Review of Rachel Getting Married (2008) by Eric B — 30 Mar 2011

I was interested to see Robert Altman prominently thanked in this film's closing credits, because I was thinking "Altman, Altman, Altman" from the very beginning. The influence was impossible to miss in the editing, loose dialogue and densely layered sound. Accordingly, this may be Jonathan Demme's most stylistically daring work ever.

I hadn't read many reviews beforehand, and was surprised (in a good way) at how much real, raw emotion the story contained. This is *not* just another date movie about a feel-good wedding. In fact, sensitive souls may recoil from all the ugly, frazzled rage hurled between Hathaway, DeWitt and Winger. Superb performances from all three.

If I had any complaint, it's that the film is a bit overlong, and the parade of musical performances at the climactic wedding reception was wearying at a point when I was growing impatient for the end. Nice to see Demme give Robyn Hitchcock another showcase, however.