Filmmaker reacts to Marriage Story (2019) for the FIRST TIME! 

You can't marry your audience unless you take all of us out to dinner first.

Honestly, mad props to Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver for being able to act the entire argument scene without a single improvised line. Remembering all that sounds like the most challenging part for me.

I love that you do films no one does that people should see.

Man... this movie really hits if you've been in a relationship that just didn't work. Its clear that the two love each other and want things to work out, but they're just not compatible anymore. Its so beautiful and heartbreaking.

I can't believe this movie is already five years old.

I liked that the more time spent with each character the more I felt "on their side", until eventually I just felt sad for them both

Got to see Adam Driver live in a screening Q&A for Silence, dude is legit so humble, dedicated, grateful

This movie made me want to give both characters a big old hug.

I'd highly recommended the movie Kramer vs Kramer as an earlier (and maybe superior?) look at divorcing parents

The knife scene shocked me so much. I wasn't expecting something like that in a movie like this

Genuinely like the first reaction of this on RU-vid lol

James, I literally never clicked on a video so fast…thank you, my man. God bless.

Merritt Wever is hilarious. She was so fun to watch on Nurse Jackie. Also the writing is brilliant. How we didn’t hear the ending of her letter until the end of the movie with Adams acting made me cry! And yes, family law is cut throat & it’s scary. People you thought you knew or married completely change. Integrity isn’t how you “win” I knew he was gonna get screwed when he didn’t listen to his lawyer & knew the wife’s lawyer was top of the line. Every lawyer will tell you to file first!

THANK YOU FOR THIS! I’m 22 years old and this is one of my all time favorite films. So emotional and profound yet authentically real. Adam Driver was such a force

More people need to react and give props to this movie!! Thanks for this reaction ❤

This is a great movie. And Adam Driver punching the wall is great meme material.

This movie has become one of my favorite films and its hard to believe this will be five years old later this year. Johansson and Driver gave my favorite performances of 2019 and were my choices to win at the Oscars as well as Noah Baumbach's screenplay (just really captures the realism of what goes on in divorce). His direction deserves more credit here as well. Check out more of his work when you can (Meyerowitz Stories, Squid and the Whale)

One of my all-time favourites, so happy you’re watching it

This was a rough watch. I believe it's because it's one of the most accurate portrayals of the hardships and sacrifices that come with marriage.

The argument scene in the apartment made me bawl my eyes out 🥺

That scene where they just lost it and let each other have it, that was the realest shit I have ever seen. I went through divorce, nothing nearly as extreme as this story, but that sense that this person who you LOVED, who you thought had your back forever, turns into an unrecognisable, vindictive enemy, in a frighteningly short period of time. It sucks all the air out of you, the physical pain of heartbreak is palpable. This movie captures the feeling perfectly.

If you haven't watched it, PLEASE react to Blackkklansman. Spike Lee, Adam Driver. Top tier.

Some of the best acting of the 2010’s

This was such an amazingly well shot movie. I loved this movie so so much and I’m glad to have watched your reaction to it. I feel like this is one of the most realistic portrayal of a relationship where not everything always perfect but these small intimate moments that makes the relationship. Especially the opening montage. I cried 3 times in this damn movie. Once when she was cutting his hair. A very intimate moment where they’re both away from their lawyers and they can be themselves again. How they fall right back into what it was then realizing what’s happening after. The second was the fight and obviously when he reads the letter. Amazing movie. If you ever get the chance, watch “Like Crazy” or “About Time” two other amazing romance movies.

loved seeing your reaction to this film, it's such heartbreaking movie

Definitely the most depressing movie of the last 5 years

I'd recommend watching "blue valentine": that movie doesn't even feel like a movie..it's like you're following a real couple through life. super emotional.

I (46M) was married for 11 years. Dated for one year. Friends for 11 years prior to dating. Having a daughter "ruined" the marriage. We didn't make time for ourselves. We just grew apart. We were both depressed. We had crazy arguments like in this movie. It was the easiest mutual divorce ever. No lawyers. She took her stuff, I took mine. We co-parent amazingly. Family and friends are always praising us. She's still my best friend. Known her for nearly 30 years. I've seen some friends and family that have the ugliest, meanest divorces. I got lucky.

The marriage counselor in the beginning is played by Robert Smigel AKA Triumph The Insult Comic Dog.

Kamer vs. Kamer (1979) originally and The Squid and the Whale (2005) - both fantastic films as well.

Best movie I’ll never watch again. I was the age of the kid when my parents divorced under the same circumstances (minus cheating). My Dad had a good relationship with my mom’s family and everything. I remember asking all the same questions the kid in the movie did. All hit very close to reality. 10/10 will never watch again lol Also the whole part about lawyers trying to get them to turn against their spouse is 100% accurate

When Noah Baumbach locks in, he LOCKS IN. Meyerowitz Stories and The squid and the whale are absolutely superb - Marriage Story will always be his masterpiece though

The first couple therapist was played by Robert ((Smigel)), who plays Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. 17:25 And that's Tommy Vercetti. 19:45 This guy knows nothing about good food

Laura Dern looks so damn good in this movie.

Divorce in the US is "adversarial" as far as court goes. It's gotten better over the decades but even in a "friendly" divorce, you generally have to have a lawyer (probably one each), and something needs to be identified or testified to as the cause of the divorce. No fault divorce has removed some of that (I don't know the specifics in those states) but even then it's not set up as something where there aren't two sides, esp if there are kids and/or major property involved. In my divorce, agreed to by both without property or kids, my lawyer had me testify, in a recording, specific words about how we didn't love each other anymore. We didn't have to claim infidelity (which used to be the case) but still, they wanted a "side" to be broken for the divorce to occur. Imho at this point, states should provide arbitrators for any problematic shared custody. All changes to schedule etc must go through a neutral office. I'd hate to have that job :D but it would take all the BS out of people making changes for revenge or selfishness.

Nah! Divorce Story is the real name of this movie. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Wonderful stuff as always, stay awesome and stay genuine x

I am OBSESSED with Adam Driver.

Noah Baumbach was married to Jennifer Jason Leigh, and a lot of the details of the couple in the film mirror him and her (director and actress with one kid, he's based in NY and she wants to go back to LA), but he insists it isn't autobiographical.

Yeah, this movie was incredible in the story but more so the ACTING. I've always liked Adam and Scarlett in other things but they were both PHENOMENAL in this! This should be a masterclass in acting. Hard to watch indeed... intense and cringy sometimes... I was raised by a single mother, going to my dads on the weekends and much of this sort of thing happened in the background that I barely saw, but just how hard it is on the child is something that's not to be forgotten. Navigating lawyers and the child's perspective, your own morals, etc.... it's such a messy situation. Incredible movie!

Love Noah Baumbach's films. He is so good portraying relationships. This one is so bittersweet. On that note, if you can seek out British director Mike Leigh. He is incredible. His 1993 film Naked in particular. Kind regards

What are your thoughts on this film?? Want to vote on what I should watch next? Click here! www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema Have a great day!

Fantastic film, nothing that's come out since has hit the 10/10 for me. I remember watching it in the cinema and it was pretty much an empty audience except for me, my friend, and an extremely loud and demonstrative laugher a few rows ahead of us. Usually that's a dealbreaker, but Marriage Story was strong enough to still move me.

Haven’t watched the whole video yet so sorry if it’s mentioned somewhere in there, but would you ever consider watching Scenes from a Marriage?

Obviously the acting is top notch but this film made me absolutely despise lawyers. Still can't watch it without getting pissed off by Laura Dern and Ray Liotta's characters.

U want romance and marriage and relationship then watch Blue Valentine

My husband and I are currently separated, and tomorrow, the moving trucks are coming. After 17 years, I am now 39, and we have a 10 yr old boy that is coming with me. After i had my son, things changed so fast, and then we ended up here. We love each other, but this movie hits the nail on the head. It sucks.

If you lived this, then check out Blue Valentine. It’ll break your heart and light it on fire.

FIVE GUYS ALL THE WAY!

A Marriage made in comments. First for me as well James

❤❤

Tried watching this movie once, found it way to fucking depressing to finish it, but definitely glad to at least get a synopsis of the second half with ya

And now you probably have more of an understanding ofwhy children of divorce can be messed up by it. You're not just splitting up a supposedly happy family dynamic (usually at least), but the ugliness of the process, even under mostly civil circumstances can simply tear people and families apart. It's dreadful to watch, both in the movie, and in real life. And it's hard for kids to grow up seeing the parents supposedly loving toward one another, and then the hate, resentment, and ugliness spill out in front of the child in some way. It can rip a child's world apart from the foundation, up.

CAN WE FINALLY WATCH 'CHELLENGERS' 🙄 luca guadagnino does not fuk around! i think his camera work will impress u.

This movie seemed to favor the female lead in such a aggressive way that it started to seem petty. The last scene made my eyes roll. Good watch tho.