Blue Valentine is the second to last Oscar nominated movie -- at least for the major awards -- that I had yet to see (Buitiful would be the last). It's an excellent and honest look at a crumbling marriage and the type of art-house film that is probably accessible enough for a mainstream audience as well. That accessibility is tested at numerous times throughout the film. Blue valentine is by no means an easy film to watch. Using flashbacks to contrast the joys of a new relationship with the utter pain if a collapsing one, writer/director Derek Cianfrance presents both a powerful and well made film. Stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams are simply fantastic. Both give performances that are raw, uninhibited and fearless. The range both display in their craft is well worth all the critical praise they've received and are the main reasons to see the film. I will fully admit that not everyone is going to enjoy Blue Valentine, it's far from a feel good movie and people looking for escapism and straight entertainment value will want to look elsewhere. This normally isn't the type of movie I love and it wouldn't place in the top ten of my favorite movies from 2010 but it is a powerful (and depressing) film that is sure to elicit a emotional reaction from everyone.
Rating: 4
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