The release of “Blue Valentine” is big news locally because part of it was filmed in Scranton. That’s a cool factoid, but town pride only takes you so far. You’re not obligated to like it; this isn’t a school play.
Besides, movies best known for their locations are rarely worth your time. “Blue Valentine,” thankfully, gloriously, transcends the awkward description of “Scranton movie.” Detailing a couple’s sad, painful impasse and how they got there, the film is an unforgettable whirl of romance, regret and relentless honesty. It’s hard to describe, but that’s what makes it so good.
We see two days — and several years — in the unraveled life of Dean (Ryan Gosling), a house painter who has a cigarette perpetually dangling from his lip, and his wife, Cindy (Michelle Williams), a no-nonsense nurse. The day unfolds with excruciating slowness, which director Derek Cianfrance, displaying a visually evocative style, executes perfectly. Dean chomps breakfast with their daughter like a leopard, while Cindy chides them. Dean mourns the loss of the family dog with heaving sobs; Cindy sits silently. The boss praises Cindy’s job performance, but only after giving her elevator eyes. Husband and wife look tired and old, as if they have lived several lifetimes. Being in your twenties has never been so unglamorous.
Cindy and Dean’s current condition emerges through well-placed flashbacks: an introduction that colors everything, their theories about love, Dean’s determined courtship. Many filmmakers never challenge their audiences, practically announcing how we should feel. “Blue Valentine” completes the puzzle of Cindy and Dean piece by piece. But a few are out-of-focus. Some are missing. The movie’s agonizing beauty is that we’re never quite sure what we are seeing. Cianfrance refuses to take sides.
The director’s deft touch is undeniable. The film’s pacing is perfect, and Cianfrance captures mood with lighting and framing, so everything feels natural and of-the-moment. The performances fill in the gaps. Gosling oozes charm, passion and jittery desperation — you know he cannot offer any more to the relationship. Williams, the actress no one wants Hollywood to corrupt, is the key. Her expressive face allows you to read the relationship’s ups and downs. She’s an open book you’re frightened to read.
A poetic lesson on how cold reality can poison passion, “Blue Valentine” clarifies the difference between finding the love of your life and the love of a certain part of your life.
Regardless of where you live, this film will shake you.
Rating: W W W W 1/2
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