

Dean (Ryan Gosling) strums the strings of his ukulele to the pitter patter of Cindy's (Michelle Williams) tap-dancing feet, singing "You Always Hurt the Ones You Love" by The Mills Brothers , frolicking among the hustle of New York City as they fall for each other.

However, Blue Valentine is not a love story: it's about the surrender of one's heart to another and the emotional descent once we lose grasp of love. It is one of the most truthful, tragic depictions of a relationship crumbling and arguably features the best performance by Gosling to date, perfectly capturing a man who gives up his life for someone else and attempts to salvage the irreparable cracks within his relationship.

The explicit realism carved into each frame, juxtaposing the couple falling in and out of love, and it's deeply personal narrative smothers you with a constant sense of underlying dread, eventually leaving you to drown in uncertainty and hopelessness about the nature of love and marriage.

The loss and desperation one feels clinging to unrequited love is perfectly illustrated through Gosling's and Williams' dialogue, painting heartbreak from both perspectives and the film rewards multiple viewings-often meaning something starkly different depending on the mindset you bring to it.

Never for the faint of heart, always interesting, and an imperative viewing for those of us who embrace all facets of love, including the brooding darkness it may lead us to.