Review of Take This Waltz (2011) by Jean N — 11 Nov 2012

While flawed compared to her debut (Away From Her, which was based on an Alice Munro story I love so I might have been biased), Sarah Polley's second film was still really fucking good. Yeah, Luke Kirby was annoying.

And I'm not so sure about the ending. But Michelle Williams? Sarah Silverman? Seth Rogen? They were great. Seth Rogen was, in fact, absolutely devastating and might make you cry more than once. There are scenes in here so perceptive about relationships they'll make you wonder what the heck is wrong with cinema that you've never seen them depicted on film before now.

Margo's breakdown where she confronts her husband about not responding to her attempts to seduce him is one of those scenes. "Most moviegoers still have to sit through cliched/sexist Hollywood scenes depicting the wife getting a headache when it's time for sex.

.. when there are directors making scenes like THIS?", you will think. Also: Best use of "Video Killed the Radio Star" in a soundtrack ever. That might not be saying much, so let me rephrase: this film made me love that song again, for the first time in a long time.

One more film like your first two, Sarah, and you can consider me a fan.