Rachel Getting Married (2008); family drama film review

Poster artwork for the family drama film Rachel Getting Married.

Fractured Family By Linh

Rachel Getting Married sees recovering drug addict Kym Buchman released from a rehab clinic for the weekend, to attend her sister Rachel's wedding. Kym's arrival causes painful memories to resurface and simmering resentment and hurt to erupt as the Buchman family deals with the tragic death of a family member several years ago. Amongst all this, the joyous moments of wedding celebrations continue with a diversity of cultures, eclectic music and quirky yet annoying wedding guests.

FEEL THE RIVALRY: Kym (Anne Hathaway) and Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) attempt to get along in the film Rachel Getting Married. Image: Sony Pictures Classics.

Director Jonathan Demme has always loved the freedom, flexibility and limitless imagination involved in independent film-making, so Rachel Getting Married is a labour of love albeit slightly self indulgent for him. Filmed like a home movie yet with a professional polish to the product, Rachel Getting Married sets itself apart from Demme's big studio hits Silence Of The Lambs and Philadelphia. The roving camera cleverly catches the characters unawares giving the film a spontaneous and refreshing appeal.

Jenny Lumet's brilliant original script about a young, selfish and manipulative drug addict, intimate and involving cinematography by Declan Quinn and a cast as complex and diverse as one could imagine, makes Rachel Getting Married a harrowing, compelling and uplifting family drama filled with tears, tantrums, laughter and love.

FEEL THE JOY: Kym (Anne Hathaway), Sidney (Tunde Adebimpe), Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) and Kieran (Mather Zickel) pose for a wedding photo in the film Rachel Getting Married. Image: Sony Pictures Classics.

Although not the title character of the film, Anne Hathaway's self-loathing Kym quickly becomes the central character with her uncontrolled outbursts and constant attention-seeking antics.

In one of her more serious acting choices, Anne Hathaway leaves behind her 'tiara' roles (The Princess Diaries and Ella Enchanted) and gives plenty of depth and substance to create a character both pitied and hated. Kym is a challenge to play and Hathaway has done a phenomenal task making the character believable and sometimes empathetic. It's a performance worthy of Hathaway's Academy Award nomination and a win would be fitting. However, she finally won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress as Fantine in the star-studded musical film adaptation Les Miserables.

Missing out on an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in this film, Rosemarie DeWitt is superb as the saintly and responsible sister Rachel, who continues to harbour deep hatred for her younger sister Kym whom she blames for a family tragedy. Rachel and Kym's relationship is strained yet Rachel makes an effort to forgive.

Veteran actress Debra Winger (Terms of Endearment, An Officer and a Gentleman) gives an excellent portrayal of the sisters' cold, distant and unforgiving mother, Abby.

Winger adds layers to Abby and gives a subtle and understated performance, with the 'bitch slap' scene between her and Hathaway bringing an emotional shock to the system for both characters.

FEEL THE LOVE: Kieran (Mather Zickel), Kym (Anne Hathaway), Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) and Sidney (Tunde Adebimpe) share a group hug in the film Rachel Getting Married. Image: Sony Pictures Classics.

The supporting cast of wedding guests, family and friends include some of director Jonathan Demme's closest friends, and former colleagues who add colour, laughter and fun to the proceedings.

Bill Irwin as the patriarch Paul is gentle and perservering through the family conflicts; Mather Zickel is excellent as the dashing best man Kieran; singer and musician Tunde Adebimpe plays the groom Sidney, who brings out the passion and love in Rachel and Anise George shines in her minor role as Rachel's childhood friend Emma, who reluctantly gives up her role as Maid of Honour for the undeserving Kym.

Rachel Getting Married is a strong character-driven drama which provides heart-warming moments as well as heart-wrenching ones and is a film that makes you feel for and care about the main characters. Though they may irritate, surprise or amuse you, most of the characters leave a long lasting impression.

FEEL THE TENSION: Abby (Debra Winger), Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) and Kym (Anne Hathaway) experience a strained mother-daughter relationship in the film Rachel Getting Married. Image: Sony Pictures Classics.

Director: Jonathan Demme 

Writer: Jenny Lumet (screenplay)

Cast: Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mather Zickel, Bill Irwin, Anna Deavere Smith, Anisa George, Tunde Adebimpe, Debra Winger

  

Producers: Jonathan Demme, Neda Armian, Carol Cuddy, Elizabeth Hayes, Ilona Herzberg, Marc E. Platt, Innbo Shim, Jared Yeater, H. H. Cooper, Emily Woodburne, Alyssa St. Vincent

 

Original Music Composer: Donald Harrison Jr., Zafer Tawil   

 

Cinematographer: Declan Quinn (Director of Photography)

 

Film Editor: Tim Squyres   

Production: Ford Wheeler (Production Designer), Kim Jennings (Art Director), Chryss Hionis (Set Decorator)

Costume Designer: Susan Lyall

Running Time: 1 hour and 50 minutes