MALCOLM & MARIE (L-R): JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON as MALCOLM, ZENDAYA as MARIE. DOMINIC MILLER/NETFLIX © 2021
After a year of dealing with a worldwide pandemic, it’s safe to assume that nothing stifled creativity more last year than lockdowns, losing jobs, and the vibe that the “wait-and-see” model wasn’t going to be beneficial to many industries, especially films and television. Many productions were shut down early in the year, leaving months of lost time to the point where some productions are still slowly catching up today. However, for some, this gap led to using the shutdown as a creative challenge. While a few used it to make films surrounding the effect COVID-19 has had on the world, writer-director Sam Levinson used that time to craft a story about love, regret, relationships, and so much more. In addition to the crew being close collaborators of Levinson’s from HBO and A24’s Euphoria, the team followed new protocols and safety procedures to bring together a film that would ultimately be shot, edited, and bought by Netflix by the time September rolled by.
That film is Netflix’s Malcolm & Marie, a romantic drama that is as emotionally captivating as it is intense. The film follows filmmaker Malcolm (John David Washington) and his girlfriend Marie (Zendaya) as they return home after a wonderful night for Malcolm’s directorial debut. As Malcolm is beaming with excitement, Marie is noticeably frustrated with him due to a mistake made during his film’s debut. While Malcolm insists that it was an accident, it rings false to Marie, causing the couple to get into an argument. This single mistake leads to both Malcolm and Marie uncovering their respective skeletons in their relationship, resulting in a revelatory experience that might push their love for each other to a breaking point.
The entire film takes place at Malcolm and Marie’s temporary home with the couple being the only characters we see on-screen. However, due to the depths Levinson goes into their relationship as well as their individual lives, the film gives life to a world, dynamic, and history without ever having to leave the estate. The importance of a past love in Malcolm’s life or the vitriol Marie has towards a key person in Malcolm’s film is perfectly executed thanks to an extremely tight and emotional script. It’s also amplified by the performances from John David Washington and Zendaya, working overtime to give these friendships, critiques, and history the weight they deserve so their inevitable introduction into an argument or conversation leads to more interesting information surrounding Malcolm and Marie’s past. It says a lot about the writing when just the implication of an event or character is enough to perk the audience’s ears even without any physical representation of said thing.
While a good chunk of that enveloping interest in the narrative has to do with Sam Levinson’s writing style, what really sets it over the edge are the performances from John David Washington and Zendaya. The duo are arguably two of the most talented actors working today, earning constant praise (or, in Zendaya’s case, an Emmy) to the point where it feels crazy that both of them feel like they’re on the cusp of something even greater. If Malcolm & Marie is any indication, that “even greater” is sooner than expected because Washington and Zendaya absolutely annihilate Levinson’s material to the point where it’s almost scary to see how easy it is for them to be this good. The duo have the type of intoxicating chemistry that just makes hearty laughs louder and jabs at one another hit harder, creating an emotional ebb and flow in the narrative that is easy to telegraph just by a blank stare or a beat of silence. It’s the kind of harmony that is surprisingly sparse in modern romance films, especially in one where it’s the very first time both leads are working together.
Even with all that praise, that’s still scratching the surface of John David Washington and Zendaya’s performances. While the film has more than enough material for both actors to have a fitting reel for the upcoming Oscars, it’s the subtle, quiet moments that show the vastness of the duo’s talent. From Malcolm’s earnest declaration of love to a look on Marie’s face that shows a chasm of pain without uttering a single word, it’s clear that Malcolm & Marie is a whole different film without these two memorable performances behind it. John David Washington portrays Malcolm’s ego and passion with a confidence that makes him captivating even at his worst while Zendaya gives Marie the tenacity, warmth, and venom that makes her a worthy contender in any conversation. While I would never wish to get into the types of arguments Malcolm and Marie get into, I’d personally pay a ticket to see it in theaters (in a normal year) solely for the absolute pleasure of watching John David Washington and Zendaya absolutely slaughter such fantastic material with ease.
Although the good in Malcolm & Marie is overwhelming, the film is definitely an acquired taste. It’s not that anyone CAN’T enjoy this film as it’s pretty straightforward. It’s just that the arguments can be taxing at times (very much in the same vein as Marriage Story but not as emotionally exhausting) and the conversations about film in general could turn off people who are not interested in discussions on critics, the cultural weight placed on non-white filmmakers, the male gaze vs. the female gaze, and so on. I personally don’t consider these actual issues with the film but there were moments in the film where I realized that a lot of my enjoyment of the film started with my enjoyment of Levinson, Washington, and Zendaya in general. If someone watches this film without any knowledge of those three, there is an equal chance that person could lose interest easily or be lucky enough to find something new they love in the film. While I wouldn't consider Malcolm & Marie to be universal, I personally feel that the killer performances are a strong gateway to the film’s interesting discussions.
In the end though, even without the context of its birth amidst a pandemic, Malcolm & Marie is a great film that excels on more than just its tight script and award-worthy performances. The black-and-white cinematography from Marcell Rév is gorgeous, the eclectic soundtrack meshes well with Labrinth’s low-key score, and the pacing is surprisingly smooth. This is a film that would’ve probably excelled in a normal year so seeing it come out of an odd year feels truly impressive. It delves into the messy side of romance in a way that is engaging, intense, and pretty close to a rollercoaster emotionally. It’s going to be a packed year for films so my only hope is that, through all the chaos, Malcolm & Marie gets the love and attention that anything of quality deserves.