Blue Valentine - 9th May 2011

[Sig-gotyouth]

Derek Clanfrance's Blue Valentine (2010) has received a preliminary release date: May 9th. Courtesy of Optimum Home Entertainment.

2011 Accademy Award Oscar Nomination for Michelle Williams (Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role)

Official site and trailer:
http://www.bluevalentinemovie.com/

Pre-order Links:
HMV
Amazon.co.uk
Play.com
more to follow...

Matt Bochenski:

A heartbreaking and unsentimental relationship drama, Blue Valentine annihilates the myth of cinematic love. In depicting the crumbling marriage of Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams), director Derek Cianfrance flatly rejects the redemptive qualities of romance, and delves unsparingly into the reality of two lives that are slowly and painfully ossifying.

But that isn’t the whole story, because this painful break-up is contrasted in beautifully assembled cross-cuts with the early days of the relationship. Here, the charismatic Dean seduces Cindy while working as a removal man and dreaming of bigger things. Gosling and Williams bring the screen to life, the connection between them intimate and tender but electric enough that you can almost hear the crackle.

In another film, the trials they face as a couple would have clear answers and a simple resolution. But in Blue Valentine, Cindy’s discovery that she’s pregnant by a former boyfriend is the fateful moment that both brings them together and ultimately dooms them. From this point on, the everyday disappointments of life will provide a fertile breeding ground for bitterness and resentment.

It’s a rare balancing act that Cianfrance has pulled off, with moments of utter joy brutally offset by a vivid sense of anger and betrayal. The scene in which Dean and Cindy go to a cheap motel room to reignite their old passion is an almost unbearable portrayal of emotional desperation.

Physically, both Gosling and Williams’ subtle signs of ageing underline that inner transformation, as Dean’s hairline recedes and Cindy’s eyes lose the spark of hope that lit up her youth. Both actors are superb – fearsomely committed but restrained enough to ensure that the film doesn’t descend into a noisy riot.

Yes, there are fiery moments of passion and drama, but it’s Blue Valentine’s quiet, keening tragedy that knocks you down and keeps you floored.

Sig

[adamhopelies]

Great film, one of my favourite of 2010. Look forward to the Blu-ray.

The soundtrack received a belated release yesterday too.

[NHassell18]

Saw this about a month ago. Best film of the year (so far, that is), and an absolutely beautiful piece of cinema. I don't care how much this will cost, I will be pre-ordering as soon as Play/HMV have it up.

Just extrodinary this film.

[Sig-gotyouth]

updated original post with info, links to pre-order, poster art and review

[rezpekt]

Extras:

• Deleted scenes
• Cannes Q&A with cast and director
• Making of
• Home Movies
• Audio commentary with director & editor

[wooble89]

The acting really put this one over for me, everything just felt natural.

Not sure if its one I'd want to watch repeatedly though.

[Sig-gotyouth]

hoping my pre-order arrives tomorrow... though I'm away this weekend so looks like I'll be watching it on monday. Again, if you have overlooked this excellent piece of drama, don't.

[nightcrawler]

I pre-ordered this from Play as it was slightly cheaper than HMV, but they didn't even despatch it until today (Friday). If I had used HMV it would have been here today! All just to save a £1!!

[huntauk]

Originally Posted by nightcrawler

I pre-ordered this from Play as it was slightly cheaper than HMV, but they didn't even despatch it until today (Friday). If I had used HMV it would have been here today! All just to save a £1!!

You need to find someone with a student card, it's been 2 years since I was at uni now and the online discount is still active. The 10% isn't much but it almost certainly makes hmv the cheapest option everytime with pre-orders.

[The Driver]

Image: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004IK87U8/

Just caught this and was very impressed. Never like Gosling in anything else but his acting and charm won me over here. The fractured nature of the story won me over too and another bonus was it has Michelle Williams from the wonderful movie Wendy and Lucy

I really don't like the US/Canada artwork and the UK release has that 35min Q&A so that's the version for me.

Just waiting for the price to drop.

Lovely clip (maybe best to wait until you've seen the movie):

YouTube - ‪Blue Valentine (Ryan Gosling - Michelle Williams)‬‏

I really want to emote after that

[Bad Sandwich]

Very curious as to how the encode compares to Anchor Bay's.

[The Driver]

Originally Posted by Bad Sandwich

Very curious as to how the encode compares to Anchor Bay's.

That was my thinking when I went to the bother of providing links for the UK and USA reviews.

[The Driver]

Disc is Region B locked.

[idlebrain]

Could someone Please comment on the Quality of Transfer? I am waiting forever on this title to drop in price and 5+ is no brainer. Is this got same treatment as US one?

Thanks.

[johnchatzo]

I got this for like 9 pounds ( ) a month ago.I havent seen the us transfer but this one looks pretty good

[Pera]

It's £5.59 at Amazon now!

[aequalszero]

Originally Posted by Pera

It's £5.59 at Amazon now!

Great price - they must be matching it from Play.com.

[aequalszero]

Just to add - I finally caught up with this and it was stunning.

Such a great look at human flaws and the awkwardness that forms in relationships when people grow apart - or maybe were never right for each other in the first place. It really unpicked the seams of their fraught pairing and let them unravel across the course of the movie.

The cross-cutting of their early days only helped highlight how much they had lost, but even there things weren't black and white and with the knowledge of what is to come you notice the traits that would eventually pull them down. Not a feel good film by any means, but an important one all the same.

[samdaman94]

Originally Posted by aequalszero

Just to add - I finally caught up with this and it was stunning.

Such a great look at human flaws and the awkwardness that forms in relationships when people grow apart - or maybe were never right for each other in the first place. It really unpicked the seams of their fraught pairing and let them unravel across the course of the movie.

The cross-cutting of their early days only helped highlight how much they had lost, but even there things weren't black and white and with the knowledge of what it to come you notice the traits that would eventually pull them down. Not a feel good film by any means, but an important on all the same.

+1, it was truly fantastic.

[jordanwalkert]

Does anyone own or compared this Blu Ray from the US version? The original US release was on a BD-25 with very low bitrates, I see most other discs, like the UK are on a BD-50. Since the audio and aspect ratio is the same, just wanted to see if the bigger disc allowed for higher bitrates and improved quality? I still love this film, any help would be appreciated!