Review of Take This Waltz (2011) by Chet K — 18 Oct 2012

Not as emotionally draining as Blue Valentine or as light hearted as 500 Days of Summer, Take This Waltz finds the perfect middle ground for a bitter-sweet mediation into adult relationships, love and ageing.

I thoroughly liked this film, some of it's insights are spot-on and perfectly portrayed on screen. The characters and relationships between them, are always genuine and thankfully never cheapened for the sake of keeping audiences happy. Like life, there is a good and bad side to everything, and Polley does not hide one just to draw audience sympathies to particular characters or situations, rather we are left with the unfortunate - or unbearable - truth. There is a discontent here that Polley is able to explore both charmingly and tragically - a disconnect between a romanticised human need or longing for something better amidst a futile existence where everything gradually deteriorates. Visually this is cleverly depicted in a scene in the female swimming pool change rooms where Michelle Williams' young and firm body is strikingly contrasted to the naked, sagging and ageing bodies of the other women in her class.

Take this Waltz is beautifully shot in saturated colours, brilliantly acted by all the leads and told with such intimacy. Notably Michelle Williams is nothing short of amazing, with an ability to add subtle emotional complexities in creating a beautiful and flawed character. Seth Rogan is also surprisingly good, giving a uncharacteristic understated performance.