Noah Baumbach directs Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver and Laura Dern in this longform drama looking over a divorce.

That annoying kid destroyed their beautiful marriage. They say it was career and infidelity and stifling behaviour. But that fucking kid… Lovely to see Julie Hagerty, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta, Merritt Weaver and especially Laura Dern in such well written support roles. Visually this has a really playful sense of space – look at the shots in Laura Dern’s office where both actress are filmed dead centre on but one seems in control of her environment, the other askew with this world. Baumbach imbues a nice humour to it all, not quite as lacerating and punchy as his early rough draft The Squid and The Whale, but certainly nowhere near as constantly miserable as Kramer V Kramer. Marriage Story stretches out and breathes a lot more, so you aren’t pummelled with negativity like it’s 40 year old influence. It is a better film, in spite of that homewrecking brat. Take home: Don’t have children!

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