Malcolm & Marie (2021)

Directed by: Sam Levinson | 106 minutes | drama, romance | Actors: John David Washington, Zendaya

In these turbulent times when everyone’s freedom of movement is limited, a film like ‘Malcom & Marie’, in which two people expose themselves within the walls of a ground floor, is easy to comprehend. A small difference: that house is a beautiful luxury villa in Malibu. That again.

It’s two o’clock in the morning. Malcolm pours himself a drink, puts on a honeyed Motown track by James Brown and smoothly dances into the night with his girlfriend Marie. That night was everything for the couple, as it was the premiere of Malcolm’s film debut. Drunk with praise for his cinematographic brainchild, he wants to end the evening by going over the success with Marie.

Still dressed in a gorgeous figure-hugging prom dress, Marie decides they need something to eat and as Malcolm begins his tale, she makes a late-night version of mac-and-cheese. Her boyfriend paces through the living room as he analyzes the difference in reviews and retrospectives between white and black filmmakers. He subtly underlines his talent as an emerging black director. Not entirely unjustified, but his tone gets heated and Marie undergoes his tirade with a cigarette at the back door. She recognizes this pattern. He often has pedantic thoughts on which she gives her unvarnished opinion. Discussions laced with persuasion fly back and forth. Likewise tonight.

Only this evening something else is bothering her. During the premiere, Malcolm forgot to thank his life partner in his speech. Painful because the film is largely based on her life as an ex-junkie. She’s boiling inside for the simple reason that he hasn’t even bothered to thank her in public. Thanking her for inspirational story, thanking her for the successful rehab and simply recognizing that she is who she is; the love of his life.

‘Malcolm & Marie’ is off to a flying start. You settle in for this newcomer to Netflix, shot during the pandemic with a thoughtful small line-up. Director Sam Levinson makes a good choice to open very strong in stylish black-and-white, play a great soundtrack and zoom in on the intense dynamics between two very talented actors. The extensive dialogues between the lovers, played by Emmy winner Zendaya (“The Greatest Showman” and “Spiderman: Home-Coming”) and the twelve-year-older John David Washington (“Tenet” and “Book of Eli”), are certainly beautiful. constructed and intelligently written without forgetting the human rancor during an argument.

But that is also the crux; that’s it. In the 100 minutes that follow, nothing changes in the ingredients of this recipe. Arguing, kissing and vice versa. When Malcolm asks her what’s bothering her that night, Marie replies: “Nothing productive will be said tonight.” Unfortunately, those striking words also fit the viewer experience of ‘Malcolm & Marie’.