Movie Review: Blue Valentine

   Ok class, time for an activity...How many ways can we say AMAZING! How about in Spanish, Fantastico? What about French, etonnant? Let's try German, erstaunen! No matter how many ways you can say it, when it comes to this movie the end result is always the same, it was undoubtedly amazing. Before I even get to the review, can I just say this film was definitely a Loved it, Loved it LOVED IT. Exclamation point.

Blue Valentine was directed by Derek Cianfrance, written by Cianfrance, Cami Delavigne, and Joey Curtis, and stars Ryan Gosling, and Michelle Williams. It was directed with such simplicity, directing your attention to the characters alone, without all the expensive special effects, and props. I love this style of film because you really get a sense of the plot, along with really connecting to the characters. It also highlights the raw talent of the actors, and their on screen chemistry. Again I say, I loved it.

Now on to the story.

Blue Valentine's storyline surrounds the life, and marriage of it's two main characters, Dean Pereira (Gosling), and Cindy Heller (Williams). The film toggles between the beginning of their courtship, and the unfortunate dissolution of their marriage years later. Dean; a young man searching for his idea of "The one", works for a moving company in New York, where after moving an elderly man into a nursing home he meets Cindy, who is in the nursing home visiting her grandmother. Dean feels like their chance encounter is nothing short of love at first sight, and begins to pursue Cindy despite her original hesitation. They end up falling in love, and after a surprise and questionable pregnancy, they quickly decide to get married.

As the story unfolds you begin to see the cracks in their already unstable marriage grow beyond repair, which leads to the inevitable decision to end their marriage. It was simply put, a film that takes you on an emotional journey, so rich with truth of the complexities and beauties of marriage, all while doing so in such a heartfelt manner. It was magnificent! I really don't want to spoil it, for those of you who plan to see it by giving you too much detail, so I will leave it at this. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you think, but most of all, if you are a movie lover like me, it will remind you of why you love films in the first place.

Go see it! You will enjoy it!