Charlie
(Adam Driver) and Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) are a young couple who love their
young son. Charlie is an up and coming, self-absorbed theater director while
Nicole is an actress who put her career and identity on hold to raise their
child. When their marriage falls apart, they go through the process of
counseling and then divorce which upends their personal lives. Traveling to Los Angeles to stay with her
mom, she shoots a TV pilot hoping to revive her career while Charlie struggles
to balance his responsibilities to his theater and as a father. Divorce evolves into a complicated, expensive
endeavor where lines are blurred. Still
caring for each other, they have to reinvent their own lives and find a new
normal. When both engage lawyers,
things become raw and contentious, and life will never be the same.
These
two characters, whose lives diverge, are shown as seemingly normal with flaws
and regrets, and yet neither is necessarily a bad person, each perhaps making
unfortunate choices. Johansson and
Driver make you realize what gifted actors they are beyond starring in
Hollywood blockbusters like Star Wars and The Avengers, respectively. (Somebody
put Driver in a musical. Who knew he could sing?) Laura Dern won an Oscar for
her effective turn as a savvy lawyer, and Alan Alda and Ray Liotta complement
the strong acting ensemble.
The
film shuttles back and forth to contrast different points in this narrative,
but it is always presented with honesty and insight even in the quiet
moments. A winner all the way for those
open to this topic.
****
of **** stars
No comments:
Post a Comment