Love is Strange
is a quiet meditation on the nuances of a seasoned relationship. It is so
quiet, in fact, that despite the wonderful performances and intelligent
screenplay it fails to have emotional resonance. Although it is still a nice
respite from the onslaught of mindless Hollywood
blockbusters, I couldn’t help but wish that a bit of that excitement had been
transferred into this film. Respect can only go so far in entertainment, and
then the drama needs emotional resonance or some sort of dramatic scenario to
pull a film like this out of its singular note mood.
Making it clear
that their performances will carry more significance than the narrative from
the opening sequence on, John Lithgow and Alfred Molina play a pair of seasoned
lovers whose lives are suddenly turned upside down when they decide to get
married after 39-years of dating. Though this action initially seems simply to
be symbolic in nature, it results in George (Molina) losing his job as a music
teacher at a Catholic school. Unable to support themselves living in Manhattan
Despite just
being married, the couple is forced to live apart in various homes of
supportive and understanding friends and family members. Rather than leave the
city where they can live together, George moves in with two friends and former
neighbors (Cheyenne Jackson and Manny Perez) and Ben ends up sharing a bunk bed
in the home of his nephew (Darren Burrows) and his wife (Marisa Tomei). While
simultaneously using the time apart from each other to examine the dynamics of
their relationship and what being married means to them despite their physical
separation, Ben and George are exposed to different family dynamics with each
of their surrogate homes.
The DVD special
features for this understated romance include an optional commentary track with
Lithgow, Molina and director and co-writer Ira Sachs. There is also a generic
making-of featurette and a Q&A with the cast and director from the LA Film
Festival.
Entertainment Value:
6/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7.5/10
Historical
Significance: 6/10
Special Features: 6.5/10
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