Rachel Getting Married-2008
Director Jonathan Demme
Starring Anne Hathaway
Scott’s Review #1,153
Reviewed June 17, 2021
Grade: A-
Rachel Getting Married (2008) is the film that put Anne Hathaway on the map as a powerful and respected actress.
Despite the heaps of praise heaped upon her, she was nominated for an Oscar for the role and would win a few years later for Les Misérables (2012).
Hathaway proves that good nuts-and-bolts acting never goes out of style.
Director Jonathan Demme goes for simplicity with his project.
The film is a quiet family drama with members gathered for a specific event. As the film progresses, we witness deep-seated emotions and history bubbling to the surface through terrific scenes that showcase the entire cast’s acting chops.
Pain, truth, and wry humor are explored as a naturalistic approach is employed. Not all the characters are likable, and it is debatable whether any of them are.
Thankfully, humorous moments are added to lighten the mood.
Jenny Lumet, the daughter of famed director Sidney Lumet and granddaughter of Lena Horne, wrote the screenplay. The filming took place in Stamford, Connecticut, a small city outside of New York City.
The Buchmans, an affluent New England family, prepare for their daughter Rachel’s (Rosemarie DeWitt) wedding. Their other daughter, Kym (Anne Hathaway), is permitted to attend the wedding despite being in the middle of a stint at rehab- she’s been there before.
As Kym causes upheaval and drama, Rachel resents her sister, causing family tensions to resurface.
Parents Paul and Abby, played by Bill Irwin and Debra Winger, do their best to put out the flames sparked by the bickering siblings. Unfortunately, tensions begin to erupt between Rachel and Abby, and away from Rachel.
Events come to a head on Rachel’s wedding day, hence the title.
Under different circumstances, Rachel Getting Married could have been a standard Lifetime television film. A girl with a drug addiction returning to the fold to stir up family drama is hardly a novel idea and has been told many times before in almost every medium.
I even cringed at first when I read the premise.
But the film feels as fresh and energetic as a new idea. The pacing is the first notice as it moves at a brisk pace, and the running time is under two hours.
Kym is frenetic acting, which also helps the illusion of a faster pace.
A dark secret is quickly revealed. Due to drunkenness, Kym caused the car she was driving to careen off a bridge, killing her younger brother. She has harbored guilt ever since and endured her family’s wrath.
It has made her struggle with addiction even worse.
I don’t think enough praise can be given to Hathaway for quite simply kicking the film’s ass.
Nearly destined for wimpy romantic comedies, Kym gives the actress a role she can not only sink her teeth into but also infuse with emotion and empathy.
At times, the audience will hate Kym, and other times, will sob along with her.
DeWitt and especially Winger, returning to the cinematic spotlight after a long absence, have plenty to infuse their characters with.
Anger, jealousy, and unbridled sympathy are just a few of the emotions their characters experience.
Demme creates an independent film that feels raw and is filled with naturalistic settings and emotions.
He takes a basic story and ravages it completely with great acting, handheld cameras that provide a real-life approach, and a story that will leave audiences thinking about the events and perhaps their own lives after the credits roll.
Oscar Nominations: Best Actress-Anne Hathaway
Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best Film, Best Director-Jonathan Demme, Best Female Lead-Anne Hathaway, Best First Screenplay, Best Supporting Female-Rosemarie DeWitt, Debra Winger
