Blue Valentine (2010)

Director: Derek Cianfrance

Stars: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, John Doman
Runtime: 112 minutes

Synopsis: The relationship of a contemporary married couple, charting their evolution over a span of years by cross-cutting between time periods.

Performances: 9/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Editing: 9/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 7/10

Verdict: Don't be fooled by the title or the fact that it stars the guy from "The Notebook" (in 2010, that's the role Gosling was most known for), because "Blue Valentine" is definitely not your typical date night romantic flick. It serves instead as a devastating look at a failing marriage, or rather at the different stages of that imperfect relationship. Told through a very fitting non-linear narrative that alternates between tones, we see the characters of Dean and Cindie evolve into something they despise. We witness them go from being likable to unlikable, joyful to sinister. In a way, it's a movie about the aftermath of the happy ever ending that concludes every cliché romantic film, and that's what makes it such a unique take on romantic dramas. The two lead performances by Gosling and Williams were spectacular and gave so much dimension to their respective characters, allowing us to connect, laugh, and cry with them. "Blue Valentine", in a sentence, focuses on both the "Blue" and "Valentine" phases of marriage, and it does so in a grounded, heartbreaking manner.

FINAL GRADE: 8/10