Blue Valentine (2010)

Featured Audience Ratings

• paul s

  
  In Blue Valentine all the ingredients are there for a memorable film - terrific acting from the two main characters, Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams; some very arty and imaginative camera work; a story that is packed with emotional punch... and yet, while good, this film fails to… More
  In Blue Valentine all the ingredients are there for a memorable film - terrific acting from the two main characters, Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams; some very arty and imaginative camera work; a story that is packed with emotional punch... and yet, while good, this film fails to be great, never quite reaching the emotional punch that the very well filmed ending aimed for. Without revealing anything out of the ordinary, I'll mention that the film starts out with a scene in present day involving the loss of the family dog (where you witness how easily Gosling interacts with his daughter, and how tension lies just beneath the surface between he and Williams). From there the story moves slowly forward, while backtracking to fill in the blanks concerning who these two are, and what they were. I was amazed how Gosling in particular pulled off the difference in age, with glasses and receding hairline. There are some background scenes that I found superfluous - especially those concerning William's old high school boyfriend, and I found the big deal scene at the motel, while raw, ultimately falling short of "Leaving Lost Vegas" greatness. On a side note, I've never understood the compulsion of wanting to "get wild", meaning go to a hotel, get drunk, and then have sex. I get the hotel and sex thing, but, if you're trying to reconnect with your mate, why do you have to get drunk to do it? To me that would just get in the way of any true emotion and connection... but what do I know? In the end, you have a familiar tale concerning falling out of love. The film tries to examine how this can happen, and while not a revelation, does an adequate job of showing how, after time, things become rote to the point where you don't really hear what the other person is saying, and subsequently are put off by bullet point words, instead of trying to understand or appreciate the emotional content of what's behind the words. As Williams says towards the film's end, "blah, blah, blah", indicating that she "thinks" she's heard it all before. Odd that I found her character the "cold" one, while Gosling came across as much more straightforward, if perhaps needy. As he observes to a friend early in the film, "men are the ones more into true love than a woman. A guy thinks he'll never find "the one", and then wham, that's it, she's the one, while a woman will get to a certain point and then "settle". You know, it's like she's weighing her options... he's got a decent job and he's not bad looking." The film makes it clear that Gosling truly loves his family, though you're not quite sure about Williams - which makes that earlier proclamation an insightful one. Perhaps if I felt that Williams loved Gosling as much as he obviously loves her, the film would have had more impact for me; though I will admit that the very last scene still brought a tear to my eye; yet probably not for the reason intended by the script. If I could I'd rate this a 75... just for the record.

• danny d

  
  well shot, well acted, and with near perfect dialogue. with all that going for it one would think the film was excellent. the problem is that the story itself wasnt the least bit convincing. the falling in love story was great, i can see why they loved each other. the falling out… More
  well shot, well acted, and with near perfect dialogue. with all that going for it one would think the film was excellent. the problem is that the story itself wasnt the least bit convincing. the falling in love story was great, i can see why they loved each other. the falling out of love story was non existent. cindy was the more intolerable character, and she was the one who had the breakdown. dean wasnt perfect, but overall he was a decent guy who loved his family, and nowhere in the film do we see where that wasnt good enough for cindy. i just wasnt convinced by any of it.

• Dead A

  
  It's one of the heartbreaking truth of real life. Love seems amazing at first. The world will look colorful and a happy place to live in. But when you start to take your love ones for granted, it will backfire. I actually felt bad for Dean whereas he sacrificed so much. Not every… More
  It's one of the heartbreaking truth of real life. Love seems amazing at first. The world will look colorful and a happy place to live in. But when you start to take your love ones for granted, it will backfire. I actually felt bad for Dean whereas he sacrificed so much. Not every love story meant to have happy ending I guess. I would have given it at least 4 stars but I don't like sad ending. Not my cup of tea.

• Emile T

  
  This movie hurt me with its breathtaking truth in every frame. This is a very frustrating film to see and I don't think everybody will fully understand how human it managed to be. The direction and screenplay seem to make it look hopeless, but yet it happens to be more hopeful… More
  This movie hurt me with its breathtaking truth in every frame. This is a very frustrating film to see and I don't think everybody will fully understand how human it managed to be. The direction and screenplay seem to make it look hopeless, but yet it happens to be more hopeful than any other romantic comedy that tries to talk about love. This movie hits you hard, only because it is so true. Acknowledge that or don't, but it'll hurt in the end.

• Jameson W

  
  Great film! Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling are both stunning...

• Matt G

  
  Dean: In my experience, the prettier a girl is, the more nuts she is, which makes you insane. I quite liked Blue Valentine. It's a step away from the films that I usually see, which was great. It gave me an unexpected rom-com, seeing how I went in not knowing anything about it.… More
  Dean: In my experience, the prettier a girl is, the more nuts she is, which makes you insane. I quite liked Blue Valentine. It's a step away from the films that I usually see, which was great. It gave me an unexpected rom-com, seeing how I went in not knowing anything about it. What director Derek Cianfrance accomplishes is his way of traveling back and forth from happy to sad events in the lives of an unhappy married couple. Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling are very solid in their roles, delivering a very emotional performance as a "couple". All in all, Blue Valentine is an honest depiction of human emotion. Highly recommended. Read more reviews at www.CreedsDelight.com

• Carlos M

  
  A careful pace and three-dimensional characters are what makes this film so realistic and hard not to relate to. What a wonderful story, bitter and painful, it is a perfectly sincere portrait of a relationship in collapse and how the weight of real life can irremediably damage the… More
  A careful pace and three-dimensional characters are what makes this film so realistic and hard not to relate to. What a wonderful story, bitter and painful, it is a perfectly sincere portrait of a relationship in collapse and how the weight of real life can irremediably damage the happy ending dream of a couple living together.

• Curtis L

  
  I will hand it to them. They did an excellent job of making their relationship seem bright and cheery at first, and just loveless and awful in the end. However, I also have to say that watching a movie that makes you feel trapped in a loveless marriage is quite depressing.

• Chris W

  
  I couldn't see this working the way it does if it wasn't an indie film. That gives the film the ability to be as raw and gritty as it is. As a result, the film is more succcessful at trying to be a realistic look at the dissolution of a relationship. I didn't totally… More
  I couldn't see this working the way it does if it wasn't an indie film. That gives the film the ability to be as raw and gritty as it is. As a result, the film is more succcessful at trying to be a realistic look at the dissolution of a relationship. I didn't totally buy the film or the characters, and wasn't completely sold on shifting back and forth in time, but aside from that, I did like this movie. Maybe the fact that it's not glamorous, and that it can be hard to watch is a sign that it is successful. The performances and music are good. It's hard to really completely root for either lead, but they both have the chops for this and pull it off nicely. As far as the music, well, it's not the kind of thing I want to listen to all the time, but it is good, and seemed to fit things decently. I also liked how this film was shot, even though, as I said, I wasn't too big on the time shifting. This isn't a totally masterpiece, but it's not too indie for it's own good either. It does seem a tad meandering, and I could have used some better justification for why things went sour, but I liked it enough to give it a mild recommendation, even if this isn't a film I really want to watch repeatedly.

• Anthony L

  
  Blue Valentine is pretty mundane when you think about it, there is nothing extraordinary about it, it is very real and very raw. It is extremely heart-wrenching at times not to mention emotionally draining to the point of exhaustion, the conclusion is devastating and and it will… More
  Blue Valentine is pretty mundane when you think about it, there is nothing extraordinary about it, it is very real and very raw. It is extremely heart-wrenching at times not to mention emotionally draining to the point of exhaustion, the conclusion is devastating and and it will probably make you want to cry. I have to say it is one of the best films I've seen in quite a while. It is genuine and honest but it's not all bad news, the scene in the doorway where Ryan Gosling sings and Michelle Williams dances is truly wonderful and has shot right up to the top section of my 'favourite scenes of all time' list. The two actors do such a brilliant job, I couldn't see any other two actors pulling off what they did to be honest. The fireworks were a good metaphor at the end, I really hope that this isn't just a firework from Derek Cianfrance though. Highly recommended!

• Zack B

  
  [Short DVD review] The story meanders from time to time, but incredible performances and gut-wrenching truth make this movie a must-see for romantics and cynics alike.

• Dean M

  
  Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling are beyond superb in their roles; they bring an emotional commitment to the film that has rarely been seen since the method acting of the 1970s. <i>Blue Valentine</i> doesn't symbolically attack your emotional jugular, though.… More
  Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling are beyond superb in their roles; they bring an emotional commitment to the film that has rarely been seen since the method acting of the 1970s. <i>Blue Valentine</i> doesn't symbolically attack your emotional jugular, though. Writer-director Derek Cianfrance goes at it, utilising childhood recollections to fashion a chronology-hopping contrast between the start and end of a marriage. Cianfrance shoots the couple's courtship on nostalgic film, while their crumbling occurs on digital. Stopping pretentiousness swelling is Gosling and Williams, their willingness to be flawed people instilling unspoken nuance and history beyond what the selective plot can emit. Frequent nudity and sex scenes are about as arousing as a punch in the face, physical intimacy reduced to a war of attrition. Seeing Dean and Cindy get together is welcoming respite throughout, but <i>Blue Valentine</i> hits its searing straps when Gosling and Williams ignite with tainted love.

• Eric S

  
  I have to admit, I was a bit fooled by the title and I'm not saying that's bad. I was expecting much more of a romantic film commonly known as a "Chick Flick". Well, the subject matter in this one pertains to everyone and is somewhat too realistic as it delves into… More
  I have to admit, I was a bit fooled by the title and I'm not saying that's bad. I was expecting much more of a romantic film commonly known as a "Chick Flick". Well, the subject matter in this one pertains to everyone and is somewhat too realistic as it delves into the possible pitfalls of a relationship where one cares more about the other. Definitely a character-driven film that would probably not be watchable if it weren't for the acting talent of Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling who really draw you into a dim story with the backdrop of a somewhat gloomy Pennsylvania town. From an acting point of view, I give full credit to Williams and Gosling for their ability to make you keep watching which is something not seen too often in film these days. If you like either actor or both, this is something you should see.

• Conner R

  
  I don't think this ever attempted to be a movie that you truly enjoy, but something that's so realistic and tragic that it needs to be seen. I really appreciate the fact that this presents both the best and worst of this couple's relationship and it's structured in… More
  I don't think this ever attempted to be a movie that you truly enjoy, but something that's so realistic and tragic that it needs to be seen. I really appreciate the fact that this presents both the best and worst of this couple's relationship and it's structured in a way that has your judgement of characters running all over the place. It was almost like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind without the science fiction and happy ending. Both Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams are great, but both of them usually are no matter what. However, they do an especially good job when it comes to depicting the different ages of the characters. I also wasn't suspecting to se a creepy receding hairline and rapist glasses accompanying Ryan Gosling in his 30s version of the character; representing the complete death of his spirit and his fake attempt at being a good dad and husband. Derek Cianfrance does a nice job as a first time director and presents a beautiful looking movie that at times feels like a memory, other times a home video and sometimes it just feels like real life. This is so incredibly dead on at showing both the flaws and redeeming qualities of human beings that it's almost a little too surreal at times. All of the fights between characters are played out almost spooky.

• Dan S

  
  An emotionally devastating look at a marriage torn asunder over the years, cross-cutting between the highs and lows of mover Dean (Ryan Gosling) and nurse Cindy (Michelle Williams) and how their relationship first started, and how it unraveled over the years. This is, at least to the… More
  An emotionally devastating look at a marriage torn asunder over the years, cross-cutting between the highs and lows of mover Dean (Ryan Gosling) and nurse Cindy (Michelle Williams) and how their relationship first started, and how it unraveled over the years. This is, at least to the extent I've seen, the best film of the year 2010. The plotting, acting, and score hit such rare precision that the wallop this picture packed was remarkably, irrefutably large and heavy. Ryan Gosling proves once again that he is one of the best young actors (in the Joseph Gordon-Levitt school) working right now, and Michelle Williams gives yet another capable turn, showing that she has the talent to give a deep, tragic performance. This is not the "feel-good" film of the century by a long shot, but it's a realistic look at a marriage that unfolds over time, and how quickly dominoes start to fall due to insecurities on both individuals behalves, adding to the avalanche that is the beginning of the end of a once promising relationship.

• Lewis C

  
  Blue Valentine is painful and honest in its portrayal of the beginning and ending of a relationship that's destined not to last. This isn't the kind of movie you pop in for light entertainment, in other words. Imagine a more brutal version of (500) Days of Summer with far… More
  Blue Valentine is painful and honest in its portrayal of the beginning and ending of a relationship that's destined not to last. This isn't the kind of movie you pop in for light entertainment, in other words. Imagine a more brutal version of (500) Days of Summer with far less focus on charm and neat storytelling effects, and more emphasis simply on chronicling what happens in the lives of two people. The non-linear style of storytelling means that we know how this story ultimately ends early in the movie, so even the happy scenes from earlier in the storyline have a bittersweet tinge of inevitability. Williams and Gosling were both great, there's really nothing else to say about their "performances". It's easy to forget that you're even watching a movie, at times. There's not a lot to criticize Blue Valentine about. It does what it sets out to do extremely well. Whether you should see it or not depends on your interest in a topic that's sure to be depressing to some.

• Nicki M

  
  Excellent, but devastating film. I had heard that it was about a marriage break up, but I didn't realise it would be so bleak. (I mean, the usual thing in a movie would be hit a rough patch and work it out, or break up, but someone better is waiting in the wings. This movie… More
  Excellent, but devastating film. I had heard that it was about a marriage break up, but I didn't realise it would be so bleak. (I mean, the usual thing in a movie would be hit a rough patch and work it out, or break up, but someone better is waiting in the wings. This movie doesn't go either of those routes!). It is really quite gritty and realistic. There is no glamorizing or sugar coating here. The cast don't look beautiful the whole time, the filming is occasionally a little off focus, sound a bit muffled - all of this adds to it's realness. I think anyone who is, or has been married could relate to this. I have to give both Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling full credit for their portrayal of these honest and flawed characters. It must have been emotionally draining doing this film - it was hard enough just watching it! The saddest thing is that the problems this couple had were not even that bad.

• Spencer S

  
  Blue Valentine is not an original concept, as the storyline is dealing with the destruction of a relationship. We've all seen this before in classics such as Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Faces, but the reasons those films and this work as a whole is the performances… More
  Blue Valentine is not an original concept, as the storyline is dealing with the destruction of a relationship. We've all seen this before in classics such as Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Faces, but the reasons those films and this work as a whole is the performances and level of professionalism. Valentine feels fresh for a premise everyone's seen a million times. Never a dull moment, nor cliché crept in to strangle the life out of this film. The flashbacks were few but strategically placed, and you could see where the cracks were starting to form from the very beginning: polar opposites, child out of wedlock, dreams of becoming a doctor dashed to appease a husband who likes to get drunk and work minimum wage. There's a plethora of dramatic scenes bordering on abusive, but quick to toe the line rather than jump across. Williams is perfect as a morbid and certainly odd college student turned harried mother and underappreciated nurse, while Gosling is an all-around underachiever who lands Williams character out of sheer luck. The best part of Gosling's performance, is that his character has the brain capacities of a virile chipmunk, and yet he doles out thoughtful perceptions on his marriage with the high intellect of Dr. Drew. Both play off each other so well, it's hard to tear yourself away and realize they were once happy together. An amazing and beatific example of cinema.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Mike Vogel, John Doman, Jen Jones, Faith Wladyka, Ben Shenkman, Maryann Plunkett Director: Derek Cianfrance Summary: Once crazy about each other, Cindy (Michelle Williams) and Dean (Ryan Gosling) have now grown apart. Cindy is bored and… More
  Cast: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Mike Vogel, John Doman, Jen Jones, Faith Wladyka, Ben Shenkman, Maryann Plunkett Director: Derek Cianfrance Summary: Once crazy about each other, Cindy (Michelle Williams) and Dean (Ryan Gosling) have now grown apart. Cindy is bored and disenchanted with her life while Dean languishes in the emotional emptyness of their sexless, routine life in rural Pennsylvania. As they muddle through their marriage, they hearken back to the golden days when life was filled with possibility and romance. My Thoughts: "The thing that makes this film work is not just the great performcances, it's the raw honesty of the relationship being portrayed. It's definitely not your typical romance flick. The tension between the couple radiates off the screen. You can feel it as if your in the room with them, which made the feel of the film that more realistic. The couple is very much just going through the motions of everyday life. You don't feel that connection between the two in the present that you feel between them in the flash backs. Dean is desperately trying to hold on where Cindy is desperately trying to let go. Indie flims like these need more support and deserve more attention. The only problem I have about the film is how much they aged Ryan Gosling's character. It was a bit extreme and made the dynamic between the two a bit off setting. Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling are very talented and put in fantastic performances that shouldn't be missed. See this film."

• Tim S

  
  A brilliant film and the closest thing I have seen to Cassavettes in a long time. A lot of people have been calling this movie extremely depressing and while the subject matter is sad, I think it's just one of the more realistic looks into a marriage/relationship that isn't… More
  A brilliant film and the closest thing I have seen to Cassavettes in a long time. A lot of people have been calling this movie extremely depressing and while the subject matter is sad, I think it's just one of the more realistic looks into a marriage/relationship that isn't working. Sure there would be a lot of people who wonder why anybody would want to watch this kind of thing? Here's the thing, it's well written, well acted, and is something other than fucking movie relationships that are at best one note. I am wondering why more people don't want to see this.

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