Rachel Getting Married is an engrossing tale of family angst, highlighted by Anne Hathaway's powerful performance and director Jonathan Demme's return to form.
Rachel Getting Married is an engrossing tale of family angst, highlighted by Anne Hathaway's powerful performance and director Jonathan Demme's return to form.
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Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 34,130
Lingering tensions clash with new hopes in director Jonathan Demme's ensemble drama set during an idyllic wedding that threatens to descend into chaos with the appearance of the bride's estranged sister -- a volatile and unpredictable girl whose turbulent history of personal crisis and family conflict quickly threatens to take precedence over the happy ceremony. Rachel Buchman (Rosemarie DeWitt) is about to be married to the love of her life, but while the weather outside may be perfect, there's
a storm blowing in. That storm goes by the name Kym (Anne Hathaway). Kym is the family black sheep, and wherever she goes disaster is sure to follow. Now, as friends and family gather together for a memorable day of dining, dancing, and celebration, everyone braces themselves knowing that, at any given moment, old skeletons may be dragged out and dusted off for display by the bombshell who seems to have an acerbic one-liner for every situation, and a flare for drama that could set their family home ablaze. Bill Irwin and Debra Winger co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
No doubt it was fun assembling so many close associates, but like Kym, Demme doesn't know when enough is enough for those who aren't part of the family circle.
Kym crashes through her family and the weekend, careening off real and imaginary obstacles with a fierce yet still sympathetic rancor. It's the home movie you hope never to see of your life, impeccably filled with color and on-set live music and life and
Only those who are willing to forego the many imperfections in the loosey-goosey script and Demme's improvisational style will feel the acting makes the film worth seeing.
This isn't the kind of melodrama where a happy facade is slowly torn away-the tensions are there from the start and no one has illusions that things are nice and rosy.
When Hathaway and DeWitt are on-camera together, there's a palpable seethe of sibling rivalry that overshadows the wedding, Kym's problems, or even the horrible event that everyone has been trying to put behind them.
Jonathan Demme has struck a brilliant balance here, delivering a film that looks, sounds and feels painfully honest, while making it entertaining as well as deeply truthful.
It's not that this is bad movie -- it's very very well made and the acting is excellent. Also loved the music. I guess I just couldn't relate to the "family agst" and Connecticut suburbia. Recommended, but not encouraged.
An outstanding family drama that I hope wins Anne Hathaway an Oscar, or at the very least a nomination. One of my favorites of 2008.
Loved it even more on the second viewing.
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