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No relationship is perfect. Each one has its challenges and hurts—and those sensitive topics that we just try to avoid. And in writer/director Sam Levinson’s Netflix drama Malcolm & Marie, years of the pain and frustrations—and all of those sensitive issues—come flooding out during one long quarrelsome night.
Malcolm & Marie spends a contentious night with an up-and-coming director and his model girlfriend. Following the successful premiere of his directorial debut, Malcolm (John David Washington), returns home feeling triumphant, ready for the rave reviews to start rolling in. But the premiere wasn’t the same overwhelming success for Marie (Zendaya), who returns home feeling overlooked and unappreciated—especially considering that her own story inspired so much of the film. And when she expresses her feelings, it begins a long night of revelations, frustrations, and personal attacks.
What starts out as an exciting night for Malcolm soon turns into a flood of emotions—both positive and negative—as the couple makes their way from one topic to the next, occasionally professing their love for each other before transitioning into the next dispute.
It’s clear that Marie has been compiling a laundry list of grievances—and that Malcolm’s failure to thank her during his speech at the premiere brought a lot of it bubbling up to the surface. Just when you think that things have calmed down—that they’ve resolved their issues—another issue rears its ugly head.
Malcolm, meanwhile, repeatedly regards Marie as crazy and irrational. He’s quick to put her in her place or launch counter attacks that stab right into her heart. At times, you’ll see how Marie might be a little too wrapped up in the drama and emotion of the night—how some rest might help the situation. But while Malcolm may be quick to remind her that he loves her, he’s just as quick to accuse, to condescend, and to respond with cruel, cutting words. And his arrogant screaming fit about the sheer idiocy of a critic who called his film a “masterwork” won’t exactly endear him to viewers (especially not critics).
Both performances are strong—and, despite the black-and-white simplicity of the film, it’s never dull. But when the characters finally take a break from their bickering, bringing the film to an end, viewers will feel like they’ve been through a full night of fighting, too.
Malcolm & Marie does boast some noteworthy moments—those moments that you’ll keep playing back for days. But despite those moments of brilliance and a couple of striking performances, it’s a tough sell. After all, disagreements in our own relationships are wearying enough—something that we’d rather avoid. And having to sit through nearly two hours of other people fighting is just plain exhausting.
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