Review of Marriage Story

With their impending divorce on the horizon, an L.A. based former teen actress and a self-absorbed N.Y.C. based theater director confront the many cracks in their relationship, and try to recall what they once loved about each other while vying for custody of their son. Despite their attempts to settle things amicably, the reality of the situation brings some long-simmering emotions to the surface. A thoughtful mediation on marriage is beset by a few awkward moments in the script, but the up and down themes of love, family, parenthood, and all the emotional baggage that come with them are genuine, and it's acted with great conviction. Johansson and Driver both dig deep and give career-defining performances, along with a standout supporting turn from Dern as Johansson's cutthroat divorce lawyer. ***