http://www.incontention.com/pagetoscreen/

July 30, 2007
“Margot at the Wedding”

Written by Noah Baumbach

“I tried to murder Margot when we were girls. I put her on a baking sheet, sprinkled her with paprika and put her in the oven.”



I don’t think I get Noah Baumbach. I loathed “Kicking and Screaming” and I think I half-liked, half-hated “The Squid and the Whale.” The same could be said about his latest screenplay, “Margot at the Wedding.” I think for about half of the time I really enjoyed his writing, his characters, his dialogue and some of the conflicts he set up in such a simple, almost play-like situation. The other half I was just annoyed by how mean everyone was, how randomly disturbing acts of violence or sexuality would suddenly happen, and how the script becomes so self-aware every now and again.


And maybe that’s just me. I know a whole hell of a lot of people love the writer/director, and I guess I can see why. He has one thing going for him however, and that is that he’s gifted at directing actors. Or in fact, maybe he’s not; maybe he just gets incredible casts together that know exactly what to do. Regardless, I’m sure if “Margot” gets any awards attention it will be for its cast.


Nicole Kidman stars as Margot, a troubled wife/mother/sister who is, forgive me, a bitch. It’s a juicy role for Kidman though, and if the trailer is any indication, it’ll wind up being one of the stand-out performances of her career. The story pretty much follows the title: Margot and her son Claude (Zane Pais) go to Margot’s childhood home, now owned by her sister Pauline (Jennifer Jason Leigh) for Pauline’s wedding to Malcolm (Jack Black). Things have been sour between Margot and Pauline for the last few years, and Pauline isn’t sure if Margot is visiting to support her before the wedding or to continue her affair with an old-boyfriend. John Turturro will show up briefly as Margot’s husband Jim, and there is all sorts of bizarre craziness involving Pauline’s neighbors, who enjoy slaughtering and animals and nude romps in the backyard.


It’s Noah Baumbach, what else would you expect?


One thing evident right after completing the script is that this is the best role Jack Black has ever been given. He’s a man that often says (and does) the wrong thing, but something about his character here just came across as more endearing and believable than the other characters he’s portrayed. There’s a scene in the script that may call for Black to do full-frontal nudity while saying, “My scrotum is longer than my penis,” and seeing how fickle and silly our critics can be, it could just be the thing they need to see to begin counting Black as a serious actor.


Jennifer Jason Leigh’s role is strong as well. We see fragments of Margot’s bitchiness inside of her, but we also can see her trying so hard to not be that person, trying to simply be a loving sister, aunt, fiancé and mother (to daughter Ingrid). She’s perhaps the most likeable of the three leads, which may help her come Oscar season to finally grab herself a nomination.


Unless Margot becomes THE critic’s darling of the year, it’s not going to get anywhere near a Best Picture nomination. I could see all three leads and the screenplay (the obligatory “we like indie films!” screenplay nomination) getting notices, however, and that’s how I’d hedge my bets if I were you.


Like “The Squid and the Whale,” Margot ends with an odd flourish of hope for the future. It’s appreciated, but it’s too little too late, and it might even come off more sarcastic than anything. “Anxiety doesn’t go away, just so you know,” Malcolm tells Claude at one point, and it’s pretty clear Baumbach believes this. For a reader and a future audience member though, I’d love to see him smile a little more, and not think everyone alive was such a miserable nutcase. I’m sure he’d lose his indie cred, but he’d gain a new fan in me.

Posted by Brian Kinsley at 12:26 AM

I also read the script, I loved it.
And I agree with that opinion. It will be three (or four) actor's show.
But...

“I tried to murder Margot when we were girls. I put her on a baking sheet, sprinkled her with paprika and put her in the oven.”

Maybe I think that line has changed. In the trailer, Jason leigh's that line is little diffrent. isn't it?

Thanks for that, mss diane, I really enjoyed this review - especially the suggestion that this could be amongst Nicole's truly stand-out performances. Just a glimpse at the Trailer would seem to indicate that this seems likely.

For me, even more than "Compass" & "Invasion", this looks increasingly like the next NK Film to savour....

Oh, I've just got the "FUR" DVD - saw it last night : This has to be Nicole's strangest movie....must say I found the basic premise rather slender, but some great set-pieces, brilliant acting & a thoughtful & well-Directed story.

....and my word, Nicole has never looked more exquisitely beautiful (...but I always say that, almost every film!)

I didn´t read the script, but it sounds sooo amazing, that I think if the movie will really be released that late here (6th of march 2008 ), I think I´ll read the script.

But I love what he is saying about Nicole and the character she is playing.

Thanks for posting

that sounds amazing
thanks for posting

Thanks mss_diane

Thanks, mssdiane. I don't remember that quote from the script, perhaps it's changed.
It's an interesting review, although I can't agree with all of it. Baumbach's skill is in the 'slice of life' he presents on screen, without the usual Hollywood formulaics. Life's like this: 'Anxiety doesn't go away, just so you know', and that's what Baumbach wants to show on screen. He's not about to turn Margot (NK) into the stereotyped screen goddess flaunting her acting skills, just to please the reviewers, the Academy and/or the public. He's not afraid to show the subtleties and intricacies of relationships, as they often are in families. He tries to dig a little deeper than the average filmmaker. To call NK's character 'a bitch' is to simplify her complexity, and to show Brian Kinsley's own paucity with language.
The agreement I would have is with the comment about the 'randomly disturbing acts of violence or sexuality,' (that also featured in 'The Squid and the Whale'): such acts, often excessive, seem to be a 'requirement' of how an adolescent male's POV is portrayed in films.
Regardless,........... it should be a very interesting film; and a great role for Nicole.

(**I just checked the In Contention website, and they've put up NK (along with Julie Christie, Marion Cotillard, Cate Blanchett and Keira Knightley as potential nominees for an Oscar for actress in a leading role. Also, Jennifer Jason Leigh, with others-didn't note those names down, as best supporting Actress).

Just want to add to the above Oscar predictions from the In Contention website:: 'Margot at the Wedding' for-Writing, best original screenplay.

Oh that sounds soo great!
I really hope she´ll get a nomination, but we have to wait.

Thanks, mss_diane. This is so exciting to read about the Oscar potential. It won't be long now until the Toronto Film Festival. I hope some of our NKU members get to attend the filmfest and give us a review.

Very interesting and thought-provoking. Thanks mss_diane.

I suspect this will be another film of Nicole's I would not normally go and see but will because Nicole is in it! The delving into life where the tone is depressive for the viewer, and the excesses, are not states I chose to go to now I have seen a few of these films and experienced some of the events contained in them. Somehow it is more healthy for me not to revisit those places over and over. But the fine acting which is so loudly applauded here will be worth it. I have not read the script and perhaps it is not as dark as portrayed here?




Sounds an Oscar contention. thanks cinemasaver for the updates.

don't get your hopes too high. during the last seven years she popped up every year on several lists of potential oscar nominees and we all saw what happended most of the time. it would be awesome though when she finally would be recognised by the academy again and get another nomination

Exactly.
Thanks for the review.
ciao

I loved the script! And this is the movie from Nicole which I'm waiting very very much!