Review of Blue Valentine (2010) by Dannielle A — 05 Jul 2012

A very honest and realistic portrayal of intimate love... how it is found and how it is lost. The movie is basically an autopsy of marriage and the disintegration from beginning to end. The denouement left me with little hope and I think the movie could have been triumphant if the two characters worked out their differences.

This movie has been called "the most provocative film of the year" for good reason. I can't count the amount of times I fast forwarded porn scenes that I didn't feel had any value to watch.

The film could have stood on two feet without them. (A great director shows the intensity of a sexual relationship without actually showing the sex... but then there are those who go see movies specifically for those scenes, so c'est la vie.

) All in all, a very poignant, bittersweet film. I wouldn't say it's worth watching... it doesn't teach me anything. I tend to enjoy films more when they teach an important lesson or when they inspire you to be a better person.

Blue Valentine does neither. It's more of a documentary of a failing marriage than a piece of entertainment that inspires. Dean (Ryan Gosling) worked so hard to keep the marriage going and it simply wasn't enough for Cindy (Michelle Williams.

) WHY it wasn't enough is unclear other than the fact that she just has issues she can't seem to work through. Why didn't they try marriage counseling? Why didn't they get help? The marriage is ending before our eyes and we can't figure out why it can't work out.

The ending was unbelievable. For two people who love each other THAT MUCH, it almost seems obvious that they'd make it work... but the ending has loose ends... and we don't know if they'll work it out or if they've broken up for good.

It's frustrating.