Marriage Story

I’ll admit I was a little late to the “Marriage Story” party, mostly because the whole “divorce drama” premise sounded like homework. But Noah Baumbach pulls off something strangely intimate and true here, shunning melodrama for the messier middle ground of what actually happens when people grow apart. The film is bookended by two heartbreaking, quietly stunning monologues that set the stage for a breakup you can’t look away from.

The acting here really is next level. Everyone talked about Adam Driver’s wall-punching scene, and honestly, it deserves the hype—he nails that thin line between control and total unraveling. But I think Scarlett Johansson matches him beat for beat. She gives Nicole so much dignity and everyday pain with a performance that never once slips into “movie divorcee” cliché territory.

Visually, the film is clean and never flashy, with Robbie Ryan’s cinematography keeping the camera eerily close during uncomfortable conversations. There’s this almost unspoken tension in the way New York and LA are framed—the spaces reflect how the characters are drifting, both physically and emotionally. It sounds artsy, but it works.

The pacing can be weirdly languid; there are some scenes (especially with the lawyers, even with Laura Dern chewing the scenery) that almost overstay their welcome. But it’s balanced with small, honest moments: a song at a piano, a dumb minor injury, a Halloween night that sneaks up on you with unexpected feelings.

Baumbach doesn’t offer any easy answers or villains, which I love. It never feels like it’s picking a side, even if you end up sympathizing with one (and probably changing your mind as you go). The dialogue is sharp—sometimes painfully so—but also funny in the way that your own life can surprise you mid-crisis.

Final point: this is not a chill Sunday watch, but if you’re up for feeling a bit raw and then spending the evening staring at the ceiling, “Marriage Story” is worth your time. I think it sticks with you because it recognizes the damage we do to each other doesn’t always make sense, even when it’s done with love.