Review: Take This Waltz

Our third and final Rush experience this year was for Sarah Polley's sophomore directorial feature film, Take This Waltz.  We got there a solid three hours before showtime, and by the time they were giving out Rush passes, Maureen had already secured a ticket from a woman who approached her in line and said, "Here, take this."  People are always giving Maureen stuff.  She took the ticket and, assuming I'd get into the theater (right, honey?) enthusiastically joined the ticket holders' line.  We entered the theatre simultaneously.

Polley, who also wrote the script, assembled an small but interesting cast for this drama with occasional comedic moments.  Michelle Williams plays Margot, a woman who apparently fears transitions, but at the same time craves the fire of a new relationship.  Seth Rogen is her husband Lou, a chicken-only cookbook writing nice guy, with an odd practical joke sense of humor.  Sarah Silverman plays Lou's (recovering) alcoholic sister Geraldine.  Lastly, Luke Kirby is Daniel, a rickshaw owner/operator and aspiring artist who Margot meets out of town, only later to learn that he lives in an apartment building across the street from her house.

There is an instant attraction between Margot and Daniel, but when she informs him of her marital status, he politely backs away.  Margot and Lou have an odd relationship.  They occasionally pass the time by informing one another of the ways in which they will physically harm and mutilate each other, typically with kitchen implements.  Lou seems quite content with simply being together, and doesn't recognize Margot's restlessness and anxiety.  Daniel's presence so nearby, Margot will eventually have to make a decision between her husband and the new, shiny guy across the street.

Polley's script creates likable characters with depth -- you understand them and believe the course they choose for themselves.  She weaves in a couple of moments of clever foreboding into the film, if you're paying attention.  I was little shocked at a couple uses of nudity and sex, since she seemed somewhat embarrassed about her own "sex" scene (tame by comparison) from Guinevere, in which she starred several years ago.  She was only 20 at the time, though.  My one critique of the film is that I think the finished product could use some editing, as the pace suffers now and then.  Overall, though, I liked the film.  My imdb rating: 7/10.