Sam Levinson's black-and-white feature is a look into the layered relationship of two couples.
Malcolm (John David Washington) is a filmmaker. And Marie (Zendaya) has always been there for him.
After a successful movie premiere, they stayed in a beautiful house in Malibu. As Malcolm dances and drinks, she seethes away a cigar. He wants to celebrate, but she is not feeling it.
Malcolm knows that there is something wrong, and it's somewhat unfair. He wants to enjoy himself; critics called him the next Barry Jenkins or the next Spike Lee. People he meets are showering him with praise.
Marie insists that it's not a big deal, and there is nothing productive that will come out of it. Malcolm still wants to know anyway.
It turns out he forgot to thank her in his speech.
Malcolm responds by saying that he has always been appreciative of her. But to Marie, it meant more than that. It is not about being thankful; it's what it symbolizes to their relationship.
This film stars two bright actors: Zendaya and John David Washington.
Zendaya proves that she is a capable actress. Since her performance from "The Greatest Showman" to "Euphoria," the girl is unstoppable. And like any of her performances, she owns her character in "Malcolm and Marie".
Zendaya makes it look easy. She nails every striking monologue and comeback. Even all the quiet and contemplative moments. Her face expresses what the script cannot. It shows pain, anger, and hate all at the same time.
Moreover, John David Washington proves that he's a versatile actor. The man from "Tenet" delivers the lengthiest and angriest lines, but he did it as if it's nothing.
That is why it's a shame that the material given to them feels so empty. With complete honesty, "Malcolm and Marie" is an exhausting romantic-drama. It's a rollercoaster ride from start to finish. But there is no loop-de-loop to ease the viewers into the scene, only the up and down part.
Quoting Marie's words, this film is an "emotional terrorist". It's a 100+ minutes of two people verbally and emotionally abusing each other. And if Levinson thinks that people will see a silver lining in that, he's wrong.
Sam Levinson is a good director. Look at this film's blocking and style. He's resourceful; he manipulates the house to illustrate Malcolm and Marie's psyche. He's an award-winning director for a reason. Though what he did here can easily be misjudged.
In summary, it's not all bad. There are beautiful scenes and moments, here and there. But the story is out-of-control. "Malcolm and Marie" has a lot of issues that it impetuously throws at the viewers. There are too many emotions to take all at once that it feels so overwhelming and grueling. Maybe, Sam Levinson needs to calm down first the next time he makes a movie.
2/5
