Review of Rachel Getting Married (2008) by Barbara B — 13 Apr 2013

'Rachel Getting Married' is hardly an appropriate title. Yes, Rachel(Rosemarie DeWitt) does get married, but the movie is hardly about Rachel at all. As she states in the film, "Is it always about Kym?" Yes, Rachel, it is.

Kym(Anne Hathaway) is the first character to be introduced to us. We first spot her smoking a cigarette while waiting to be picked up by her father and step-mother in order to go to her sister's wedding. She is with two people: One of them, male, rocks back and forth, longing to start a fire. The other one, female, scolds him and marks him for bad behavior. We've entered Kym's world. She is monitored like a child is monitored with threats for bad behavior, and rewards for good behavior. She does want to change, she does. Or, at least she wants to appear to be changing. If changing means she'll get less attention, she must do something drastic. If doing something drastic doesn't catch attention, she must appear to be changing. It all revolves around Kym, whether Rachel wants to admit it or not.

Kym goes to 12 step meetings, and gets her urine tested. She chain smokes in order to keep from drinking or drugs. Yet, everybody scolds to her, "Put that cigarette out." She has a most difficult time doing so. God knows what she could get a hold of without that cigarette in her hand. Rachel doesn't see it that way. Rachel thinks that Kym just wants people to notice she's in the room by way of cigarette smoke. When Kym gives a toast at the pre-wedding dinner, she speaks as if she's at one of her 12 step meetings. She's lost touch with reality, or maybe just wants to appear as if she's lost touch with reality. We're told that Kym was responsible for a car accident several years ago. She claims it was because she was high. Yet, she gets in a similar car accident later in the film out of an emotional impulse. Did she get in the accident on purpose? Was she wanting to commit suicide, or just cause a scene?

We can attribute Anne Hathaway's brilliant performance to the mystery behind Kym's motives. Every time she opens her mouth, we're not sure of whether or not she means what she says. We do know one thing, though: She loves her sister, Rachel. It takes Rachel the entire movie to love her back, and by the end, Kym doesn't ask for attention any longer; all she really wanted was Rachel's love, and approval, and forgiveness. This plot point is symbolized in the nurturing bath Rachel lovingly gives to Kym. Slowly, she cleanses Kym's bare and naked body, washing away the past, washing away the hatred, washing away animosity.

The film was directed by Jonathan Demme(director of 'Silence of the Lambs' and various documentaries) and written by Jenny Lumet(daughter of Sidney Lumet). Demme made the movie not on film, but on video. For all other filmmakers wondering how to make a movie on video, this is the proper way to do it(avoid seeing '21' which is the incorrect way to make a movie on video). The cinematic style of the film is a mix between documentary style and 'Blaire Witch'. It's as if somebody at the wedding is carrying a video camera and shooting all that is going on. I realized though, about half way through the film, that I was holding the camera: The audience is holding the camera. We are all guests to this wedding, we are all members of this family, and that is what Demme and Lumet provide us with: Inclusiveness.

Another interesting note about this film is the incredible reality that has been provided. Lumet's dialogue is intriguingly real. There isn't one line that sounds phoned in. Not only does the writing hold true to reality, but the performances provide an incredible sense of . . . I don't know how to describe it, it didn't feel like acting. As I've said before, it feels as if somebody stuck a camera in the room with these people and they lived out their lives as they would on a day to day basis(with the exception that they've got more interesting things going on in their lives than those on reality television).

'Rachel Getting Married' is one of the year's best, and it's a sure hope for the future of filmmaking, independent and Hollywood alike. I'd be shocked to find Hathaway and DeWitt not being nominated come Oscar time. Both of their performances are extraordinary, and Hathaway may deserve to win. I'd hope the movie itself is nominated, and I'd hope that Demme and Lumet are also given nominations. This film is extraordinary and I can't recommend it enough.