Hollywood may be the home of the happy ending, but America’s independent landscape has proved to be the habitat of braver, more brutal truths. In the case of Blue Valentine, those truths concern the darker side of love; namely that it doesn’t necessarily last forever, and that it can be as ugly as it is beautiful. But while this idea may be a rarity in modern cinema, it certainly makes for an intriguing and involving film.
Unashamedly a chick flick, this adaptation of the best-selling book He’s Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tucillo won’t shake the foundations of the romantic comedy but – thanks largely to a truly impressive ensemble cast – it’s certainly head and shoulders above most of its contemporaries.
That Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire swept the board at this year’s Academy Awards – winning eight statues including Best Film and Best Director – can come as absolutely no surprise to anyone what has watched it. For his is a masterpiece, the perfect mix of comedy and drama, love story and thriller to make it enjoyable, thought-provoking and endlessly watchable.
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