Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
True to form, I’ll be ignoring the Marriage Story Twitter discourse and instead focusing on what I’d like to talk about: Adam Driver‘s face. Driver, in my humble opinion, delivered the best performance of his career opposite Scarlett Johannson in this Netflix film from writer/director Noah Baumbach. Driver stars as Charlie Barber, a man going through the painful process of divorcing his wife, Nicole Barber (Johansson).
It quickly becomes apparent that Charlie and Nicole want very different things for their son, Henry (played by the excellent child actor, Azhy Robertson). Charlie, a theater director who finally has a play going to Broadway, insists they are “a New York family” while Nicole, the star of a new TV show, wants to stay in LA for her career and her family. They’re both being selfish—Charlie, perhaps more so—but both do ultimately still love and care for each other, and of course, both love their son. But ultimately, in divorce—as they quickly learn via their lawyers played by Laura Dern, Ray Liotta, and Alan Alda—there are no winners.
Driver, who last year was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in BlacKkKlansman, seems well on his way to earning another Acadamy Award nomination for Marriage Story. Already he’s earned a Best Actor nomination from the Golden Globes (as did Johansson), the Detroit Film Critics Society, the Hollywood Critics Association Awards, the Satellite Awards, and won the Gotham Independent Film Awards’ Best Actor award. This could very well be the year Driver wins an Oscar, too.
Now, I’m not trying to influence the Academy voters or anything, but I humbly present the following twelve moments from Driver’s performance in Marriage Story that broke my heart into tiny little pieces. Emo Kylo Ren has nothing on this Adam Driver sad boy. You’re welcome.
When he got all excited about receiving a trumpet for his birthday.
So happy! So oblivious of the pain to come!
When his voice quavered ever-so-slightly after being served.
“But I don’t want this,” Charlie says, his voice breaking. Despite his large size, he sounds like a small, sad, lost, little boy. Cool, I’m crying.
When he held out his arms to hug his son only to be ignored.
Kids are sociopaths and I am sad.
When his face just completely crumpled.
This is the face of a man whose lawyer just told him that his son might “do college on the East Coast,” and it is also the face I make watching this GIF.
When he couldn't bring himself to look Nicole in the eye.
When Ray Liotta brought up Nicole’s “drinking problem” based on that one night she had too much wine? Woof, man. That was low. And Charlie hates himself for it.
When he didn't know how to start.
This scene, you guys. This scene.
When he told Nicole he wished she were dead...
...and then realized the gravity what he just said.
Woof, you guys. Woof.
When he acted all casual after literally slicing his arm open.
Adam, please. Get a Band-Aid.
When he got the world's saddest haircut.
Nicole used to cut his hair! Gah!
When he sang "Being Alive" from 'Company' with his whole heart.
“Alone is alone, not alive.” Cool, thanks, I’ll just be sobbing forever over here.
And when he finally read Nicole's letter.
Please give me some space to process my feelings about Adam Driver in Marriage Story at this time. Thanks.
