Read Mixed User Reviews for Malcolm & Marie

6

bertobellamyFeb 6, 2021

Zendaya is the best thing about a movie that tries so hard to make a commentary about the film industry's state, particularly the criticism aspect. Sam Levinson incorporates meta moments not to elevate the story but to make sure the audienceZendaya is the best thing about a movie that tries so hard to make a commentary about the film industry's state, particularly the criticism aspect. Sam Levinson incorporates meta moments not to elevate the story but to make sure the audience knows he's there. Not a terrible movie, but not so memorable either.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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4

Stream2BigScreeFeb 5, 2021

Remember when you were out in public - when we could go out in public - and you notice a couple within earshot having a "discussion." You're not really doing anything, so you get really quiet so that you can eavesdrop on their back and forth.Remember when you were out in public - when we could go out in public - and you notice a couple within earshot having a "discussion." You're not really doing anything, so you get really quiet so that you can eavesdrop on their back and forth. He says something crazy, and she has a ready comeback. You lean your ear a bit closer, but you're casual about it so they don't notice your nosiness. If it's really juicy, you may get really lost in it and grab some popcorn, but really after about 10 minutes or so, you're bored and you move on to your own life. Malcolm & Marie is that but you're stuck listening to the couple argue for almost 2 hours - well after the initial interest has waned. Malcolm & Marie is this week's big Netflix premiere starring John David Washington and Zendaya in the film produced during last year's COVID-induced lockdown. Here's how I found it.

Malcolm & Marie was written and directed by Sam Levinson, who is the creator of HBO's "Euphoria". Shot in lush black and white, John David Washington plays Malcolm, a director, whose latest film premiered this night and was well-received; and, Zendaya plays Marie, the director's girlfriend, who comes home after the premiere with tension boiling within. The film is a series of arguments throughout the night between Malcolm and Marie about art, criticism, and the various issues in their relationship. A lot of shouting, primarily from Washington - monologues, pontification, and talk and talk and talk all contained in the rooms of this home.

First things first, Zendaya is special. She really can infuse her characters and lines with feeling and energy even when they don't deserve it. Marie is a fine character, but there's not much to it but a sparring partner with Malcolm. Zendaya does her best to give it more and succeeds most of the time. Malcolm is a self-centered, egomaniac and Washington plays into that well enough. The problem with Malcolm is that there is so much talking and shouting that it becomes unbearable. Why is Marie even still there?

Secondly, interspersed through all of the talking are some good music cues. The music gives a good respite to the arguing, but it also is supposed to fill in some of those emotional gaps. It is used well and not overdone. The real problem here is that there's no urgency to anything these people talk about. He's screaming about his movie and the critics and blah, blah, blah, even as she's trying to get him to acknowledge her feelings. I was wondering throughout Malcolm & Marie, do I care? When will this be over? And, are these people still fighting? The arguing was just exhausting and not in a good way.

Ultimately, there's too much talking and the subject matter of the argument is not interesting, or emotionally fulfilling. This is an argument that you'll want to check-out of early. Even though Zendaya does her best, I only give Malcolm & Marie one popped popcorn kernel and find something else to stream.… Expand

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4

JLuis_001Feb 5, 2021

Malcolm & Marie is a product of its time, and therefore cannot expose its weaknesses, as these make up its process.

And it's that this film delights itself too much with a self-imposed pretentiousness that I cannot understand, because yes,Malcolm & Marie is a product of its time, and therefore cannot expose its weaknesses, as these make up its process.

And it's that this film delights itself too much with a self-imposed pretentiousness that I cannot understand, because yes, it's quite evident that there was a great effort to make this look good, but they completely forgot to make it feel genuine.

And when you are trying to "show" or are somehow believing that you are transgressor and provocative, well, that's more than essential, it's completely **** vital.
So boo **** hoo.

At 106 minutes in length, Malcolm & Marie are unwelcome guests who stayed overnight for nearly an additional 70 minutes.

* And someone tell Malcolm's writer, that the loudest one in the room is always the weakest one in the room.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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4

lastbetFeb 6, 2021

Feels like they gave a film student too much money. Overacting at its worst by Washington.

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5

moviemitch96Feb 5, 2021

John David Washington and Zendaya play a couple who return to their home from the premiere of his film that he directed and find their relationship put to the test as arguments and revelations arise throughout the night as they await theJohn David Washington and Zendaya play a couple who return to their home from the premiere of his film that he directed and find their relationship put to the test as arguments and revelations arise throughout the night as they await the film's critic reviews. Directed by Sam Levinson (best known for creating and collabing with Zendaya on HBO's Euphoria), and shot in secret during lockdown last summer, the film quite simply and unfortunately falls into a repetitive pattern of argue, make up and make out, argue, make up and make out, repeat. It gets tiresome and predictable pretty fast, with seemingly no true aim or sense of story or direction. It also comes off as slightly pretentious, what with it's black and white cinematography and the feeling that it's just an extended Louis Vuitton commercial. However, it is worth noting that Washington and Zendaya do give pretty great performances and enjoy some solid chemistry with one another, as is to be expected from two of some of the most top-tier actors of this generation. The dialogue and script also leave some compelling impacts at times. Overall, Washington and Zendaya work great together, but it can't fully make up for a hollow, repetitive, and somewhat pretentious idea and execution.… Expand

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5

PanchogulApr 30, 2021

Buena cinematografía, buenas actuaciones, historia aburrida y sin encanto.

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6

LISOCHIKOTOSAFeb 9, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Conceptually, it is pretty interesting. The idea the movie being on one night, using a conflict between lovers to give deeper commentary about other social issues is pretty impressive. The movies having two characters also leaves room for in depth character development.I found it a bit boring but i am not sure why. Maybe its the dark color of the film, or maybe i just did't find the crux of the conflict to be compelling. Still it makes for an interesting experience.… Expand

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5

bfoore90Feb 8, 2021

If anything, "Malcolm and Marie" displays the complexities of a relationship and the razor thin line between love and hate. The acting is phenomenal, especially considering they filmed this during the pandemic and like I said, it shows theIf anything, "Malcolm and Marie" displays the complexities of a relationship and the razor thin line between love and hate. The acting is phenomenal, especially considering they filmed this during the pandemic and like I said, it shows the complexities that come with a relationship beautifully. The problem with this film is, thats it. There's really nowhere else for the story to go. Its not a bad film, the performances, cinematography and dialogue alone make this film watchable but I doubt I'd watch this film again.… Expand

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5

miccaelJul 31, 2021

I am very confused with this movie as well as people who review it.
Yes, it is supposed to be a slam-dunk on people who review movies, so what? Does not mean you have to come here and do exactly what movie says you would do. It feelsI am very confused with this movie as well as people who review it.
Yes, it is supposed to be a slam-dunk on people who review movies, so what? Does not mean you have to come here and do exactly what movie says you would do. It feels strangely meta, but it does feel real as well.
It is exhausting, yes, it is supposed to be like this. I did not like the ending because there is no ending, it just ends without resolve. But I really enjoyed 1st and 3rd "arguments" (2nd one was more like a monologue).
This is very unusual movie and not for everyone, I would not recommend this to couples either although I found this movie in a recommendation list of "date night movies". I dont even know what rating to give. Performances are amazing, really good, convincing actors.… Expand

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5

theredskyMar 6, 2021

This is so frustrating because this film looked very promising. Maybe I went in expecting it to be good but I was ultimately disappointed. First off, John David Washington and Zendaya do an excellent job. I believed that they were portrayingThis is so frustrating because this film looked very promising. Maybe I went in expecting it to be good but I was ultimately disappointed. First off, John David Washington and Zendaya do an excellent job. I believed that they were portraying these characters and they really bring out their emotional moments in a powerful way. If there is anything to take away from this film, it’s the excellent performances. However, their respective characters feel very underdeveloped. Washington’s character has little to no characterization while Zendaya’s has some but not enough characterization. We get an interesting backstory but that’s about it. The script also hampers their performances just a little bit with how basic it is. The messages the film sends are very surface level and don’t leave a lot of room for interpretation. One of the messages regards white critics praising films by a black director in a political sense. While I do agree, that’s as deep as it gets. This idea isn’t explored more and it honestly makes the film feel like a hitpiece against critics. This film did not need to be in black and white. I’ve honestly tried thinking for a reason behind why the film is in black and white and I can’t find one. It makes the film feel very pretentious. I did like how the film was shot though as some of the cinematography is gorgeous and I liked the song choices. If you enjoy Sam Levinson’s work or these two actors then you’ll probably enjoy this more than I did.… Expand

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6

Dan_BFeb 11, 2021

(English / Español)

........................ English Review The young couple of Malcolm and Marie (John David Washington and Zendaya) arrive at an impressive house in Malibu. He is a film maker who has just released his debut feature,(English / Español)

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English Review

The young couple of Malcolm and Marie (John David Washington and Zendaya) arrive at an impressive house in Malibu. He is a film maker who has just released his debut feature, and everything indicates that it will be a success. She, an actress who has had addiction problems. Both will engage in a series of recriminations and arguments. Sam Levinson directs this elegant drama, beautifully photographed in black and white and aims to reflect a crisis triggered by that premiere.
Malcolm & Marie has no shortage of themes, which, like theatrical works, reveal ever deeper facets of their characters: inspiration in real people and situations (with their permissions and implications), their relationship with critics, their belongings cultural and racial and its presumed legitimizing role, the link between a director and an actress wife.

Malcolm is an outgoing, narcissistic, and partly resentful character. His character begins very "up" and borders on the unbearable and from the beginning marks the contrast with the more introverted Marie, who feels displaced.

The structure of the film could be summarized as a series of verbal skirmishes in charge of one or the other with successful moments of silence, with a virtuous camera direction that seeks to translate the theatrical essence of the dialogues into cinematographic terms.

But unfortunately we are not facing "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" far from it. There is something that is not working (despite the good acting, especially Zendaya's) that hinders the emotional (and also the intellectual) connection with the characters: the lack of dramatic progression and the overly analytical or cerebral nature of the dialogues. and discussions, which erupt almost from the beginning and with little incubation time.

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Abstract Español
Una crisis entre un director de cine y su pareja actriz se detona luego del estreno de la opera prima del primero. Malcolm & Marie luce una virtuosa dirección de cámaras que busca dinamizar la esencia teatral de lo diálogos y buenas actuaciones; sin embargo, la falta de progresión dramática y la naturaleza demasiado analítica y cerebral de los diálogos y discusiones, que estallan casi desde el comienzo y con poco tiempo de incubación, obstaculizan la conexión emocional (e incluso intelectual) con los personajes.

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Reseña Español
La joven pareja integrada por Malcolm y Marie (John David Washington y Zendaya) llega a una impresionante casa en Malibú. Él es un director que acaba de estrenar su ópera prima, y todo indica que será un éxito. Ella, una actriz que ha tenido problemas de adicción. Ambos se enzarzarán en una serie de recriminaciones y discusiones. Sam Levinson dirige este elegante drama, bellamente fotografiado en blanco y negro y pretende reflejar una crisis detonada por ese estreno.
No le faltan temas a Malcolm & Marie, que a la manera de las obras teatrales, va revelando facetas cada vez más profundas de su personajes: la inspiración en personas y situaciones reales (con sus permisos, identificaciones e implicancias), la relación con la crítica, las pertenencias culturales y raciales y su presunto rol legitimador, el vínculo entre un director y una esposa actriz.
Malcolm es un personaje extrovertido, narcisista y en parte resentido. Su personaje comienza muy “arriba” y roza lo insoportable y desde el vamos marca el contraste con la más introvertida Marie, quien se siente desplazada.
La estructura de la película podría resumirse como una serie de escaramuzas verbales a cargo de uno u otro con logrados momentos de silencio, con una virtuosa dirección de cámaras que busca que la esencia teatral de los diálogos se traduzca en términos cinematográficos.
Pero lamentablemente no estamos ante “Quién le teme a Virginia Woolf” ni mucho menos. Hay algo que no funciona (a pesar de las buenas actuaciones, sobre todo la de Zendaya) y que obstaculiza la conexión emocional (y también la intelectual) con los personajes: la falta de progresión dramática y la naturaleza demasiado analítica o cerebral de los diálogos y discusiones, que estallan casi desde el comienzo y con poco tiempo de incubación.
Por último, cabe destacar un aspecto metaficcional interesante: Levinson dirigió a Zendaya en la notable serie Euphoria, con un personaje parecido, pero en su adolescencia, de tal modo que Malcolm & Marie podría ser vista en este sentido casi como una secuela de Euphoria.… Expand

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5

PhoenixReveiwsMar 30, 2021

It's a well-made indie film, not asking for much, no blockbuster, no franchise, and no oscar. it had a good cast and good acting, but at the end of the day, it was rather boring. Let's be honest, the only thing that keeps you interested is Zendaya.

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5

DJ98Jun 30, 2021

I personally found this movie very uncomfortable and unpleasant just because I don’t like watching people argue. Other than that, it’s still a fine movie. Not Oscar-worthy, but it’s ok for a low-budget movie with one setting and only twoI personally found this movie very uncomfortable and unpleasant just because I don’t like watching people argue. Other than that, it’s still a fine movie. Not Oscar-worthy, but it’s ok for a low-budget movie with one setting and only two characters. My biggest gripe with the movie is the dynamic between Malcolm and Marie. It felt like Malcolm was abusing Marie rather than arguing. The difference between an argument and abuse is the same difference between a fight and a beating. Power. If both sides have equal amounts of power, then it’s an argument. If one side is overtly stronger, older, and or wealthier than the other, then it’s abuse. Malcolm is the primary breadwinner and is older than Marie by 12 years. He clearly holds the most amount of power in the marriage. Neither directors nor actors saw a problem with this setup because age gap marriages where the man is the older one are prevalent in movies.

That being said, Malcolm & Marie could’ve been excellent if it served as a cautionary tale of age gap relationships and why they rarely work in the long run. Malcolm's comment about how he helped Marie during her lowest point was a great setup for how a lot of people end up in age-gap relationships. The older person was usually the younger person’s savior and or mentor. Young people always seek guidance, especially if they’re poor, have big dreams they don't know how to accomplish, and or suffering from an affliction. When the young person gets over their issues, they naturally grow closer to the older person. While also feeling indebted. Not to mention the older person may grow a sense of entitlement and feel as though the younger person “owes them.” Once the arguing starts happening, one of the most common points the older person likes to use is, “without me, you’d be nothing!” The younger person is also susceptible to control due to their lack of life experience. At first, it's the little things like how they dress, what foods they should eat, and what they do for entertainment. Then it gradually escalates into being forbidden from befriending anyone of the opposite sex, being told to not speak without permission, and how often they can see their family. A way the older person justifies their control over the younger person is by taking a more parental role by saying, “I know what’s best for you.” Part of the reason why Malcolm & Marie faught so much is because of their age gap. For example, what would a 25-year-old and a 45-year-old even have in common? The answer is almost nothing. While it's true that opposites attract, if there's no common ground, then the relationship will be superficial and unstable. A 25-year-old and a 45-year-old are on entirely different planes of existence. One of my favorite scenes from the Netflix show, Bojack Horseman, was when Diane explained to Mr. Peanutbutter why so many of his marriages failed. The answer is because he keeps pursuing women in their early 20s. A 25-year-old is not a fully formed adult, no matter what the law says. They're still trying to figure things out and what they want to do with our lives. I doubt many people in their 20s who know what to do for a career. Whereas most people in their 40s usually have their lives figured out and are comfortable with settling down. The few who don't are usually immature, and immature people in their 40s with money can be dangerous and predatory. This is how age gap relationships can lead to grooming and abuse.… Expand

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5

sanctuarydecineDec 25, 2021

talk, argue, silence... the entire movie.

the performance's by Zendaya and J.D Washington are amazing as you can expect but the screenplay is so repetitive and pretentious. this movie is sooo tedious and boring, if it wasn't for the actingtalk, argue, silence... the entire movie.

the performance's by Zendaya and J.D Washington are amazing as you can expect but the screenplay is so repetitive and pretentious.

this movie is sooo tedious and boring, if it wasn't for the acting and cinematography this would be a complete mess, this movie feels like a personal story from Sam Levinson's life that i can't really relate to.

↓ point rating ↓

6.7 out of 12 = 56%

⚡️ acting - 0.8

⚡️ cinematography - 0.7

⚡️ costume design - 0.6

⚡️ directing - 0.6

⚡️ film editing - 0.6

⚡️ makeup & hairstyling - 0.5

⚡️ music - 0.7

⚡️ production design - 0.7

⚡️ score - 0.6

⚡️ sound design - 0.6

⚡️ visual effects - 0

⚡️ writing - 0.3… Expand

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5

CarlElmoreNov 24, 2022

Great performances and cinematography but the writing and directing is very pretentious.

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