Director: Sam Levinson
Writer: Sam Levinson (Screenplay)
Starring: John David Washington, Zendaya
Plot: A director and his girlfriend’s relationship is tested after they return home from his movie premiere and await critics’ responses.
Runtime: 1 Hour 46 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Malcolm & Marie starts as film director Malcolm (Washington) and his girlfriend Marie (Zendaya) return from the premier of his new movie, one that is received better than anything he has done before.
As they return home, they find themselves getting involved in a series of arguments about what the film is about, showing they are madly in love, as they are dealing with a new pressure added to their lives.
Thoughts on Malcolm & Marie
Thoughts – Malcolm & Marie is a drama that follows only two people, the couple, one a soon-to-be big time director, the other his girlfriend, who is still searching for what she wants in life. We learn they have both lived very different lives before being together. We do get two powerhouse performances from John David Washington and Zendaya, who do have great chemistry. When we dive into the story, we find ourselves mostly just two people arguing and making up. We do get to jump between mood swings both characters go through, which takes things in a weird direction. One moment that will always be a pet hate, is watching someone loudly eat, it is uncomfortable to watch. We get to keep the singular location of the luxury home, which will see us traveling through the rooms. We get to have a message to people making, criticising or being involved in movies, offer the discussion about different views people could have in the movie world.
Final Thoughts – Malcolm & Marie is a film which has brilliant performances, but feels like a series of speeches over being a true conversation.