Marriage Story Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two talented people decide to hate each other with lawyers, all because they forgot how to communicate while battling bicoastal ennui and an eight-year-old.

🍿 Marriage Story: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Beginning of the End

Charlie and Nicole Barber, a married couple in New York City, are attempting to navigate their dissolving marriage. Charlie is a successful theater director, and Nicole is an actress in his company. They attend mediation, where they’re asked to write down what they admire about each other, but Nicole is too uncomfortable to share hers.

Cross-Country Divide

Nicole receives an offer to star in a television pilot in Los Angeles and decides to move there temporarily with their son, Henry. Charlie remains in New York, focused on his theater company. Despite agreeing to an amicable split without lawyers, Nicole hires Nora Fanshaw, a high-powered divorce attorney.

Legal Battles and Bitter Disputes

When Charlie visits Los Angeles, Nicole serves him with divorce papers. He initially resists hiring a lawyer, hoping to maintain a civil process, but Nora’s aggressive tactics force him to seek legal representation. He eventually hires two lawyers, first Bert Spitz, then Jay Marotta when the situation escalates. The legal battle intensifies, revealing hidden resentments and painful truths about their relationship.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Charlie Barber (Adam Driver): A talented New York theater director navigating a difficult bi-coastal divorce while trying to maintain a relationship with his son.
• Nicole Barber (Scarlett Johansson): A former actress seeking independence and fulfillment in Los Angeles, leading to a complex and emotionally charged divorce from her husband.
• Henry Barber (Azhy Robertson): The eight-year-old son of Charlie and Nicole, caught in the middle of their contentious divorce proceedings.
• Nora Fanshaw (Laura Dern): Nicole’s high-powered and assertive divorce attorney who advocates fiercely for her client’s interests.
• Jay Marotta (Ray Liotta): Charlie’s aggressive and expensive Los Angeles-based lawyer, known for his ruthless tactics in divorce cases.
• Bert Spitz (Alan Alda): Charlie’s initial lawyer, a kind and conciliatory attorney who prefers amicable solutions.
• Sandra (Julie Hagerty): Nicole’s supportive but somewhat eccentric mother who provides her with a place to stay in Los Angeles.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Nicole: “I realized I didn’t really ever have a voice.” – Nicole explains to her lawyer Nora why she felt the need to leave the marriage, highlighting her feelings of being unheard.
• Ted: “Criminal lawyers see bad people at their best, divorce lawyers see good people at their worst.” – Ted, a divorce lawyer, explains to Charlie the nature of his profession.
• Charlie: “I wish she was dead. Then I wouldn’t have to feel this way.” – During the height of an argument, Charlie expresses his intense frustration and pain towards Nicole.
• Nora: “We can accept an imperfect Dad. Let’s face it, the idea of a good father was only invented like 30 years ago. Before that, fathers were expected to be silent and absent and unreliable. But mothers, we have to be perfect. And it’s a high bar.” – Nora, Nicole’s lawyer, explains the double standards faced by mothers and fathers in divorce proceedings, advocating for Nicole’s case.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $18,600,000
• Domestic Gross: $2,296,817
• Worldwide Gross: $333,686

💥 Marriage Story Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, this movie hit me hard. I went in expecting a standard divorce drama, but I got a deeply emotional story about love, loss, and everything in between. The fight scene between Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson was absolutely gut-wrenching, and I honestly felt like I was intruding on a real, private moment. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s a powerful one that’ll stay with me for a long time. Definitely one of the best movies I’ve seen in years.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of character-driven dramas.”
  • “Adults interested in realistic portrayals of relationships and divorce.”
  • “Viewers who appreciate strong acting performances.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language.”
  • “Emotional distress.”
  • “Mature themes related to divorce and custody battles.”
  • “Brief mention of infidelity.”

Professional Reviews

• IndieWire: “Baumbach delivers a raw, heartbreaking, and often funny portrait of a marriage dissolving, elevated by career-best performances from Driver and Johansson. The film explores the complexities of love, resentment, and the messy realities of divorce with unflinching honesty.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “Marriage Story isn’t just a divorce movie; it’s a profound examination of how two people can grow apart, even when they still care deeply for each other. The performances are exceptional, especially Driver, who delivers a tour-de-force of emotion. A must-see for anyone who’s ever loved and lost.
• Variety: “Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story is a searing, intimate, and ultimately hopeful look at the end of a relationship. Johansson and Driver are brilliant, capturing the nuances of love, anger, and regret with stunning authenticity. It’s a film that will resonate with anyone who’s experienced the complexities of marriage.

Audience Reactions

The raw and emotional performances from Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson had viewers in tears.: The film’s realistic portrayal of divorce and its impact on families resonated deeply with audiences.

Laura Dern’s performance as the divorce lawyer was a scene-stealer; she was fierce, funny, and undeniably brilliant.: The supporting cast adds depth and humor, making it easier to watch the difficult moments

Overall Consensus: Marriage Story is a critically acclaimed and emotionally resonant film that provides an honest and unflinching look at the complexities of divorce, elevated by outstanding performances and insightful writing.

Awards

1. Academy Award (Best Supporting Actress)- 2020

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is loosely based on director Noah Baumbach’s own experiences with divorce from actress Jennifer Jason Leigh.”
• “Scarlett Johansson was initially approached to play the role of Charlie, while Adam Driver was considered for Nicole. However, both actors felt they were better suited for the opposite roles and switched.”
• “The intense argument scene between Charlie and Nicole was largely improvised by Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, adding to its raw emotional impact.”

🖥️ How to Watch Marriage Story?

Marriage Story is exclusively available on Netflix for streaming. While it had a limited theatrical release, the primary way to watch it is through a Netflix subscription. Unfortunately, it’s not available for rent or purchase on platforms like Prime Video or Apple TV, so a Netflix subscription is required to view this drama.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Marriage Story, you might like these similar films:

• Kramer vs. Kramer (1979): A classic drama about the emotional toll of divorce on a couple and their child, focusing on custody battles and personal growth.
• Blue Valentine (2010): Raw and realistic portrayal of a marriage falling apart, exploring the contrast between the initial romance and the eventual decay of the relationship.
• The War of the Roses (1989): A darkly comedic take on a divorce that escalates into an all-out battle between a husband and wife.
• Scenes from a Marriage (1973): A groundbreaking miniseries that intimately examines the complexities of a long-term relationship and its eventual dissolution.

🛒 Marriage Story Related Products

• Marriage Story (Blu-ray): Own Marriage Story on Blu-ray to experience the exceptional performances and poignant story in stunning high definition. Add this award-winning film to your collection and revisit its emotional depth anytime.
• Randy Newman: Marriage Story (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Immerse yourself in the film’s emotional landscape with Randy Newman’s evocative score. This soundtrack captures the heart and soul of Marriage Story, providing a beautiful and moving listening experience.
• Marriage Story Movie Poster: Showcase your love for this critically acclaimed film with a high-quality movie poster. This striking poster captures the essence of Marriage Story, making it a perfect addition to any film enthusiast’s collection.
• “Scenes from a Marriage” – Criterion Collection: Dive deeper into relationship dramas with Ingmar Bergman’s “Scenes from a Marriage.” Heavily influencing “Marriage Story”, this Criterion Collection edition offers a profound and intense exploration of love, marriage, and separation. This set includes restored high-definition digital transfer, interviews, and essays.

🎧 Soundtrack

Marriage Story features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “What I Love About You” – performed by Randy Newman
• “Being Alive” – performed by Adam Driver
• “End Credits” – performed by Randy Newman
• “Electra’s Dreamscape” – performed by Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

You Missed One Of The Best (And Most Haunting) Movies of 2019

In his video essay about Midsommar, Ryan Hollinger explores the film’s strengths and impact. He argues that the film is a masterclass in horror and suspense, and that it’s one of the best movies of the year. If you’re a fan of horror movies, or if you’re just looking for a good movie to watch, I highly recommend checking out Ryan’s video essay.

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