Margot at the Wedding (2007)
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Margot at the Wedding Movie Review
Margot at the Wedding is a 2007 drama film directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jack Black. It’s a very mediocre movie.
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“What was it about dad that had us fucking so many guys?“
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Margot and her son visit her sister after she announces her plans to marry and as the sisters argue over many things, they begin to come to terms with their past and personal opinions of each other. The fact that this movie came out after the director’s most famous film ’The Squid and the Whale’ is insane to me. Talk about a bad follow-up.
Billed as a dramedy, but with no humor anywhere to be found of any variety, this is just a drama about a dysfunctional family that never went anywhere. Unlike the director’s best efforts, this one failed to properly explore these characters and their family dynamics. They all were incredibly unlikable while also lacking in depth. I have no issues with horrible people as the cast of characters in a film, but when their story is thematically hollow, then I see no point.
Nicole Kidman was cast for this film, and she was excited to appear in it, which was a rare moment of weakness for her. She must have misjudged the script into thinking it was great. Her performance is strong as always, but her character was horribly one-note in her villainy. Jennifer Jason Leigh had a more believable role, but she was also failed by the script. As for Jack Black, he is a comedic actor cast in a dramatic role here, and it just did not work.
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Margot at the Wedding is actually very well shot. Its subdued, darker-hued cinematography made for quite an interesting, atmospheric watch. The rural setting was also intriguing and the score was solid too. There is some fine dialogue to be found here and some memorable arguments, but for the most part the film was tiresome, monotonous and very unlikable.
You’d think a Noah Baumbach movie starring Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Jason Leigh would be great, but you would be sorely mistaken. This film in actuality represents the nadir of the director’s career. The characters are unlikable and hollow and these great performers were utterly failed by the script. It’s very interestingly shot, but otherwise it’s pointless and monotonous throughout.
My Rating – 2.5
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