REVIEWS
RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
Directed by: Jonathan Demme Starring: Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mather Zickel, Bill Irwin & Tunde Adebimpe Studio: Marc Platt Productions Distributor: Sony Pictures Release: Out now
You might have somewhat forgotten about Jonathan Demme as a directorial force since his assault on the Oscars in the early 1990s with Married To The Mob, The Silence Of The Lambs and Philadelphia, but taking on Jenny Lumet’s debut screenplay, with Rachel Getting Married, Demme is well and truly back on the ball. Centred around non-titular character Kym (Hathaway), fresh out of rehab she jumps back into family life on the eve of her sister’s wedding. Yet to meet her future brotherin-law and out of touch with the hoards of relatives set to arrive for the ceremony, Kym’s return is turbulent to say the least, as her awkward, unforgiving persona ruffles a 22 FAN THE FIRE FEBRUARY 2009
few feathers in the family. While the story won’t blow you away, the direction and intense performances set Rachel Getting Married apart. Kym’s complex character is portrayed wonderfully by Anne Hathaway, pushing as hard as anyone for an Oscar. Though at times she can be unthoughtful and selfish, her actions are driven by love and you’ll take her to your heart before the credits roll, thoroughly fascinated along the way as you never quite know what she’ll do next. With the entire cast and core crew moving into the house where the film was based and shot, Rachel
Getting Married feels like a home movie, giving it a sense of intimacy so many other films lack. From integral scenes like the rehearsal dinner or heart stopping revelations blown up as father and son-in-law race to fill the dishwasher, you feel in the scene, more than just a viewer to a cinematic production. Easily Demme’s best film since Philadelphia, Rachel Getting Married is a marvellous take on the turmoil family situations can cause, and the inner grief of the struggling Kym. Far from an easy watch, but an almost two-hour picture not to be missed in the awards season.
★★★★★