Kramer Vs. Kramer 2019

"Kramer Vs. Kramer" was, up to now, the most iconic motion picture about the topic of divorce and child custody.   In 2019 on Netflix and theaters, there is now a worthy competitor.   "Marriage Story" is reminiscent of the Dustin Hoffman-Meryl Streep film, but it clearly stands on its own.   It provides the same amount of power and does the same thing "Kramer Vs. Kramer" did.   It illustrates there are no clear winners when a couple decides to divorce.

Indeed, after enduring the raw emotions of "Marriage Story," I did a little homework about it and the film's director/writer Noah Baumbach.   The whole thing felt so very real.   As it turns out, Baumbach himself went through a divorce with actress Jennifer Jason Leigh and their only child was involved in the courtroom melee.   I wonder how much of his life showed up on the big screen as you can plainly see the realism behind it all.

Because, just like Jennifer Jason Leigh, Scarlett Johannson plays Nicole, a Hollywood actress who relocates to NY to be with her husband, theater director Charlie, played by Adam Driver.   They have one son named Henry and their NYC life looks content.   But Nicole gets an opportunity to do a TV pilot in LA and must move back.   Before you know it, Charlie is served with divorce papers and then all the dirty laundry comes out like an onion being peeled.  Charlie loves NY.  Nicole loves LA.  They both love young Henry.  Problem.

Nicole gets reeled in by a sleazy, high-powered LA divorce lawyer played with ferocity by Laura Dern, who certainly wins a Supporting Actress Oscar for being this horrible on screen.  Charlie switches attorneys from folksy Alan Alda to shark-like Ray Liotta and it's clear there will be no winners in this costly legal affair.   Both husband and wife are coming at it with the best intentions but that becomes fuzzy as "Marriage Story" moves to its inevitable conclusion.

Driver and Johannson, like Dern, are miraculous in their performances.  All three are headed to the Oscars in February.   Whereas a movie like "Kramer Vs. Kramer" certainly didn't need a reboot, the US divorce rate is still at 50% and this has touched all of us in one way or another.   There is no harm in seeing yet one more snapshot of a disintegrating marriage.

If this couldn't be more of a rave, "Marriage Story" features their cast in staging not one, but two musical numbers from my favorite Sondheim musical "Company."

But, in reality, they had me at "I want a divorce."

LEN'S RATING:  Four stars.

Dinner last night:  Meatballs and roasted tomatoes.