Blue Valentine 2010

I probably haven't watched as many, or as varied films as you would expect for someone who says they are a film lover, but I was never about quantity, instead for me it was always about quality.

Its also about the lasting impression a film makes on me, whether by completely blowing my mind, by using certain motifs like music, and scenery, or by making me feel something on a deep emotional level. Today Blue Valentine really hit me in the feels, and not the good kind either.

This film's tagline is 'A love story', and I feel this could not be further from the truth.

This film is so anti-romantic, that the most romantic moment in this film was when a decision about an impromptu hotel stay was being discussed, and hastily planned. The spontaneity by the frustrated male protagonist in a desperate attempt to rekindle a small spark that started the relationship.

Blue Valentine is told in two cross-cut linear story lines, and stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams as middle-class married couple Dean and Cindy Pereira who are hopelessly trying to make a happy home for their adorable little daughter Frankie.

The story lines tell the evolution of their relationship from an awkward first meeting, and fateful chance second encounter, through to a courtship of bad decisions, and a marriage of convenience mostly to fit in with conventionality, then living in rural Pennsylvania.

While not much is known about Dean, other than he is from Florida and new to NYC, and an affable yet somewhat unfocused kind of gent. We do get a fair bit of insight in to Cindy's home life in the boroughs of New York, and the ineffectual role models for parents who share a fairly loveless existence.

I said this film is anti-romantic, and is so evident throughout the film. The sex scenes are devoid of emotion or intimacy, and is purely based on the physical needs of those involved, and the only love shown to anyone, is to their daughter who seems to be the only happy individual in this film of emotional bleakness.

Its been about 8 hours since I watched this film, and I still feel sad about it. I have put much effort into watching indie, or non-major studio films, and for the most part, while having sad, and emotional parts to them, they are often quite uplifting, and leave you with modicum of hope. Blue Valentine does neither, but this does not mean to say that it is a bad film. Quite the opposite, it is a very good film, with excellent performances, expert direction, and writing that achieves exactly what its meant to.

Do not go in to this expecting the Notebook, or I dunno, Love Actually. Expect more (500) Days of Summer without the lovelorn male protagonist, or hopeful ending.

Day 4 of Ryan Gosling Filmography Binge

Alright hot take incoming. Blue Valentine momentarily boasts amazing moments of 'Romance' authenticity but it struggles fully break the shackles of falling into stereotypical characters and cliche plot lines. The characters portrayed beautifully by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams seem to fall into stereotypes way too soon lacking originality at times. I also found some parts of the movie to be melodramatic, except for the hospital scene when they were fighting which was intense and was well executed.

However, there are some redeeming qualities about this movie apart from the stellar performances, the chemistry between the 2 leads are great and Ryan really work with Michelle (not as good as Rachel tho ;)). There are some scenes in the movie where you can see pure raw emotion from the characters. The connection feels so authentic despite the narrative being a bore-fest for me. I was worried about the ending during the last 15 minutes of the movie but they nailed it, the camera work was done really well during those last few moments. Without giving away any spoilers I gotta say the ending deeply resonated with me.

In conclusion, the movie didn't do much of a good job having me in a chokehold throughout the movie like most Romance Dramas do for me, heavily flawed yet leaves a heavy impression on the audience.

P.S.- please do not butcher Ryan Gosling's hairline like that again, and also when will we get a movie with Michelle happily married.

Blue Valentine- 6.0/10
Ryan Gosling- 7.6/10

The flowing nature of relationships. Even when we think we've found true love, happiness isn't guaranteed and it never really is to be honest and this is something that Blue Valentine excels at showing. It's a film that shows what I see as a realistic portrayal of a marriage in decline. We follow Dean and Cindy thorough the decline of their relationship while also being shown various moments of their courtship leading up to their marriage. I remember somewhere near the beginning we get a glimpse at Deans view of true love and finidng the one when he talks about how women usually settle for a partner that's convient and will stick around while guys know for sure when they have found the one and coincidentally thats exactly what their realtionship turned into. For Dean it was love at first sight and while I'm sure that Cindy actually did love Dean you can't deny the simple fact that it was also the fact that Dean would stick around even though the child may not be his and love her that contributed to her marrying him, and while they were for sure happy for some time, that happiness died out. The happiness at the beginning of their relationship compared to the stale nature at the end of it shows, for me at least, a fairy tale ending isn't guaranteed. Blue Valentine isn't just a story of a failed marriage, but of a love that once was. My ranting is now done. I also have to say that the song "You Always Hurt The One You Love" is very good and I've listened to it about 10 times since I finished the movie.