MARRIAGE STORY Review, UNCUT GEMS Review — Primo Performances, Meh Movies
Marriage Story review and Uncut Gems review — so-so cinema with awesome acting.
I’m afraid I’m out of sync once again with most of my fellow critics on two of the most celebrated films of the year, Marriage Story and Uncut Gems. The movies as a whole did not impress, but some of the performances were true stand-outs.
First, let’s take a look at Marriage Story. It’s all about lightening rod performances by Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, Laura Dern and Alan Alda.
Noah Baumbach’s script, on the other hand, about the trials and tribulations of divorce and custody battles, is really nothing we haven’t seen before, on big or small screens. I will say the couples’ careers are new; one is an avant guard, award winning play director in New York, the other is a television star in Los Angeles. So relatable! At least it added a bicoastal aspect into the mix, and made their situation seem all the more dramatically untenable.
As for Uncut Gems, who knew Adam Sandler, who plays Howard Ratner, an NYC Diamond District dealer, had that kind of raw, in-your-face talent? It’s by far the best performance of his career. Idina Menzel’s part as Ratner’s not-so-long-suffering wife is so far from frozen it’s smoking, and Julia Fox, as Sandler’s smarter-than-you-think girlfriend is a revelation.
But that acerbic, abusive and abrasive script, in which almost everyone is aggressive and annoying, can drive a viewer to distraction. At first I found the Safdie brothers’ technique fresh and interesting. But you can only take so much of the leads yelling at each other while everyone in the background is yelling at the same time. Guys, give us a break! My companion and I had to pop a CBD gummy halfway through just to chill and keep our heads from exploding. Enough with the shouting already!
Expect to see lots of awards nominations from these two films, but not a lot of wins, including from my own organization, The Critics Choice Association. The acting is outstanding, but the films, as a whole, are not. And that’s hard to overcome.
If this Marriage Story review hasn’t dimmed your desire to see it, stream it now on Netflix. And if you still want to see Uncut Gems, it’s likely playing at a theater near you. Vegan CBD gummies available at BioFit360.com.
Marriage Story review and Uncut Gems review — so-so cinema with awesome acting.
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You nailed it! I have a slight headache from the yelling and unfortunately had no CBD to help! Several people walked out, I almost did but kept thinking it was gonna “develop.” It never did.
I agree and the music was very strange and annoying and seemed misplaced. The opening credits went in for too long and the “background” music was not.
That said, Adam Sandler was amazing.
Spot on review. Fascinated by the infatuation others have for this anxious shouting match.
[…] actually quite surprised that A-listers like Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Ben Affleck and Ridley Scott would waste their considerable talent and reputations on such an […]