Blue Valentine (2010)

A young working class couple (Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams who received an Oscar nomination for her work here) with a small daughter (Faith Wladyka) find their marriage crumbling in what, perhaps, was a relationship doomed from the start. Intense, disturbing and ultimately doleful, the film jumps around in time from their first meeting through the destructive marriage to its painful conclusion leaving our bearings askew. As a romantic film, it's a difficult watch but it's one of a kind though it's far from traditional even though they meet "cute", WHEN HARRY MET SALLY this ain't. Still, it is a romance and a heartbreaking and all too real one at that. Is there a more natural actress than Michelle Williams working today? One is never cognizant of her performance, she just is! Gosling, too, brings a likability to his character which is necessary since his character is a bit of jerk. Directed by Derek Cianfrance, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joey Curtis and Cami Delavigne. With Mike Vogel, Ben Shenkman and Jen Jones.