Blue Valentine shows a relationship from two different stages: one as it is just starting out and one several years down the road. The early view shows an innocence and contains strong passion. The latter view shows a weathered relationship where the flame is gone. Starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams in brave performances and through unique dialogue, we get the sense of a seemingly complete relationship. This is a film that is able to see the grey area. The film meanders along, but I use the term meander in a good way. Scenes are stretched out, and dialogue and situations are allowed to play out. Though it seems for awhile the film is going astray, the threads come together and story finds its way in sort of a beautiful manner. This is an honest and emotionally draining portrait of a relationship--something that can't always be said about like films.
