BLUE VALENTINE - MOVIE REVIEW

Ryan Gosling & Mr. Will-W.

Although I had to wait 90 minutes in the freezing rain to get a seat, it was well worth the wait to see Derek Cianfrance's directorial debut, Blue Valentine.  Emotional, raw, beautiful are words I would use to describe the broken love story.  And above this, its star Ryan Gosling joined Cianfrance for a Q&A session.  What a treat!

The film follows the relationship of Dean (Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams), who meet by chance volunteering at a Seniors' Home.  Dean is a free spirit who enters Cindy's life when she least expected it, while she is dating Bobby (Mike Vogel) and charms his way into her heart.  Cindy comes from a loveless home and vows never to replicate history.

The story criss-crosses different stages in the couple's relationship and we are introduced to Dean and Cindy after they have a serious blow-up, requiring Cindy and their daughter Frankie (Faith Wladyka) to stay at her parents' home.  We then get to see flashes of what their relationship was like when times were more carefree and love was only sweet.  The contrasts become apparent the further we progress into the story and ultimately, the damage is irreparable.  Ultimately, the two running timelines meet in one sharp point of contrast - we see how much they loved each other when they wed and where they wound-up.

Cianfrance, who also wrote the Screenplay for Blue Valentine gives us a deep, multilayered characters.  They are flawed, yet at the same time irresistible and what is so interesting here is that that there are no real good guys nor bad guys in this relationship.   People grow apart and change - such is life.  There are no gimmicks or manipulation, just real heartbreaking emotion.  

Williams and Gosling are equally magnificent and deliver nothing but honesty.  Mark my words, Blue Valentine will be a major forced to be reckoned with come Oscars time.   The film hits theatres in Canada via Alliance Films on December 28, 2010.  Grade: A

Check out some pics I got from the screening today below:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)