Blue Valentine

I didn't know really what to expect with Blue Valentine. I heard some wonderful things about the performances but wasn't sure if the movie itself was going to be any good. Was it going to be just a performance film or was it going to be something more.

It was something more.

A modern version of Revolutionary Road that will probably speak more to my generation than the Sam Mendes film which happens to be a very good movie also anchored by two great performances. Blue Valentine is a film that grips you emotionally right from the beginning. The movie is skillfully told by director Derek Cianfrance who handles the material just right to get the perfect balance that is mesmerizing but also devastating. The movie is so real you forget that it's just a movie. It has a feeling of something more.

Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams own this movie from beginning to end. While the film is expertly crafted, it's the two actors that bring the heart to the film. These actors reminded me of early 70's films that feature Pacino, Hoffman, Duvall and De Niro. Watching those films you get these unbelievable fearless performances that are raw and real. Gosling and Williams have the same fearlessness and it brings this film to a whole new level.

This film stuck with me for a few days and it's not always the most pleasant thing to watch but it's hard to take your eyes off the screen.

Here's a good way to explain Blue Valentine - Krista and I went out to a nice dinner, had a bottle of wine and then we went to the movies telling jokes and having a nice date night. After the movie, we didn't really speak to each other and we ended up fighting later on. So, not a date movie but a good one.