While I certainly will give Rachel Getting Married for bringing something new to the table, admittedly this "dysfunctional family deals with drama before a wedding" plot has been done way too many times. However, Jonathan Demme's take on the subject is refreshing, well done, and astonishingly original. Despite this, the film is nothing without Anne Hathaway.
The film basically is an ensemble drama with some light hearted moments, but just as many, if not more heavy hearted moments. It follows two families becoming one at the wedding of Rachel and Sidney, and Rachel's sister Kym (Hathaway), a recovering drug addict, is returning home for the first time in some years.
One thing that really stands out to me is the feel and atmosphere of the film. I really felt like I was there at the wedding, apart of everything and becoming involved in the situations at hand, and I credit this all to Jonathan Demme. He did a great job in the director's chair. The film almost feels like a documentary of sorts, with the way the film is shot (mostly with a hand held camera), and the way the sound is dispersed really made me feel like I was there.
Of course, the film has many strengths, but none come close to the star and probably the driving force behind the picture, Anne Hathaway. I seriously doubt the film would've been made had she not signed on to the film, because the rest of the cast besides Debra Winger are completely unknown and the premise is unoriginal. Hathaway's stunning turn as the tortured, lost, and tainted Kym is riveting. You can't keep your eyes off her (and it has nothing to do with her looks). Hathaway's maturity as an actress really shows. In the hands of a lesser performer, the character could've become comical, but Hathaway knows when to yell, when to cry, and how to look. Despite her flaws, we can't help but love Kym and side with her in every scene. It's a stunning performance that should be recognized at the Oscars.
Fortunately, Hathaway is not the only one who delivers a performance that could bring home the Oscar gold, as Rosemarie DeWitt is nothing short of brilliant in the title role as the 'neglected' member of the family. She's raw, confrontational, and wears her emotions on her sleeves, yet remains likable and we can identify with her as well as Hathaway. Debra Winger is also good in limited screen time, but I don't see where all the Oscar buzz for her is coming from. DeWitt deserves recognition more than Winger does.
I've got some complaints, mostly with the pacing of the film. It felt disjointed and random at parts, and somewhat formulaic by bouncing from a Hathaway subplot, to a touching family subplot, back to Hathaway, and so on. It got a bit repetitive after awhile. The emotional climax of the film, while potent, was a tad bit predictable and formulaic. I also felt that the end of the film dragged a bit. It was as if the film wanted to drive home "this is how we want you to feel, so we can make the next scene work", but they kept going and going until I had lost almost all interest.
All in all, Rachel Getting Married is a film that does a lot of things right, few things wrong, and gets a lot of credit for providing a fresh look at the typical "dysfunctional family at wedding" film. Hathaway and DeWitt are Oscar worthy, and Demme should get some buzz too. If you like an emotional roller-coaster of a drama, then give this one a try.
The film basically is an ensemble drama with some light hearted moments, but just as many, if not more heavy hearted moments. It follows two families becoming one at the wedding of Rachel and Sidney, and Rachel's sister Kym (Hathaway), a recovering drug addict, is returning home for the first time in some years.
One thing that really stands out to me is the feel and atmosphere of the film. I really felt like I was there at the wedding, apart of everything and becoming involved in the situations at hand, and I credit this all to Jonathan Demme. He did a great job in the director's chair. The film almost feels like a documentary of sorts, with the way the film is shot (mostly with a hand held camera), and the way the sound is dispersed really made me feel like I was there.
Of course, the film has many strengths, but none come close to the star and probably the driving force behind the picture, Anne Hathaway. I seriously doubt the film would've been made had she not signed on to the film, because the rest of the cast besides Debra Winger are completely unknown and the premise is unoriginal. Hathaway's stunning turn as the tortured, lost, and tainted Kym is riveting. You can't keep your eyes off her (and it has nothing to do with her looks). Hathaway's maturity as an actress really shows. In the hands of a lesser performer, the character could've become comical, but Hathaway knows when to yell, when to cry, and how to look. Despite her flaws, we can't help but love Kym and side with her in every scene. It's a stunning performance that should be recognized at the Oscars.
Fortunately, Hathaway is not the only one who delivers a performance that could bring home the Oscar gold, as Rosemarie DeWitt is nothing short of brilliant in the title role as the 'neglected' member of the family. She's raw, confrontational, and wears her emotions on her sleeves, yet remains likable and we can identify with her as well as Hathaway. Debra Winger is also good in limited screen time, but I don't see where all the Oscar buzz for her is coming from. DeWitt deserves recognition more than Winger does.
I've got some complaints, mostly with the pacing of the film. It felt disjointed and random at parts, and somewhat formulaic by bouncing from a Hathaway subplot, to a touching family subplot, back to Hathaway, and so on. It got a bit repetitive after awhile. The emotional climax of the film, while potent, was a tad bit predictable and formulaic. I also felt that the end of the film dragged a bit. It was as if the film wanted to drive home "this is how we want you to feel, so we can make the next scene work", but they kept going and going until I had lost almost all interest.
All in all, Rachel Getting Married is a film that does a lot of things right, few things wrong, and gets a lot of credit for providing a fresh look at the typical "dysfunctional family at wedding" film. Hathaway and DeWitt are Oscar worthy, and Demme should get some buzz too. If you like an emotional roller-coaster of a drama, then give this one a try.