Movie Reviews | Photograph by Jessica Fugett | The Wright State Guardian
Review times two this week:
Two movies that are sure to hit the heartstrings.
“The Farewell”
“The Farewell” is a dramatic comedy written and directed by Lulu Wang. It stars Awkwafina and Zhao Shuzhen in lead roles.
When Billi (Awkwafina) learns that her grandmother (Shuzhen) has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, she is tasked by her family to not reveal the diagnosis to her grandmother, who doesn’t know about it yet.
Awkwafina gives an understated performance that is emotional and stilled. She conveys a lot of emotion without saying all she’s feeling. Shuzhen’s is also a standout here.
This film has a surprisingly feel-good quality to it despite the moral quandary that faces the lead character and her family. It’s also a relatable story despite the fact that a majority of this film is spoken in Mandarin; that choice by Wang is an authentic one that I think also immerses the viewer in a positive way.
The film also touches on themes of isolation, family and identity. Overall, “The Farewell” is sure to provide viewers with a touching narrative, sure to make you want to visit your grandmother too.
Review II:
“Marriage Story”
The Netflix film “Marriage Story” is a drama, written and directed by Noah Baumbach. The film stars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, a couple that is going through a messy divorce.
Johansson and Driver both deliver great performances that deepen as the film progresses. This is especially true of Driver, who plays Charlie in the film. His character seems like the one who goes through the most change in comparison to Johansson’s Nicole.
Charlie and Nicole are both flawed characters who bring big baggage to a marriage that seemed doomed from the start. At the same time, through great performances, smart writing and yes, a beautiful score from Randy Newman (“Toy Story”), the relationship between them never seemed to completely deteriorate.
Laura Dern and Ray Liotta play shrewd lawyers who are very good at their jobs. Dern, in particular, delivers an outstanding performance.
Alan Alda bolsters a strong supporting cast. Alda also plays a lawyer, less shrewd more human. He really adds some comedic charm to the film.
I’m not recommending that you watch “The Farewell” and “Marriage Story” back-to-back, however, they’re both good movies to check out sometime.
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