Rachel Getting Married is like watching the home wedding video of a couple that belongs to a dysfunctional family that you don't even know. There wasn't a structure to this film, no rising action, no tense building -- not even any character development.
Rachel Getting Married is the story of well, Rachel getting married. However, her dysfunctional ex-junkie sister comes home from rehab and of course chaos ensues.
This film reminded me a point I had in a conversation the other day. I am extremely sick and tired of people telling me a film is good simply because it was a good performance. I do think Anne Hathaway was beyond fantastic in this film -- however, Rachel Getting Married still lacked a certain, como se dice, "good" quality to it.
The film was almost entirely shot handheld -- almost as if the audience were watching a DVD of the wedding and the events surrounding it. It would have been nice to have maybe seen an image stabilizer. The handheld was so ridiculous that there was a point at the wedding reception that people were bumping into the camera -- and while most directors would have redone the shot because it looks like crap, Rachel Getting Married director Jonathan Demme decided that it would probably look more realistic.
I think what kills me the most is that Jonathan Demme directed Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Philadelphia (1993). Those films are classics... I could go on forever about just how terrible Rachel Getting Married really was. A lot of this movie needed to be cut simply because it didn't develop character, or conflict -- without either of the two you have Rachel Getting Married.
This film made me so frustrated that a few friends of mine were genuinely shocked that I actually made it through the film.
The Verdict
Don't see this movie! Anne Hathaway's brilliant performance isn't enough to save this film from being a total catastrophe.
Im gonna disagree with you guys on this. i think that Rachel Getting Married showed a powerful insight into addiction and the family issues that so constantly surround it. The charcter of Rachel was a strong look into the selfishness and anger that is felt by so many families. Kim (Anne Hathaways character) brilliantly potrayed the guilt and pain and anger and selfishness that comes with being an addict.
ReplyDeleteAlthough i do agree that the cinematography could have been better and they pretty mch could have cut out the whole rehersal dinner part, i think that this was a powerful and moving movie.
I think that if you guys would take a step back from the visual aspect (which i know if hard to do for you guys) i think that you would agree.
However, if you have ever been through a situation like the return of a loved one from rehab, or dealing with a loved one who is an addict, or if you are an addict yourself, this may be a bit triggering in its contents.
im loving this site. good job guys.
Lauran BoSlag.