I found this film on a bit of an off chance. My husband and I were having a look round our local Hmv store for a few cheap dvds, and I found this for just £4. I hadn't heard very much about this film but after reading the back of the dvd box, I felt it was something I would quite enjoy. What I got though was so much better. After seeing this film I can't believe it hasn't proved more popular, I found this film a true masterpiece.

Blue Valentine is the 2010 romantic drama, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The film stars Ryan Gosling (from The Notebook) and Michelle Williams ( the blonde one from Dawson's Creek and Brokeback Mountain). The film runs for approx 107 mins and was directed by Derek Cianfrance.

The film follows couple Dean (Gosling) and Cindy (Williams), as they begin their relationship together and as their marriage starts to fall apart. We are flipped between their present day and their past.

The film begins with a little girl outside looking for her dog, when she can't find her dog she goes inside her home, to her mum (Cindy) and Dad (Dean). Cindy looks like a busy rushed of her feet mum, and Dean looks scruffy and hungover. Here we get to see how different the couple are, including with their daughter. As a viewer you are able to see/ feel that all is not well pretty much from the get go. Dean is more of the fun Dad to Frankie while Cindy is the laying down the law Mum. We see the couple go about their day to day lives, at work to the school play.
We are then sent back to about 6 or so years before, where we meet a younger, much more handsome Dean. Dean is working with a removal firm, and we see him discussing love and relationships with his co workers. It is quite clear from here on out that Dean is a bit of a hopeless romantic who believe in love at first sight.
We then meet young Cindy, who is busy at college and has a boyfriend Bobby. Cindy also helps take care of her eldery grandmother, where we see Cindy discussing love. It is when Cindy returns her grandmother back to the nursing home that the young couple meet for the first time.
The film continues to flip between the present day, and past. We get to witness how the young couple first get together, sharing some romantic moments and intimate moments too. We watch them fall in love, but it is not all plain sailing. We as a viewer are invitied into all the behide closed door moments. We also get to see their arguements and how they have both dramatically changed throughout their marriage, resulting in there being a huge crack in their marriage. We see every tear, every laugh and smile. Will it all work out in the end?

This film moved me in ways I wasn't expecting. You actually feel like you are in this relationship. I went through so many emontions, I laughed out loud and cried like a baby. This film will take you on a rollercoaster of emontions. As the viewer you can feel/sense the mood & tension in the scene before a word is spoken. The film allows you to see and feel things from both sides of the relationship. We may feel that Dean has over reacted to something in the present day, but when we flip back to the past we can then understand his reasons for acting the way he does in the present. Gosling and Williams are fantastic together, and give off great chemistry. This is largely to do with the fact they improvised alot of scenes. There is a part in the film, when the young couple are wondering the streets getting to know each other, that was unscripted. After doing some research I have found that Gosling and Williams went to great lenghts to become their characters including renting a home, and buying food etc on their characters budgets. Getting a real feel for how things would be. Although I have seen both Williams and Gosling in other films, I haven't really stepped up and took notice of either of them before. I really believe this film sees them both at their best, and it sad more people haven't seen this film, and apprreciate the acting talent they share. There isn't a plot as such with this film, more just a tale of love but I don't feel the lack of real plot really matters here, down to the fantastic acting and moving relatable scenes, it works!

This film reminded me a little of the film Candy but on a more relatable scale, with a much more everyday feel to it. Although the film is about everyday people, and the situations they find themseleves in, its still very hard hitting, and in some places it can be hard to watch. There is so much depth in this film. Even the scenes that overall aren't that important, add another dimension to it, for example Cindy helping her elderl grandmother getting dressed and into bed. This on a whole isn't all that important to the story, but it was still a very touching scene and helped add another layer to Cindy's character. The film as a whole is very powerful. It made me cling to my husband and promise each other never to let things get as bad as Cindy and Dean do.

The only negative thing I have to say about the film is that it ended to soon. I felt like I was in the relationship and I was left not knowing what the future really held. Although it looks as if the film is ending one way, it is almost left open ended too. Things could still change.

This is a fantastic film for anyone who has ever fallen in love, or out of it.

Blue Valentine is not only a great film, but also features some amazing music, especially that of Indie band Grizzly Bear. Ryan Gosling also wrote and performs some songs himself.

The film is rated a 15, which I feel is appropriate, due to quite a few sex scenes, some very emontional scenes including one in a doctors office, and there is a bit of violence too.

The Dvd comes with quite a few extras too. There are some delted scenes, a making of, home movies and a director & editor commentary. There is also a Q & A which does include Williams and Gosling. I don't always watch extras, but I was so taken with this film, I wanted all I could get. I'm sure you will too.

Overall a beautiful masterpiece that has gone a bit unnoticed.