Movie Review: Take This Waltz

Luke Kirby and Michelle Williams

Take This Waltz (2011)
Written & Directed by: Sarah Polley
Starring: Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen and Luke Kirby

"Life has a gap in it. It just does. You don't go crazy trying to fill it."

Back in 2006 Sarah Polley made a name for herself as a promising young writer and director on the indie film scene. With her directorial debut, Away from Her, Polley garnered the kind of attention few young artists even dream of -- the end result being an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Now, with Take this Waltz, Polley delves even deeper into the nature of relationships in all their complex highs and lows. 

Freelance writer Margot (Michelle Williams) is a (mostly) happily married wife to cookbook author, Lou (Seth Rogen). Despite the occasional spat, the couple appear content in their relationship -- that is until Margot meets her handsome artist neighbour, Daniel (Luke Kirby). Margot starts to feel more alive than she has in years, sneaking out to meet up with Daniel for late-night swims, afternoon drinks or just everyday trips around Toronto. Their gradually evolving attraction to one another -- and Margot's ever-present guilt at the thought of cheating on her husband -- is at the centre of Polley's thought-provoking sophomore release.

Films rarely allow audiences to glimpse the most intimate moments of a relationship and Polley is a master at building characterization through even the smallest suggestions. Margot and Lou speak in their own language and create dozens of inside jokes -- small, everyday moments that help solidify the foundation of a relationship. Polley takes risks, creating flawed characters that often border on unlikeable. Her willingness to portray very human decisions -- even the selfish ones -- speaks volumes about her ability to see every aspect of a personality.

As one character observes in the film, "new things become old." It's a part of human nature to desire something new and exciting. We often shy away from routine. Or, like Margot, we fear the "in between" and not knowing if something better will come along. However, Margot's inability to recognize the truth in that simple statement, and to not be so afraid of it, is what ultimately leads to her unravelling.

With regards to the performances, no one in her generation plays complex and conflicted women better than Williams. Whether you find Margot a sympathetic figure or not is irrelevant -- Williams portrays her as both a world-weary adult and free-spirit who just wants to openly embrace the excitement of new love. She gives a lovely, honest performance that perfectly compliments Polley's vision.

As Lou, Rogen veers away from his usual comedic roles and gives a surprisingly touching performance as a man slowly coming to terms with the fact that his marriage is deteriorating. At first glance, Rogen and Williams may appear to be an unlikely couple, but they generate chemistry through the small, intimate flourishes they add to their characters' relationship. And, finally, as Daniel, Kirby gives off a soulful, hopeless romantic vibe -- a nice guy who has been burned in the past when it comes to love.

While Take this Waltz focuses on the finer details of everyday life, creating an intimate portrait of love gained and lost, its only major stumble is in its overlong running time and multiple false endings.

But, for those looking for a reprieve from all the summer blockbusters, Take this Waltz is a quiet indie that will keep you thinking.

FINAL GRADE:B+

Movie Review: 50/50

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen

50/50 (2011)
Directed By: Jonathan Levine
Written By: Will Reiser
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anjelica Huston

There are some people who, like myself, tend to avoid movies that centre around a fatal illness. These films are usually either one of two extremes -- far too devastating to watch or so sappy and self-important that you can barely sit through its running time. 50/50 is neither, thankfully. Instead it's a quietly intelligent look at one young man's cancer diagnosis and how he resolves to remain upbeat (and somewhat aloof) while undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a 27-year-old radio producer with a slacker best friend (Seth Rogen) and a distant and self-involved girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard), finds out he has a rare spinal cancer and that his odds for survival is deadlocked at a 50% chance.

The script by Will Reiser is based on his own battle with cancer six years ago and addresses how he and Rogen, his real-life buddy, dealt with the diagnosis. Gordon-Levitt is more than up for the challenge of filling Reiser's shoes onscreen, delivering a subtle and nuanced performance that is an early frontrunner for an Oscar nomination.

Adam couldn't be any more of an average joe -- the eternal "nice-guy" who enjoys his simple, regular life and its lack of complications. His "everyman" quality makes his diagnosis all the more heartbreaking, especially considering the insensitive manner in which it is delivered by a distracted doctor.

50/50 is a perfect blend of light-hearted comedy and a look at the sadness and fear that accompanies an illness that may very well result in death. Once faced with his own mortality, Adam begins to make some changes in his life -- inspired in part by his eternally optimistic pal, Kyle, and his new young, med-student therapist, Katherine (Anna Kendrick). With his concerns over his health and his deteriorating relationship with his girlfriend, Rachel, Adam comes to lean on the support offered by Kyle and, especially, Katherine more than ever. However, it's the scenes that Gordon-Levitt shares with Anjelica Huston as his mother where the film really soars. Both give such lovely performances that it's hard not to wish that the script had required them to share more screen time together. Although her role is much smaller than the rest of the cast, Huston's performance is the definition of a perfect supporting role.

The only real flaw in the film is the two main female leads. They are devoid of any real personality -- Howard portrays another variation on the bitchy character she recently played in The Help and Kendrick is still hanging onto the vulnerable smart-aleck characterization she used to earn herself an Oscar nomination for Up in the Air a couple of years ago. However, the film is all about Adam and his friendship with Kyle and director Levine gave both Gordon-Levitt and Rogen the freedom to ad-lib on occasion, which only adds to their chemistry.

While the notion of a lighter, more comedic look at cancer may turn some people off from seeing 50/50, they should know that the movie is also filled with moments of genuine despair and anger over the diagnosis. Watching Adam bond with two older men also suffering from cancer (played by Philip Baker Hall and Matt Frewer) is one of the highlights.

50/50 is a feel-good film that will make you laugh and cry in equal measure without falling into the trap of being overly sentimental. Certain scenes will stay with you long after the closing credits.

FINAL GRADE: B+