Malcolm & Marie
Year: 2021
Directed by: Sam Levinson
Starring: John David Washington & Zendaya
Runtime: 106 mins
BBFC: 15
Published: 22/09/21
Directed by: Sam Levinson
Starring: John David Washington & Zendaya
Runtime: 106 mins
BBFC: 15
Published: 22/09/21
As of writing this review, I have been in a relationship with my partner for a little over four and a half years, which considering we are both in our mid-twenties often surprises people. I don’t think it’s all that long in the grand scheme of things, but it does often catch people off guard. But one of the most common questions I get asked by people who find out how long my partner and I have been together is “What do you argue about?”. I’ll never understand this fascination with finding out why couples argue, but one thing I am sure of is it makes an interesting premise for a film.
Following the premiere of his new film, Malcolm (John David Washington) and his girlfriend Marie (Zendaya) return home. Malcolm is ecstatic that his film was received so well by the audience and is anxiously awaiting the first reviews to come in; Marie meanwhile is annoyed because Malcolm didn’t thank her during his speech.
This conflict leads into a series of escalating arguments between the couple as they roam their house late at night, digging up a lot of repressed feelings and calling into question their compatibility as a couple.
Following the premiere of his new film, Malcolm (John David Washington) and his girlfriend Marie (Zendaya) return home. Malcolm is ecstatic that his film was received so well by the audience and is anxiously awaiting the first reviews to come in; Marie meanwhile is annoyed because Malcolm didn’t thank her during his speech.
This conflict leads into a series of escalating arguments between the couple as they roam their house late at night, digging up a lot of repressed feelings and calling into question their compatibility as a couple.
The most immediate thing that struck me about Malcolm & Marie is just how beautiful it looks. Presented in monochrome black and white with some extremely clever and flattering shots of the equally gorgeous John David Washington and Zendaya, Malcolm & Marie is one of the most strikingly gorgeous films I have seen this year. So much so that much of what keeps you captivated for this two-hour argument are these gorgeous visuals.
But to say that the film is all looks and no brains would be flippant. The performance from both actors is mesmerising, and the conviction with which they deliver their lines is incredible. Their physical performances too are excellent, and how they inhabit the house is fantastic.
It’s all good so far, right? It’s just a shame then that it feels like Malcolm & Marie would have been better served as a live theatrical performance. Whilst the film is exquisitely made, it feels extremely fake. The way Malcolm & Marie communicate is not how two normal people would talk to each other, the long monologues they deliver with such gusto are indeed incredible, but wholly unrealistic. On stage this is easily forgivable, but with a film it then becomes difficult to be invested in what’s happening because you know it’s not real.
As well as this, I found it hard to emotionally connect with either Malcolm or Marie because they’re just so nasty to each other. I understand that what we are witnessing is the worst versions of either of these people, but as they shout and scream some truly horrible things to each other it does become difficult to see either one of them as reasonable in this situation.
Malcolm & Marie is Oscar bait through and through, technically stunning but generally cold and emotionally disconnected from reality. I would say it’s definitely worth watching if you have a Netflix subscription as it is one of the better original films available on the service, but don’t be surprised if you walk away from this argument with no winner and total resentment for both parties.
But to say that the film is all looks and no brains would be flippant. The performance from both actors is mesmerising, and the conviction with which they deliver their lines is incredible. Their physical performances too are excellent, and how they inhabit the house is fantastic.
It’s all good so far, right? It’s just a shame then that it feels like Malcolm & Marie would have been better served as a live theatrical performance. Whilst the film is exquisitely made, it feels extremely fake. The way Malcolm & Marie communicate is not how two normal people would talk to each other, the long monologues they deliver with such gusto are indeed incredible, but wholly unrealistic. On stage this is easily forgivable, but with a film it then becomes difficult to be invested in what’s happening because you know it’s not real.
As well as this, I found it hard to emotionally connect with either Malcolm or Marie because they’re just so nasty to each other. I understand that what we are witnessing is the worst versions of either of these people, but as they shout and scream some truly horrible things to each other it does become difficult to see either one of them as reasonable in this situation.
Malcolm & Marie is Oscar bait through and through, technically stunning but generally cold and emotionally disconnected from reality. I would say it’s definitely worth watching if you have a Netflix subscription as it is one of the better original films available on the service, but don’t be surprised if you walk away from this argument with no winner and total resentment for both parties.