OUR RATING SYSTEM
(*****) = do NOT miss! This one is as good as they come.
(****) = Fantastic - It's worth the price of the ticket (and then some).
(***) = Average - Nothing really bad, nothing really spectacular...
(**) = Perhaps you should find another movie to see.
(*) = The bottom of the barrel. It would be hard to find something less entertaining or more unworthy of your time.



Maureen (Mo) holds a PhD in marine geophysics (Dr. Maureen, to you) and works for the U.S. Geological Survey in Santa Cruz, CA. Maureen enjoys the outdoors (skiing, swimming, hiking, camping), dogs, cooking, singing, getting into (and out of) uncomfortable situations, and most importantly, watching quality movies. She makes a point of seeing as many Oscar-nominated films as possible each year and (correctly) predicting the winners. Her role on this blog is primarily as an advisor, collaborator, and "chime in"-er.

John (Jo) holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Studies. He currently lives in Chicago, Illinois and works as a nurse. His one true obsession in life is movies... The good, the bad, and everything in between. Other than that, he is busy caring for his cat, painting, writing, exploring Chicago, and debating on whether or not to worship Tilda Swinton as a deity. John is the master and commander and primary author of this blog.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Blue Valentine (**1/2)

How shocked was I to discover that Blue Valentine was not the spectacularly-emotional movie the trailer built it up to be, but rather a complete misstep in terms of simple story and character development. What has a concept for a great film ultimately fails and dies very quickly.

The story is disjointed, following two story lines of the same couple played by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. One plot follows their meeting and 'falling in love,' while the second contrasts and presents the ultimate failure of their marriage. There is no in-between, and I think that's where the majority of my problem with this film lies: that one plot shows how they are allegedly 'the perfect match,' and the second one says no with no reasoning why it didn't work in the first place. When did they begin to fall out of love?

And that's basically it. The story has no plot - it's more situational and character-driven. Not to say that no plot isn't a good thing, but when you spend two hours watching 2 people fight and eventually divorce, what's really the point? It doesn't have a happy ending (clearly), and it really doesn't have a happy beginning, either. There's nothing much happening.

That's also not to say the acting isn't bad, either. In fact it's nearly flawless. Both Gosling and Williams easily switch from their younger roles to older - from blinded by love youths to emotionally-tired adults. The transitions are truly remarkable.

But, for me, the movie is a miss. What's the point of spending 2 hours watching two people get a divorce, anyways?

(Awards potential: Best Actor (Gosling), Best Actress (Williams))
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