Marriage Story

Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, Azhy Robertson, Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Merritt Wever, Ray Liotta, Julie Hagerty

Director: Noah Baumbach

Renowned New York Avant-Garde theater director Charlie (Adam Driver) and his actress wife Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) are in the middle of a separation. Their initially lawyer free and amicable divorce hits a snag when Nicole gets a part on a TV pilot in Los Angeles and takes their child Henry (Azhy Robertson) with her. Originally believing that they will move back to New York and hopefully stay together, Charlie finds himself served with divorce papers. This leads to both having to listen to their lawyers (Laura Dern and Ray Liotta) spin every act and conversation in an effort to win and ultimately confront the harsh reality of what their marriage has become.

This is a gut punch of a movie and is probably the most realistic portrayal of what modern divorce has become. It's intimate, spending time with both Nicole and Charlie and watching them struggle through having to listen to their lawyers bad mouth each other. It's incredibly well written and feels painfully real. There are even tiny aspects like Nicole's mother, delightfully played by Julie Hagerty, who still wants to stay friends with Charlie after they have divorced.

They will probably both be nominated, and heck may even win, but Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson are downright incredible in this. They have a fight towards the end of the film that was just horrifying, as all their contempt and anger towards each other comes flowing to the forefront. Both of these characters have been pushed to their limit by this point and it didn't feel like acting. It felt like I was watching a real divorced couple fight.

I hope that people actually watch this film when it comes out on Netflix. It's rare these days to feel like I learned something or grew after watching a movie but this movie delivered that type of experience for me. I think people will see some of themselves in both Charlie and Nicole and to Writer/Director Noah Baumbach's credit, never takes a side. This is his most mature film, he has made several quirky movies with his wife Greta Gerwig, and tackles the material with a deft hand.

Please take the time to see this in a theater or on Netflix when it comes out. It's an honest portrayal of divorce with two incredible lead performances. You won't regret it.