A big loser at the box-office, this film didn't really even try to be a hit at cinemas and perhaps that was never the intention. It was recently made available on Netflix and already is receiving a great deal of critical acclaim particularly for its direction, the acting of 3 major stars, and for approaching an all-too-familiar subject matter.
source
While i do attempt to not give the story away, there is always a chance of spoilers. If you prefer to enter a movie blind, you should probably skip this review
The story begins with Charlie and Nicole Barber (played by Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson) stating what they love about one-another to a touching soundtrack. Everything seems wonderful until we snap to the present and realize that they are actually at a marriage counselor and have these things written on paper and are meant to read them out loud to one another in an effort to salvage their failing marriage.
The rest of the film details how their divorce starts out as an amicable situation that the two of them wish to solve on their own at least in part for the benefit of their child, and eventually deteriorates into an all out war.
That's all I am going to say about that and this isn't really a spoiler since it is detailed in a rather obvious way in the trailer anyway.
from the official Netflix
This film can be considered a little boring as it does drag on at parts, but even though I am exceptionally impatient when it comes to films, i feel as though the scenes, which can seem repetitive at points, are all necessary to the overall story.
The performances by Driver and Johannson are just outstanding and even if you haven't been touched by divorce in your own life, there is a really good chance that you at least know someone who has. 50% of all marriages in the United States end up this way, after all.
This film does an excellent job showing how everything can fall apart and how the court system can end up being financially ruinous for both of the people involved. I am not a big fan of lawyers and apparently neither is director Noah Baumbach, who portrays them in an almost non-human capacity.
Overall, I think this film is trolling for Oscars but since this year already has so much excellence in the ranks for the various awards, I don't think it will win any of them.
Perhaps I am an overly sensitive person, but I found the film very.... emotional. I do like it when a film can make me misty-eyed a few times, and Marriage Story accomplished that. As a viewer, you can feel the frustration that both sides face and the story will keep you thinking long after it is over.