Longing to attend a dysfunctional wedding? If so, "Rachel Getting Married" may be right up your alley. The new film from director Jonathan Demme uses a documentary style to give us the story of a recovering drug addict returning home for the nuptials of her sister. The prodigal daughter Kym (a beautiful performance by Anne Hathaway) is checked out of rehab to attend the event where her sister Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) will marry the wonderful Sidney (Tunde Adebimpe) while surrounded by loving members of both families. There's merry making, music, toasts, silly games, family meals, inclement weather, bridesmaids' outfits, heart-to-heart talks. In short, all the usual stuff that wedding celebrations are made of. And then there's Kym. She's a walking, smoking nightmare as she proceeds to create awkward moments and angry clashes, especially with her sister Rachel. It's clear from the outset that old wounds have never healed on the part of wayward Kym or her family members, including a desperately ingratiating father (Bill Irwin) and a somewhat distant mother (Debra Winger). The plot turns on a devastating family event from the past in which Kym and her drug addiction played a major role.
Writer Jenny Lumet has a good ear for dialogue, especially in the 12-step meetings which Kym attends and the numerous arguments between the two sisters. We're given a true sense of this family with all its conflicts and tragedies, although Kym remains the central focus and most interesting character for me. Hathaway rips up the screen with an amazing portrayal of a chronically debilitated young woman who's part drama queen, part little lost lamb. DeWitt also turns in an excellent performance, along with Mather Zickel as a wedding attendee who happens to show up in Kym's 12-step group as well. The movie meanders a bit with a few too many shouting matches, but it's an impressive first screenplay that stays with you after leaving the theater.
Things to love about this movie: Anne Hathaways' extraordinary performance; the day-by-day struggle of a former addict to cope with problems is handled with unusual subtlety; no sentimentality and only a little melodrama in dealing with the family tragedy
Things to hate about this movie: The perpetually playing band that serenades too many scenes and becomes thoroughly annoying
Pleasant surprises: Although Rachel is marrying a black man, there's little made of the racial divide with members of both families seamlessly joining forces; a strikingly brutal confrontation between Kym and her mother; a beautiful blue elephant wedding cake
Unpleasant surprises: Sidney is a marvelous character who isn't given nearly enough screen time
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3 comments:
Another excellent review that made me sorry to have missed this film.
As always, your plot synopsis gives away no secrets. Thank you. Thank you.
Your character sketches are illuminating.
2 questions - Is the screenwriter related to director Sidney Lumet? And how was Debra Winger's performance? We don't see enough of her.
Thanks so much for your kind words. Yes, the screenwriter is Sidney Lumet's daughter. Debra Winger was excellent despite the fact that her character was not very likable in my opinion. And the actress they cast as Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) totally resembles Debra Winger.
Today at last I saw Rachel Getting Married. A truly wonderful film. I actually forgot I was at a movie and felt as though I were a guest in the home watching real people, not actors. There wasn't a performance that didn't fit and the entire film felt real.
Debra Winger and Rosemarie DeWitt indeed could pass for mother and daughter. A fine performance by Debra Winger. There is a lot going on under the surface between mother and both daughters.
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