Rachel Getting Married
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Debra Winger, Bill Irwin, Rosemarie DeWitt
Dir: Jonathan Demme
Rating: 4/5
Rachel Getting Married is a real change of pace for actress Anne Hathaway as she shakes off her young girl roles to make a stake as a serious actress.
Hathaway's Kym is a recovering drug addict who leaves rehab behind to attend the wedding of her sister, Rachel (DeWitt), but Kym's problems follow her home.
Rachel cannot forgive or forget Kym's many drug-fuelled transgressions, and their father (Irwin) dotes on his returned daughter. As the wedding grows closer, the spotlight shifts from Rachel to Kym, much to the bride's irritation.
With her performance in Rachel Getting Married Anne Hathaway really does set out her stall as one of the most exciting actresses in Hollywood as she moves from the fluffy roles of Ella Enchanted and Princess Diaries to this more gritty role with ease.
It's a tour de force performance from Hathaway as Kym who struggles to return to family life as well as battle her demons of killing her brother in a car crash.
It's good to see Hathaway mixing up her roles and she really is becoming a fine actress, and Oscar surely come her way.
Rachel Getting Married adeptly walks the line between wit and reality, giving audiences a picture of a family that feels entirely authentic.
And it's the way that Jonathan Demme has filmed the movie that gives the film this authentic film as he chose to use handheld cameras. This leads to a naturalistic feel and, at times, it feels like the audience is prying on some of this family's most private moments.
It may be a great performance from Hathaway but there are also great turns from the supporting cast, Rosemarie DeWitt in particular in the role of Rachel. It should be her big moment and once again the focus is on Kym.
Bill Irwin also puts in a good performance as Kym's father who is still haunted by the death of his young son and torn between supporting his two daughters.
Ok so Rachel Getting Married isn't a laugh a minute movie but it is a classy piece of filmmaking that looks at family dynamics and addiction.
Rachel Getting Married is out on DVD now.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw