Published: Friday, October 10, 2008
Human feelings soften well-acted drama's bite
On first glance, "Rachel Getting Married" is weirdly similar to last year's "Margot at the Wedding." Both movies concentrate on the issues between two sisters during a New England-y wedding weekend for one of them.
The biggest difference is tone. "Margot" had a take-no-prisoners honesty that was brutal at times. In fact, most of the time.
"Rachel" is the friendlier version. Even though it can be downright scathing, in general this movie is so overflowing with human feeling that I wanted to put the cap on it.
Director Jonathan Demme, who's been out of the game of big-budget Hollywood movies lately, presents this slice-of-life in a loose, open-ended way. The script is credited to Jenny Lumet, daughter of veteran director Sidney Lumet, but it also has an improvised feel. Maybe it was designed to look improvised.
Anne Hathaway, who's been doing a nice job of distancing herself from America's sweetheart roles, takes a long step away here. She plays Kym, nine months sober and just out of rehab. Kym is carrying heavy guilt over a horrible incident from her past.
But her sister Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) is getting married this weekend, so it's back to the family homestead, ready or not. Three days of tension and mortification, with a little joy, follow.
Demme tries to make the movie unconventional. Scenes go on longer than you think they might, notably an endless rehearsal dinner sequence, where virtually every cast member gets up and makes a toast.
This is the occasion for Anne Hathaway's best moment, a superbly delivered ritual of embarrassment as Kym delivers a speech. Hathaway's timing, nervous laughter and self-defeating attempts at humor are on the nose.
The actors are generally good, although -- as with any wedding party -- they seem a peculiar mix. Mather Zickel is a standout as the best man, with whom Kym strikes sparks; Anisa George is a vaguely resentful bridesmaid; Bill Irwin and Anna Deveare Smith are the father and stepmother of the sisters.
The bride's mother is played by Debra Winger, in one of her infrequent but totally committed performances. It's not necessarily an Oscar-worthy turn, but she might just win the award because it seems unbelievable Winger has never won an Oscar.
Demme crams the movie with his favorite musicians, for no reason other than he really likes them, which makes you wonder how this family can afford to host such a shindig. In that sense, for all its occasional searing moments, the movie is indulgent at its core. It wants to be tough and clear-eyed, but it's just too soft for that.
"Rachel Getting Married"
Semi-tough and funny: Anne Hathaway, just out of rehab, arrives at the homestead for the marriage of her sister (Rosemarie DeWitt), a good excuse for bringing skeletons out of the closet. This movie wants to be tough and funny, but it's a little too soft to really pull it off; the cast is strong, and includes Debra Winger.
Rated: R rating is for language, subject matter
Now showing: Egyptian
The biggest difference is tone. "Margot" had a take-no-prisoners honesty that was brutal at times. In fact, most of the time.
"Rachel" is the friendlier version. Even though it can be downright scathing, in general this movie is so overflowing with human feeling that I wanted to put the cap on it.
Director Jonathan Demme, who's been out of the game of big-budget Hollywood movies lately, presents this slice-of-life in a loose, open-ended way. The script is credited to Jenny Lumet, daughter of veteran director Sidney Lumet, but it also has an improvised feel. Maybe it was designed to look improvised.
Anne Hathaway, who's been doing a nice job of distancing herself from America's sweetheart roles, takes a long step away here. She plays Kym, nine months sober and just out of rehab. Kym is carrying heavy guilt over a horrible incident from her past.
But her sister Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) is getting married this weekend, so it's back to the family homestead, ready or not. Three days of tension and mortification, with a little joy, follow.
Demme tries to make the movie unconventional. Scenes go on longer than you think they might, notably an endless rehearsal dinner sequence, where virtually every cast member gets up and makes a toast.
This is the occasion for Anne Hathaway's best moment, a superbly delivered ritual of embarrassment as Kym delivers a speech. Hathaway's timing, nervous laughter and self-defeating attempts at humor are on the nose.
The actors are generally good, although -- as with any wedding party -- they seem a peculiar mix. Mather Zickel is a standout as the best man, with whom Kym strikes sparks; Anisa George is a vaguely resentful bridesmaid; Bill Irwin and Anna Deveare Smith are the father and stepmother of the sisters.
The bride's mother is played by Debra Winger, in one of her infrequent but totally committed performances. It's not necessarily an Oscar-worthy turn, but she might just win the award because it seems unbelievable Winger has never won an Oscar.
Demme crams the movie with his favorite musicians, for no reason other than he really likes them, which makes you wonder how this family can afford to host such a shindig. In that sense, for all its occasional searing moments, the movie is indulgent at its core. It wants to be tough and clear-eyed, but it's just too soft for that.
"Rachel Getting Married"
Semi-tough and funny: Anne Hathaway, just out of rehab, arrives at the homestead for the marriage of her sister (Rosemarie DeWitt), a good excuse for bringing skeletons out of the closet. This movie wants to be tough and funny, but it's a little too soft to really pull it off; the cast is strong, and includes Debra Winger.
Rated: R rating is for language, subject matter
Now showing: Egyptian
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