Rachel Getting Married

With all the great films being released this January in the UK, it would be easy for a film like Rachel Getting Married to get lost in between. I caught this at the cinema with my brother and sister, which is apt considering it's a resolutely family film.

Rachel Getting Married is supposed to be director Jonathan Demme's return to his indie roots after a long spell in the mire of large Hollywood productions. I can hardly name any of his films off the top of my head to be honest, saving 'Silence of the lambs'. My brother laughed when I told him that was one of his earlier films. It's also a strong showcase for Anne Hathaway as a serious actress. And she performs admirably.

The plot revolves around Hathaway's recovering drug addict leaving rehab to go to her sister Rachel's wedding (hence the title). The family seems well to do and live in a large house in the suburbs. The contrast is set between the warm, comfy homelife and Kim's (Hathaway) turbulent existence. Her father and sister are caring and considerate, while Kim is self absorbed and acerbic. Conflict arises in Kim's need for attention jeopardising the harmony of her sisters special day. Although the sisters seem to share a special bond, we can see an underlying tension ready to erupt at any moment.

Hathaway excels as Kim. Her portrayal of a damaged and bitter person is convincing and uninhibited, condemning her yet leaving some room for hope. Demme often goes back to intimate, lingering close ups of Kim's face, examining her inner turmoil as the wedding guests go about their business happily. The father is played with camp exuberance, clapping excitedly, yet able to deliver the more serious material as well, and the sister also seems very human; a mixture of compassion and resentment felt for her wayward sister.

The characters and their problems all seemed wholly authentic, but Demme's camera also contributes greatly to the realism. Shot in shaky handheld camera and warm colours, the film feels less like a Hollywood product and more like one of your own home movies. So when the characters are arguing, or sharing a joyous moment, you feel the warmth on screen.

One other peculiar but welcome aspect of the film is the frequent musical performances. There's a worry that Demme might overstep the mark and over saturate the film with the music, but for me it worked really well. At the rehearsal a young drums and guitar duo play a fuzzy rendition of the wedding theme. Elsewhere, there is folk music, reggae, dance and even Robyn Hitchcock makes an appearance. To assert it's musical credibility even further, TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe stars as Rachel's fiancee. Now, I can't honestly say any Oscars are heading his way any time soon, but his performance is made worthwhile by a sparkling vocal solo for his soon to be wife.

8/10