“You’ve changed”. A common allegation from one partner to another after several years together. Imagine if we had the benefit of film to capture the essence of who we were when we first fell in love and then now, years later. What would we see? We all acknowledge that a relationship starts out with an almost rocket ship-like power and then starts to level off as time goes by. But for Dean and Cindy – their rocket ship is taking a nosedive. Director Derek Cianfrance has been creating movies since the age of 13. He obviously has a gift and a passion for storytelling.
Ryan Gosling embodies Dean – a simple, honest, working class dad who has never grown up. He has no aspirations to make anything more of himself than he is now. He is “happy” with his shift work, his several drinks a day, the love of his daughter, and his wife. He has an almost child like view of life and a laissez-faire attitude to most days. To the movie viewer – he seems not to have changed much over the years. Cindy (heartbreakingly raw performance by Oscar nominated Michele Williams) on the other hand, has really started to feel the 7 year itch. As she trudges off to work each day as a nurse, you can almost taste the resentment she feels as she closes the door behind her. She has lost the energy her marriage requires to stay afloat and we sit helpless as it falls apart.
The chemistry between Gosling and Williams is so real it will bring tears to your eyes. You feel almost like an intruder in their home watching them from behind the curtains it is so naked in its presentation. One moment in particular stands out among the rest – a stolen moment of togetherness amidst the falling debris of their lives as they spend one night together in a hotel to try to rekindle their flame. Download now the couple’s “song” by Penny and The Quarters – You and Me. This is a rehearsal recording that was found and had never been published. One of the many treasures this film has to offer.
Nominated for several independent film awards, this sad but simply memorable story will stay with you for days.
A Rave Review had conflicting ratings but they ranged from 2 to 4 out of 5.
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