Rachel Getting Married
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Movie Reviews of Rachel Getting Married
Movie Review: Nice family drama movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Plot
Kym (Anne Hathaway) is released from rehab for more than a few days so she can go home to attend the wedding of her sister Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt). At home, the atmosphere is strained between Kym and her family members, as they struggle to reconcile themselves with her past and her present. Kym's father shows intense concern for her well-being and whereabouts, which Kym interprets as mistrust. She also resents her sister's choice of her best friend Emma (Anisa George), rather than Kym, to be her maid of honor. Rachel, for her part, resents the attention her sister's addiction is drawing away from her wedding, a resentment that comes to a head at the rehearsal dinner, where Kym, amid toasts from friends and family, takes the microphone to offer an apology for her past actions, as part of her twelve-step program.
Underlying the family's dynamic is a tragedy that occurred many years previously, which Kym retells at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. As a teenager, Kym was responsible for the death of her young brother Ethan, who was left in her care one day despite her being high at the time. Driving home from a nearby park, Kym had lost control of the car, driving over a bridge and into a lake, where her brother drowned.
The day before the wedding, as Rachel, Kym, and the other bridesmaids are getting their hair done, Kym is approached by a man who she knew in an earlier stint in rehab. He thanks her for the strength she gave him through a story about her childhood sexual abuse at the hands of an uncle and caring for her sister, who was anorexic. Rachel, hearing this, storms out. The story, it turns out, was all a lie -- an apparent attempt by Kym to evade responsibility for her addiction. The sisters' fight comes to a head later that night, leading Kym to escape to her mother's house. However, she finds no respite there, as a fight with her mother comes to blows. She runs off again, this time intentionally crashing a car into a giant rock, and spends the night in the car.
The next morning, the day of the wedding, Kym is awoken by police. After passing a sobriety test, she gets a ride home. She makes her way to Rachel's room, as Rachel prepares for the wedding. Seeing Kym's bruised face, the anger of the previous night vanishes, and Rachel tenderly bathes and dresses Kym.
Amid a festive Indian theme, Rachel and her fiancé are wed. Kym is the maid of honor, and is overcome with emotion as the couple exchange their vows. Kym tries to enjoy herself throughout the wedding reception but continues to feel out of place and is nagged by the unresolved dispute with her mother. Ultimately, her mother leaves the party early, despite Rachel's effort to bring the two together, and the gulf between Kym and her mother is left unreconciled.
The next morning, Kym must return to rehab. As she is leaving, Rachel runs out of the house to hug her, their sisterly love remaining strong despite all that has passed between them
Movie Review: A slice of Kym Buchman's life
Summary: 5 Stars
Considering the negative comments posted on Amazon, I am surprised that Rachel getting married got such a rough reception and managed to upset so many viewers. As extremely violent movies can shock thousands of people, those reviews seems to be another example that stories that present reality in a strong and honest way, such as Madame Bovary, always tend to create virulent reactions.
I mention realism for instead of following usual narratives rules, which are to make movies with likable characters, Jenny Lumet wrote a screenplay where her characters show both their strengths and their flaws. Especially those of Kym, who leaves her rehab center for three days to celebrate the wedding of her sister Rachel. And as the movie goes, thanks to Anne Hathaway's perfect acting and also the hand-held camerawork used by Jonathan Demme which show the story in a raw but honest presentation, we get to see and feel Kym's anger as she tries to get rid of her own demons, her drug addictions, but also tries to defend herself against a family and former friends whom she believes still hate her for all the trouble she did to them. Though some viewers may not be pleased to see such a direct presentation of someone's life.
Also, in her storytelling, Jenny Lumet might upset certain viewers for she doesn't try to explain all of her characters' actions. True we get to learn glimpses about Kym's past, such as her fashion career and an incident that occurred between her and her brother Ethan, but Jenny Lumet doesn't try to give all the answers. As Jonathan Demme says in the commentaries, he wants the viewer to answer by himself all the questions that are left unresolved. This might unsettle several viewers, but believe me, it makes you more active while watching a movie and it generates discussion with your fellow viewers.
Earlier ago, I mentioned Madame Bovary because it is a book that got some virulent reactions for the public, including a indecency trial, because of certain things such as its realistic tone. As in Rachel getting married, there is a wedding in Madame Bovary. And as in this movie, we also get to see everything that occurs before that wedding, the villagers who prepare themselves in the morning, the walk toward the church, and the feast that occurs until the end of the night. And this way, just like Flaubert, Jonathan Demme wants us to witness all the little incidents that occur during the ceremony not just to fill up time, but to better immerse us in his story. To see Kym and her family as real people instead of characters. But instead of presenting to us their lives, we only get to witness in this movie a slice of their life, of Kym's life, and with no definite resolution at the end.
To conclude, it is a movie that is not easy to access because of its intention to represent a true reality. But offers another way of moviemaking, different from the Hollywood mainstream cinema.
Movie Review: Hathaway Shines In Rachel Getting Married
Summary: 5 Stars
Anne Hathaway has been categorized too often as today's "good girl," starring in such flicks as "The Princess Diaries" and "Ella Enchanted." That stereotyping began to break down when she appeared in "Brokeback Mountain," and it was completely crushed when she starred in the explicit film "Havoc."
Now, in "Rachel Getting Married," Hathaway shows a side not many have seen before. Although it was hard for me to picture her in such a role, she overcame my worries. Indeed, this is her finest work to date, and it earned her an Oscar nomination.
Of course, Hathaway (as Kym) is certainly not the only star of the film. Her sister (played wonderfully by Rosemarie DeWitt) fits right in as Rachel. Debra Winger and Bill Irwin finish off the terrific cast as their divorced parents. The story, although simple, is laid out so realistically that I felt part of the wedding celebration. I was Kym as she walked down the dark hallways of the house and accepted everyone's weary stares. I was in Rachel's shoes as she tried to make her wedding a glorious day, despite fighting with her sister.
As the story unfolds, we learn a dark secret from the family's past, and the true brutality of a dysfunctional family comes to light. You feel searing pain as Kym reveals that dark secret. You experience an even deeper pain as Rachel admits that she hates her sister. Then, in one of the most emotional scenes in the film, you watch as Kym and her mother argue over that secret.
To realistically capture the drama, the movie is filmed with a handheld camera, making it seem like a home video. Although many will find this adds realism, if you tend to get motion sick, you may want to skip seeing this one on the big screen. The film does portray drug use, though it is not looked upon in a positive light. In addition, they could have trimmed some scenes to shorten the film a bit. But no objections can counteract the pros of this film.
As depressing as this story is, hope is not forgotten. As the last scene fades and the credits roll, despite their brutality and stinging honesty, you can't help feeling hopeful for Rachel and Kym's family. Even though they fight and say hateful things, deep down they love each other.
-- Anthony B.
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Movie Review: DVD trailers for Sugar, I've Loved You So Long and Elegy are a good sign: 'RGM' fits right in with these selections
Summary: 5 Stars
Agreed, RGM is not without its flaws: the self-absorption level is high; the rehearsal dinner is seems interminable and - at times - excruciating; and director Jonathan Demme's commitment to creating an independent film feel seems a tad affected given a big studio pedigree that dates back 30 years. But all these one-star reviews? That seems to be excessively harsh judgment. Self-absorption is entirely the point in the case of Anne Hathaway's Kym. Interminable and excruciating rehearsal dinners? That's called real life. I've been to dinners just like that, as have most of us...events where you're sitting in a clench because things get so darn uncomfortable...Kym's speech being Exhibit A. It's the ultimate seat-squirmer, but at the same time a transfixing moment. And of Jonathan Demme: as the maker of The Silence of the Lambs [Blu-ray], Philadelphia, Melvin and Howard and other gems, he has the right to make exactly the movie he wants to make without compromise.
I judge a film in part by the company it keeps. I knew I was in for a treat when this DVD led off with trailers for Sugar, I've Loved You So Long and Elegy. Not just three good movies, but movies I would place from memory in my Top 25. 'Rachel Getting Married' fits right in with that superb group of films.
Movie Review: A Nicely Woven Family Drama
Summary: 5 Stars
After years of low radar documentary films, Jonathan Demme, teamed up with the daughter of Sydney Lumet, offer up this very well written and evenly balanced family drama, anchored down by some pretty great performences.
The main character of the film is recovering addict Kym, who has just been recently released from rehab to attend her sisters wedding, the title's own Rachel. Upon her arrival, it becomes immediatly obvious she is the 'black sheep' of the family and her presence stirs up a lot of tension that has been brewing in the house for years.
Talent definintly runs in the family, with Jenny Lumet crafting a very balanced screenplay that is able to be both funny and dramtic without teetering to over the edge of overdone drama and lame laughs. Demme also does a fine job directing, offering up his best film since Silence of the Lambs. If there is one critism that I can point out is that the director does seem to over indulge in certain scenes, most specifically the dinner toasts and wedding reception. But those are only minor when looking at the film as a whole.
Every performence is great, with the most obvious stand out being Anne Hathaway. Unlike everyone else, I have known for a long time that she could do a character like this. After her role in the exceptionally great Brokeback Mountain, it was only a matter of time till she burst out and became a full fledged serious actress. With razor sharp humor, jet black hair, and an almost broken down demure, she is one of the few actresses out of the whole year to dissapear into a role, where instead of saying "oh look, its Anne Hathaway being a drug addict", you say "oh look, its a drug addict". One hundred and ten percent yes that she got that Oscar nom. All thats left is for her to take it.
A must see in the awards season and one of the years best films.