Review

An extremely powerful drama filled with terrific performances, Rachel Getting Married echoes John Cassavetes yet is subtler and more deeply satisfying than even the works of the master. Anne Hathaway plays a longtime drug addict who is finally let out of rehab, but her first contact with her family in months will occur at a massive gathering for the wedding of her sister. The chaos and tight quarters would lead to stress in even the best of situations, so you know that a lot of grievances are going to get aired at this party!

Director Jonathan Demme uses a handheld camera and natural lighting to give the proceedings a documentary-like feel, and the impact of the drama is immediate. Debra Winger plays the superficial mom with such force that I want to beg her to return to acting full-time. And Anne Hathaway gives a career performance as a woman who, through years of drug use, is even uncertain of how to live in her own body. Her strong personality and many contradictions make for a real acting showcase, one that should be recognized come Oscar time.

 -- Julio Oscar Kitman