Blue Valentine Review

Don’t expect to cry.

Although sad, the movie “Blue Valentine” directed by Derek Cianfrance, isn’t the tragedy it’s made out to be, like it says on the movie poster, it’s a love story, one in which the outcome may be different from the standard happy ending, but a love story nonetheless.

Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams play Dean and Cindy, a married pair whose once sweet love has long since turned bitter. Within the first few minutes of the movie it becomes clear that there is something very broken about their relationship, Cindy is completely “out of love” with Dean, and it shows.

The movie constantly switches from the very charming beginning of the couple’s courtship to the aching end, but somehow the inevitable unraveling of their marriage wasn’t so heartbreaking because it was so completely inevitable.

Unlike any other love story, Blue Valentine includes what the other movies seem to neglect, realism. The movie acknowledges the fact that not all love stories are happy and includes everything, from the good moments, bad moments, sexual moments and everything in between.

It’ s a hit or miss for Blue Valentine, but well worth a trip to the theatre to if only for its’ refreshing outtake on the other side of a love story.