Rachel Getting Married (2008)

Jenny Lumet wrote a heartbreaking story in her first script to be filmed. While the Rachel of the title is not the main character, the film is about what old feelings are stirred up in a family by the event of Rachel's wedding. Kym, Rachel's sister, is on leave from rehab - a place she's been in and out of for the past ten years.

Rachel is immediately upset by how much their father dotes on Kym while Kym is upset than Rachel's chosen someone else to be her maid of honor. Then there's their mother who has clearly been more concerned with her own well-being than that of her daughters for awhile.

Besides a heartfelt story, what sets this movie apart is the depths to which everyone involved went to make it. Director Jonathan Demme had more than one camera filming at all times. Camera operators and sound people would wander in and out of the groups of people, but also in and out of rooms in the house. It's so refreshing to have a character storm out of a room and have the camera not only actually follow her, but do so from behind so it's like we're there trying to chase after her. It's not just a house standing in for a set. It opens the setting up and makes it all the more real. It also opens up the characters.

Every actor and extra had to be "on" at all times because they often didn't know if they were in some way part of a scene or not when they were on set. This technique seemed to especially benefit Anne Hathaway in playing Kym. Her work here blows away everything she's done before it. She proves she can go beyond the silly comedy and Disney fare to deliver a character who has definite flaws and has done unlikeable things but somehow remains someone you could feel something for other than distaste. The Oscar nomination was well-deserved. But overall this was an outstanding ensemble success from both the cast and crew. It may not be the best movie to watch when you're already feeling down, but it has its smiles along with the tears.

Rating: 5/5
Recommended for: Anyone looking for a refreshing take on what a film can be.