Blue Valentine Review

• 4th May 2011

Blue Valentine is a romantic drama about the genesis and destruction of a relationship between Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams). Directed by Derek Cianfrance, this was only his second feature in over a decade, his debut being Brother Tied in 1998. Cianfrance sent the script to Williams six years prior to shooting and Gosling came on board two years after that. The two actors had never met in person until a couple of months before filming began, but had worked individually on their characters for years prior.

The narrative centres on Dean and Cindy whose marriage is falling apart. The film plays out through a combination of present day scenes intercut with flashbacks which show how they actually met and fell in love. These scenes of the beginning of their relationship show both characters full of hope and youthful exuberance as their fledgling romance becomes serious quickly due to Cindy being pregnant by her former lover.

The present is far darker with Dean now working painting houses and spending the majority of his day drunk. Cindy is now a full-time nurse having to cope with the pressure of a demanding job and two children, as she now views her husband as a second child. The romance that is so delicately portrayed in the flashbacks is ultimately destroyed by a combination of the everyday grind and Dean’s inability to mature personally as well as grow within the relationship as it changes over time.

This intense drama is essentially a character study and would always succeed or fail on the strength of its lead performances. Both Gosling and Williams are astounding, moving from hopeful romance to utter emotional desperation with remarkable ease. Cianfrance allowed for much improvising by his stars, even having them live together prior to shooting. His approach to this film strongly echoes the work of Mike Leigh who shoots with no actual script but has his actors investigate and ultimately embody the characters. Cianfrance’s choices lead to a remarkable feeling of authenticity between the leads. Watching them fall in love made my heart flutter with excitement; the highlight being Cindy tap-dancing in a shop doorway whilst Dean serenades her. The contrasting scenes of the present day are almost unbearable in their desperation. By the end, the combination of her frustration and his self-loathing is emotionally crushing to witness.

Having been a huge fan of Ryan Gosling since Lars and the Real Girl this is further proof of his total immersion into any part he takes. After her superb turn in Brokeback Mountain, Michelle Williams returns here to another small production that is undoubtedly her best work to date. Blue Valentine is a film that will grow in reputation as the years pass due to the quality of the work on show. The lack of plaudits given to it at this year’s Oscars is criminal given the record breaking (and ridiculous) ten nominations for Best Picture. This is a film for adults who may possibly find watching it rather uncomfortable for a number of reasons. The usual Hollywood gloss, the kind that reassures the audience that true love will endure is not applied this time around. Blue Valentine possesses a depth of emotional honesty that’s impossible to ignore.

Aled Jones