Title · no scrobbles indexed yet

Malcolm & Marie

The first scrobble for this title is still propagating, but a community review is already indexed below.

Reviews

Longform community posts about this title

Love In Black And White — Review Of Malcolm & Marie (2021)@kemmyb581d

divider curl .webp

Whoever says love is easy must be from another planet where ‘perfect’ beings reside. Every relationship has a moment of introspection and this Netflix film explores the struggles of loving while being imperfect. For a duration of one hour and forty-five minutes, a troubled couple air their flaws, insecurities and pains in a captivating yet unsettling way.

Zendaya has become quite an interesting actress to me ever since her performance alongside Tom Holland in the Marvel Spider-Man series. Seeing her on this poster for Malcolm & Marie (2021) wrapped in John David Washington's arms, my attention was piqued.

This black-and-white Netflix romantic drama begins as Malcolm returns from his successful movie premiere with his girlfriend, Marie. He's excited, puts on some music, pours a drink, and dances. Marie goes into the kitchen, puts a pot on the stove and prepares mac and cheese.

Malcolm begins to rant angrily about critics who view art from a racial and political viewpoint. Marie listens and says a thing or two that challenges his perspective rather than support his rants. He gives her a second look and demands to know what the problem is. She reveals that he did not give her due credit for the movie since it's based on her life and struggles with drugs.

This couple begins a verbal and emotional battle that lasts through the night.

___________

Review

Some people might say that this film has no plot but I strongly disagree. They just don't look close enough. Malcolm & Marie is slow paced and doesn't immediately reveal its narrative arc. For action/thriller fans, this may appear boring but you need a little patience at this point to understand and appreciate the effort of writer and director, Sam Levinson.

This film focuses on a man who loves his art and wants everyone around him, especially his girlfriend, to validate and support it as much. Shockingly, his girlfriend doesn't and dishes out her resentment of his success in good doses. They argue back and forth, verbally tearing into each other and it's clear they are struggling to make their relationship work.

They bring up past hurts, suicide attempts, their insecurities and then soften it with sessions of physical intimacy. These scenes are slightly awkward for me, probably because of the age gap between the actors and how realistic such a drama is.

Still, Zendaya and John David are impressive in their roles. They nailed down the passionate aspect; their chemistry is strong and believable. However, as the film progresses, the back and forth becomes repetitive and exhausting. I think this is where Sam Levinson may lose the audience.

Malcolm is self-centred and narcissistic; a man who doesn't mind the hurts he inflicts just to get some recognition in the film industry. It's about his art and he wants the world to see and acknowledge it. Marie on the other hand is the pitiful, emotionally fractured yet understanding girlfriend.

This film also takes a shot at film criticisms—those who dish them out and how often filmmakers react to them.

One outstanding aspect of this movie is the cinematography and storytelling style. The use of black and white is not an afterthought, but rather an intentional artistic decision and sort of metaphor to depict the couple's relationship and world. There's no in-between or shades of grey—it's just black and white. They either love each other or don't.

Though the entire film takes place in one location, the couple's home, their arguments which appear more like monologues are powerful and emotional. It's like I'm watching a play and think the movie might do better on a stage.

Do I like this movie? I have mixed feelings about it but I do applaud the artistic outlook. Will I recommend it though? Yes, only to those who won't mind a slow paced, romantic drama presented in monochrome. It may appear boring but the film invites the audience to look beyond the surface.

Overall, Malcolm & Marie is a thought-provoking film worth watching at least once. The acting is great and the visuals are excellent. I'd give it 2.8 stars out of 5.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

^{_{Poster Image, Fair Use}} ^{_{Other images are screenshots from the movie}}

Posted using CineTV

Permalink·Open on PeakD ↗·Linked from existing Hive post

Comments

No comments yet — be the first.

3 more reviews

›Malcolm & Marie (2021): Es una montaña rusa de emociones...@miguelpeliculas1931d
Es muy interesante como desarrollan está película alrededor de un tema tan sencillo y común en el día a día de cualquier persona, las relaciones amorosas. Y es que está película no es la típica historia de amor, donde todo es color de rosa, es mucho más real y crudo, con discusiones y reconciliaciones rápidas que van vienen durante una noche, hasta que por fin, comienza un nuevo día.

It is very interesting how they develop this film around such a simple and common theme in the day-to-day life of any person, love relationships. And it is that this film is not the typical love story, where everything is rosy, it is much more real and raw, with discussions and quick reconciliations that come during one night, until finally, a new day begins.

En este filme veremos un reflejo de los millones de problemas por los que podría pasar cualquier relación, que para mi parecer, está muy cerca de llegar a su final. Vemos como cada pequeño detalle puede causar indiferencia en uno de los componentes de la relación, al punto de llegar ser despreciable, pero los mismos pueden ser muy importantes para la otra persona, destrozando poco a poco los lazos que los unen y los mantienen juntos.

In this film we will see a reflection of the millions of problems that any relationship could go through, which in my opinion, is very close to reaching its end. We see how every little detail can cause indifference in one of the components of the relationship, to the point of being despicable, but they can be very important for the other person, little by little destroying the ties that bind them and keep them together.

Fuente

Sinopsis según Filmaffinity / Synopsis according Filmaffinity:

"La relación de un director de cine y su novia es puesta a prueba cuando regresan a casa tras el estreno de su película y esperan las reacciones de los críticos."

"The relationship of a film director and his girlfriend is put to the test when they return home after the premiere of their film and await the reactions of the critics."

Fuente

Zendaya como Marie hace un papel muy correcto aunque tambien algo dubitativo, se sienten muchos de los sentimientos que intenta transmitir en cada uno de sus monólogos, incluso la escena donde necesita sus pastillas para los nervios y trae con sigo un cuchillo en mano es probablemente la mejor de la cinta, aunque también esos monólogos por momentos se pueden llegar a ser abrumadores, no en el buen sentido, además nunca creí que fuera una ex drogadicta.

Zendaya as Marie plays a very correct role although also somewhat hesitant, many of the feelings that she tries to convey in each of her monologues are felt, even the scene where she needs her nerve pills and carries a knife in hand is probably the one. best of the film, although those monologues can also be overwhelming at times, not in a good way, and I never thought I was an ex-drug addict.

Fuente

John David Washington como Malcolm tiene los mismos problemas que Zendaya, ya que además de que siento que tienen buena química en pantalla, se sienten muy cómodos con sus papeles, muy pocas veces vemos que salen de su zona de confort para lograr escena excelente, como la misma escena de los antidepresivos, donde vemos a Malcolm que está que se hace encima de los pantalones del miedo. Otra cosa que me pareció mejor del actor fue su uso de expresiones faciales, más correctas y expresivas, aunque esto es algo que siempre le he criticado a Zendaya.

John David Washington as Malcolm has the same problems as Zendaya, since in addition to the fact that I feel they have good chemistry on screen, they feel very comfortable with their roles, very rarely do we see them go out of their comfort zone to achieve an excellent scene, like the same scene of the antidepressants, where we see Malcolm who is doing up his pants of fear. Another thing that I found best about the actor was his use of facial expressions, more correct and expressive, although this is something that I have always criticized Zendaya.

Fuente

Lo mejor de la película, sin lugar a dudas, es en el aspecto visual, no es solo porque se presente en blanco y negro, sino porque se le saca mucho provecho a una cosa tan simple como un conversación entre dos personas en una casa, con secuencias y escenas muy bien cuidadas, mientras cada una recorre las diferentes habitaciones o áreas de la casa y desarrollan cada uno de los diferentes monólogos, incluso un escena tan sencilla como una chica en un bañera, queda muy bien lograda acá. También ayuda mucho que la casa sea simplemente espectacular.

The best thing about the film, without a doubt, is in the visual aspect, it is not only because it is presented in black and white, but because a thing as simple as a conversation between two people in a house is greatly benefited, with very well-cared sequences and scenes, while each one goes through the different rooms or areas of the house and develops each of the different monologues, even a scene as simple as a girl in a bathtub, is very well achieved here. It also helps a lot that the house is simply spectacular.

Fuente

Ahora, si hablamos de la dirección y del guión de la película, vemos que decepcionan un poco, ya que hay demasiados monólogos y muy poca acción, además de que siempre el sexo era la causa para relajarse un poco y preparar la siguiente discusión. Otra cosa son los altibajos emocionales, que son demasiados y siguen uno detrás del otro, empezando Marie y siguiendo con Malcolm, y así sucesivamente, lo que lleva a perder el ritmo de la película y puede llegar a ser algo tedioso.

Now, if we talk about the direction and the script of the film, we see that they disappoint a bit, since there are too many monologues and too little action, plus sex was always the cause to relax a little and prepare the next discussion. Another thing is the emotional ups and downs, which are too many and follow one after the other, starting with Marie and continuing with Malcolm, and so on, which leads to losing the rhythm of the film and can become somewhat tedious.

Fuente

En conclusión, es una muy decente película pero que nunca llega a ser brillante, donde la fotografía y escenografía son simplemente geniales y las actuaciones estuvieron muy correcta, ideal para ver con tu pareja y ver qué hasta sus problemas quedan muy cortos ante los de esta pareja de locos.

In conclusion, it is a very decent film but it never becomes brilliant, where the photography and scenery are simply great and the performances were very correct, ideal to see with your partner and see that even their problems are very short before those of this crazy couple.

Fuente

Mi calificación para esta película / My rating for this movie:

6.0 / 10.0

Permalink·Open on PeakD ↗·Linked from existing Hive post
›Malcolm & Marie, Sam Levinson, 2021@claudio831963d
On an important night. Behind the glass walls of a beautiful house with a garden, Malcolm and Marie are hiding nothing. Little by little they lay bare, literally and otherwise, before the eyes of spectators who are, from time to time, dragged into their world. A world apparently only in black and white but which, when the eye gets used to it, reveals a wide gray scale. In the kitchen, on the stairs, on carpets and sofas, in the bathroom, in the garden, in the bedroom, in every corner of the house we discover the lights and shadows of a couple who live daily the schizophrenia of reality and fiction, of life and cinema .

In both conditions, the keystone is in the points of view, in the perspectives, in the fields and plans, in the shots. In an increasingly agitated battle, we go through the ups and downs of a relationship that lasts precisely because it is tough, difficult. And of a profession, that of cinema, which inevitably has to deal with interpretations and points of observation. Because whoever is a director does not make clay pots. Here comes the criticism and the criticism of the criticism. The obstinacy of wanting to explain art and enclose it in messages and clichés, out of disgust and the clicks they sell. And again the search for authenticity which does not mean reproducing reality but translating it.

Directors and people in general should be evaluated for the choices they made, not for those they could have made. Then leave room for mystery, in cinema and in couples, consider the 'who knows' factor, do not look for answers at any cost. Valuing what is not explained and taking nothing or anyone for granted, trying to be the best version of yourself at every opportunity. Malcolm & Marie goes beyond Carnage and The Story of a Marriage, Levinson's film delves deeper with great knowledge of the facts into the relationship of the couple and the value of cinema as an art. Two conditions undermined by external eyes and their interpretations.

Malcolm and Marie save and destroy each other over and over again. Crazy in love and crazy in love. We don't know why and what keeps them together, just as we never really know what a director intends to do when he tells a story in a film. Certain dynamics remain mysterious and it is precisely this that charges them with value. It happens in relationships as well as in art. We should give in to the loss of control more boldly and be reckless. Live without asking why.

The interpretations, to leave you speechless, by David Washington and Zendaya make an aesthetically and photographically accurate and detailed film excellent and give further value to the script of high literary caliber. The musical choice is also remarkable. Overall perfect.

#malcolmandmarie #Netflix

Permalink·Open on PeakD ↗·Linked from existing Hive post
›Malcolm and Marie - A relationship turned into a battlefield | Impressions and film review (eng-esp)@jauregui981967d

I was going to give you one of my typical greetings, but I can't, I'm exhausted after watching this movie. From the moment I heard that Zendaya and John David Washington were going to be in a dramatic film together I knew I was going to love it too much, and when I read that Labrinth had worked on the soundtrack when I started watching it I ended up loving it insanely.

Malcolm and Marie is 106 minutes long, but it hurts for a lifetime, this damaging relationship portrayed by them is just a glimpse of a day in the life of years they share together, it's a normal day in a relationship that neither of them yet know why it exists, why they are still together or why neither has killed the other yet.

Iba a hacerles uno de mis típicos saludos, pero no puedo, estoy exhausto después de ver esta película. Desde el momento en el que supe que Zendaya y John David Washington iban a estar juntos en una película dramática supe que la iba a amar demasiado, y cuando leí que Labrinth había trabajado en el soundtrack al comenzar a verla terminé de amarla insanamente.

Malcolm and Marie dura 106 minutos, pero duele toda la vida, esta relación dañina representada por ellos es tan solo la muestra de un día en la vida de años que comparten juntos, es un día normal en una relación que aún ninguno de los dos sabe por qué existe, por qué siguen juntos o por qué ninguno ha matado al otro todavía.

The film begins with Malcolm and Marie arriving from the premiere of what may turn out to be Malcolm's best directed film. He is in total euphoria, but something was bothering Marie from the beginning of the night, but like any passive-aggressive person, she waited until it was too late to express her feelings, or what would turn out to be, the perfect time to start the biggest fight in her relationship with Malcolm, at least until they fight again later.

I hated Malcolm from the first minute he appeared on screen, I hated him, I hate him! I wanted to stab a thousand times throughout the whole movie and Malcolm earned nine hundred and ninety-nine. He makes excessive noise when he eats and already for that he earned my contempt as a human being, I hate him. It's been too long since I've been so angry at a character in a movie.

La película comienza con Malcolm y Marie llegando del estreno de la que puede llegar a ser la mejor película dirigida por Malcolm. Él se encuentra en euforia total, pero algo estuvo molestando a Marie desde el comienzo de la noche, pero como toda persona pasivo-agresiva, esperó hasta que era demasiado tarde para expresar sus sentimientos, o lo que vendría siendo, el momento perfecto de comenzar la mayor pelea en su relación con Malcolm, al menos hasta que vuelvan a pelear después.

Odie a Malcolm desde el primer minuto que aparece en la pantalla. ¡Lo odié, lo odio! Quise dar mil puñaladas durante toda la película y Malcolm se ganó novecientas noventa y nueve. Él hace un ruido excesivo al comer y ya por eso se ganó mi desprecio como ser humano, lo odio. Tenía demasiado tiempo que no me enojaba tanto con el personaje de una película.

The simple fact that I disliked Malcolm makes him a great character, personified by an incredible actor. Marie, on the other hand... I loved her like you have no idea, but this love is more because of the idea I created of her than because of who she is per se, I don't know if I'm making myself clear. The character is amazing, Zendaya has an amazing development here, but her character could have been so much better, but if she had been better things would have been different regarding to the plot and everything would have a different development.

Marie had to be flawed for the movie to be good, and it was; with Malcolm the opposite is true, he's the perfect loathsome character that if he doesn't earn your affection, he earns your respect for being the way he is, the only thing he earned from me was my contempt. You can't be in a relationship and humiliate your partner the way he does, it's horrible. I feel like stabbing him again.

El simple hecho de que me haya caído mal Malcolm lo hace un gran personaje, personificado por un increíble actor. En cambio, Marie... La amé como no tienen idea, pero este amor es más por la idea que me creé de ella que por como es ella en sí, no sé si me explico bien. El personaje es increíble, Zendaya tiene una increíble desarrollo aquí, pero su personaje pudo haber sido mucho mejor, pero si hubiera sido mejor las cosas hubieran sido diferentes en cuanto a la trama y todo tendría un diferente desarrollo.

Marie tenía que ser defectuosa para que la película fuera buena, y así fue; con Malcolm sucede todo lo contrario, es el personaje detestable perfecto que si no se gana tu afecto, se gana tu respeto por ser como es, lo único que se ganó de mí fue mi desprecio. No puedes estar en una relación y humillar a tu pareja de la forma en la que él lo hace, es horrible. Tengo ganas de apuñalarlo otra vez.

Malcolm and Marie has an exquisite soundtrack, each song perfectly filling the silence between the aggressive monologues between one and the other. Jazz, R&B, Soft Rock, in any case, the atmosphere created, the tension that is felt around is only calmed by the music, even making it unbearable at times.

The fact that it's a black and white movie makes it perfect, it's so intense, so desperate that it doesn't need color to catch your attention, you keep your eyes on the screen from the beginning to the end, where Zendaya gives us the best monologue of the whole movie, so much so that it made me cry, but anyway, you know I'm a born crybaby.

Malcolm y Marie tiene una banda sonora exquisita, cada canción llenando de manera perfecta el silencio entre los monólogos agresivos entre uno y otro. Jazz, R&B, Soft Rock, en fin, el ambiente creado, la tensión que se siente alrededor solo es calmada por la música, incluso haciendo que llegue a ser insoportable en algunos momentos.

El que sea una película en blanco y negro la hace perfecta, es tan intensa, tan desesperante que no le hace falta color para llamar la atención, uno mantiene la mirada en la pantalla desde el inicio hasta el fin, donde Zendaya nos regala el mejor monólogo de toda la película, tanto así que me hizo llorar, pero en fin, ya saben que soy un llorón de nacimiento.

Here is the trailer! So you can decide if you are going to see this movie or not. I absolutely loved it, it touches on taboo subjects like mental health, drug addiction, couple fights, and how we perceive the world through it and the world perceives us in return.

Many will say, I say this is just another movie of a straight couple screaming at each other for almost two hours, like A Marriage Story, and it is, it's just another movie where a couple fights, but the way we get to know the characters through those fights is unheard of, it's a movie you can never stop watching.

¡Aquí les dejo el trailer! Para que decidan si van a ver esta película o no. La amé completamente, toca temas tabúes como la salud mental, la drogadicción, las peleas de parejas, y cómo percibimos al mundo a través de ella y el mundo nos percibe a su vez.

Muchos dirán, yo digo que esta es otra película de una pareja heterosexual gritándose por casi dos horas, como Historia de un Matrimonio, y es así, no es más que otra película donde una pareja se pelea, pero la forma en que llegamos a conocer a los personajes a través de esas peleas es inaudita, es una película que no se puede dejar de ver nunca.

All images are screenshots taken from netflix.

Todas las imágenes son capturas de pantalla tomadas desde netflix.

Permalink·Open on PeakD ↗·Linked from existing Hive post

Review

Comments

3 more reviews

Mi calificación para esta película / My rating for this movie:

6.0 / 10.0