Review of Blue Valentine (2010) by Matthew D — 14 Apr 2018

Feel the cold embrace of Blue Valentine.

Derek Cianfrance directs his romantic drama masterpiece with his 2010 indie movie Blue Valentine. It's a heartbreaking tale of love and loss in the real world. Everything is as realistic as possible from the sets, costumes, situations, arcs, dialogue, and acting. Cianfrance captures a couple struggling to rekindle the flames of their original love.

Blue Valentine is the most visually stunning romance film I may have ever seen. Cianfrance utilizes the most lovely color scheme for Blue Valentine. The early relationship sees lots of passionate crimson reds, while the middle lavishes a few dejected greys, then finally the loveless end is met with chilling blues. You have to see Blue Valentine.

Michelle Williams is superb as a nurse and mother named Cindy. She is radiant in her joy and absolutely devastating in her depiction of depression. It's a demanding role that Williams absolutely stuns as she plays the charming new girlfriend and the exhausted working mother convincingly. You really feel sorry for her situation. You want her to love and be happy.

Ryan Gosling proves he can act on a deeper level in a romance film like Blue Valentine after his notable performance in The Notebook. He portrays a man struggling to make a living wage going from mover to painter. His character Dean represents a decent man that wants love, but cannot grasp how to keep it. Gosling is so empathetic as Dean. He must pull off flirtatious boyfriend, loving husband, dutiful father, violent drunkard, apologetic spouse, and desperate every man all in one multi-faceted role. Gosling is glorious in Blue Valentine.

Blue Valentine is an honest romance film that marries heart-rending drama with tragic sadness. It is a poignant testament to beautiful desire and disastrous amour. Blue Valentine makes you lose yourself emotionally in Dean and Cindy's loveless marriage.