Malcolm & Marie

Released 5th February 2021, Malcom & Marie centres around filmmaker Malcolm and his partner Marie as they confront each other’s faults and past. Whilst partially a forced decision of creating a film during Covid-19 restrictions, the film is extraordinarily intimate. The only characters we see in the film are Malcolm and Marie. The only setting we receive is their house. The only colour palette we view is that of monochrome. Sam Levinson, the director / writer, definitely did this intentionally as well as some visually enthralling camerawork throughout. Whilst I have ideas on what the imagery insinuates, lets talk about the themes of the film.

Levinson illustrates a powerful encompassment of relationships and love, positive and negative, but also a thickened outlook on criticism. Levinson’s screenplay is extremely dialogue driven which enables a layered commentary through Malcolm’s reception to his film; this explicitly challenges criticism in the modern age and how it grasps at straws that could signify artistic merit. On the other side of the spectrum, Malcolm and Marie frequently criticise each other through their outbursts with varying levels of authenticity. This theme then interweaves itself with the highlighted expression of love and the conflicts you resolve through open and constructive criticism.

Zendaya gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Marie with consistent yet altering mannerisms through her vocal and physical characterisation. You are truly sold on Marie’s vulnerability and the quirks Malcolm frequently points out. Malcolm himself is portrayed by John David Washington who is fantastic and impressively ranged in this performance. He indicates such suave, rage and humour in a natural rotation; only conveying authentic reactions. Also, whilst I have touched on it moderately, the screenplay is phenomenal and believable at every point.

Levinson understands that relationships have complicated conflicts over mundane, simplistic actions; actions that act as a catalyst for how people interact with one another. The film opts to use licensed music, mostly from Labyrinth, instead of an original soundtrack. I would often begrudge a film for using explicitly emotive music to saturate a mood, however, the music used is diegetic which means it also acts as a means of building up the characters playing it. Malcolm & Marie is transcendent as a human story of love and companionship which also satirises criticism in a very natural, agreeable, way.