Review of Rachel Getting Married (2008) by Matt K — 26 Oct 2009

Ok, is it just me or is Anne Hathaway incredibly annoying? I'm sure my opinion could be shaped by having had the disturbing and frustrating experience of sitting through The Devil Wears Prada, however I really do find myself willing the camera to turn its lens on whoever else is in a scene when watching her in a film. Thankfully, I have been able to get over myself, well at least a little bit, by having seen Rachel Getting Married. Hathaway, as with all of the actors in the film, presents a very real and believable character in the recovering addict Kim.

The premise of the film is that Kim leaves a recovery center where she has been for the last 9 months in order to attend her sister Rachel's wedding. While the film is structured around the lead up to and then the execution of the wedding, it is the relationships and painful memories of the members of the family that propels it forward and give it life. The characters appear real and complex and flawed and guided as much by anger and fear and frustration than rational thought.

The emotional range of this film from shame, regret, anguish and blame to love and joy makes for a hell of a ride. It kind of reminds me of all of those Danish dogma films where past mistakes and emotionally painful experiences continue to be felt like ripples through a pool of water. Similarly the handheld camera and jumpy editing (which also by the way feels really Danish dogma to me) suggest that most of the attentions of the director Jonathan Demme have been focused on the actors and their performance. It really works as the performances seem real and as far from the one-dimensional, air-brushed show that is The Devil Wears Prada as it is possible to go.

The character of the father in the film, Paul played by Bill Irwin, is brillantly conceived. He is suffering loss, is joyful for his daughter Rachel's happiness and concerned for his now sober daughter Kim. He is stretched in 3 directions all at once and to see that on the screen, delivered in such a blistering fantastic performance is worth the price of admission alone.

This film would definitely be good for anyone into their drama raw and steady and real. All of the characters in the vast ensemble of Rachel's family and friends seem like real people whether they are only shown in the film for a few seconds or appear in every scene. The film did occasionally feel a little toxic when it lingered on sickly sweet speeches and kisses and hugs and whatnot but hey it's a wedding and that's what it's all about no?

I loved the realism of this film and its Indie feel which seems kinda rare for contemporary American films. I just wish I found it easier to take Anne Hathaway. Hopefully I'll warm more to her in the future as she erases the sad memory of that Devil-ish movie from my mind by more interesting impressive performances like this one. Ok, I can't deny she was great in Brokeback Mountain as well but Ang Lee is some kind of genius.