Of Toxicity, Artistic Expression And Pseudo Love: Malcom And Marie Is An Infuriating Delight (Review)

By Mojisola Delano Last updated Feb 10, 2021

*** SPOILER ALERT***

Two words “Thank you”.
So simple, yet so important.

So vital that its omission resulted in a full blown toxic tornado, exposing the cracks in Malcolm and Marie’s on-the-verge-of collapse pseudo-relationship.

Yes, Pseudo. Pseudo because what Malcolm and Marie had was a toxic, tumultuous coalition, not a relationship. While this film got me in my feelings, I’d try to focus more on the merits of the movie and not the emotions the biggest theme it explored brought to the fore. But then again, one of the tests of a great film is the ability to evoke ‘authentic’ emotion from viewers, and this one had me in that acrimony zone. The ‘who is at more at fault here, the guy or the girl’ zone. Yes, Malcolm and Marie is that wild.

I’m sure by now you’re wondering why I’m giving so much away. But I’m also sure you can deduce that this is a different kind of review. Thus, it would be almost impossible to analyse without giving a glimpse of what the movie is like. I promise you though, nothing you read here will take away from its brilliance. It is unique in its own right.

Malcolm and Marie is a 2021 movie produced by Sam Levinson and stars only two actors John David Washington and Zendaya as the title characters. It kicks off when the couple return from Malcolm, a 36 year old film maker’s movie premiere lauded by critics as his best yet, and he basks in the euphoria of his success. His girlfriend Marie, 24, however does not share his enthusiasm. We later find out Marie’s grouse stemmed from, but is not limited to Malcolm ‘forgetting’ to thank her in his speech. Filled with acerbic monologues, the film unveils from there.

Aside being title characters, John David Washington and Zendaya also produced and Director Levinson credits them for helping with the development of the screen play. He made this known while reacting to critics who didn’t take well the fact that a white film maker would make a movie about two black characters, the reception of black art, and the poetic license a black film maker has in expressing himself through his work.

However, his response to critics was that he had faith in the collaborative efforts with his partners on the film – Zendaya and Washington who are black, and trusted that they would be honest in their feedbacks on the story.

The project was the first Hollywood feature written, financed, and produced at the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic, with filming taking place in secret in June and July 2020. It is interesting to note that because the film was shot in the early stages of the pandemic, both Washington and Zendaya were responsible for doing their own makeup and costumes, as there were no makeup artists or costume designer on set. No more than 12 people were allowed on set at a time.

In September 2020, Netflix won the distribution rights to the film for $30 million, outbidding HBO, others. It was released theatrically in select theaters on January 29, 2021, and came to Netflix on February 5, 2021.

Cinematography

Shot in black and white on 35 mm film by Cinematographer Marcell Rév, Malcolm and Marie had a very welcome vintage feel. The last black and white film I saw was Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma, set in the 70’s, made in 2018. So when the film started unceremoniously with no soundtrack, an almost still black and white image as the background on which the names of the cast and crew played out, I assumed that it was set in the past. But alas, I assumed wrongly, and it took me a little while to figure out the time it was set because the entire movie happened at the couple’s home, and they were the only cast, leaving few clues to allude from. The diegetic music (look out for the petty but beautiful song in the scene where Marie joins Malcolm on the pouch and starts to play a song from her iphone) that was mostly old classics also contributed to my initial confusion on the time setting. But all that was erased by Zendaya’s iphone 11, a closer look at the modern design of their home and other details that came to light as the movie progressed.

MALCOLM & MARIE Review — Here, Marie plays Dionne Warwick’s ‘Get rid of him ‘ after one of the most caustic rants by Malcolm in the movie.

The monochromatic feel, camera angles, and mise-en-scene of this film was exceptional and amplified the intensity and dialogue. I particularly loved the scene were Zendaya was shot upside down with tears streaming down her eyes. With the monochromatic effect, the shot was breathtaking.

Overall Rév did an impressive job on Malcolm and Marie’s cinematography. It appeared to have an old soul, one that was a breath of fresh air in a pool of trite, colourful cinematography.

Screenplay

While the movie has amassed a lot of fans and sprouted many discussions across social media, critics are divided on their take. On the one hand, some hold the view that the script was rushed and the screen play could have been better. Other critics take things further describing it as Levinson’s vanity project featuring a black couple screeching profanities at each other for 1hr 46 mins, analysing what film criticism means to a black producer. On the other divide, some critics laud it as a brilliant piece, featuring two of Hollywood’s brightest stars who gave riveting performances.

I loved Malcolm and Marie, but agree that the screenplay could have been better with lesser emphasis on the merits and demerits of film criticism especially by ‘a white woman from LA Times’.

At a point I started to think that the script with the lengthy and intense monologues may have been better suited for stage. I can see how the film could lose people during some of the couple’s dialogues especially Malcolm’s rants on the artistic expression of black movie makers and its misinterpretation by white critics. I can also see why some critics would be unaccepting of the film based on the fact that Levinson’s work was in the past heavily criticised by an LA Times movie critic who reviewed one of his old movies. It is being said that he used Malcolm’s monologues as his own outlet to rant about the experience.

Nevertheless, I think Malcolm and Marie had a deeper message – toxicity in relationships. The way the film portrays it forces viewers to think about this monster prevalent in many relationships and evokes deep emotion on what Malcolm and Marie could have done better individually and as a couple. For this, I salute Levinson’s storytelling.

Monologues

As earlier mentioned Malcolm and Marie was full of monologues. Some intense and heart wrenching, others unnecessarily lengthy and disconcerting. The one thing I loved however is the fact that there was balance as Zendeya and Washington skilfully delivered their vitriolic rants. While Malcolm was more narcissistic, ‘solipsistic’ and despicable, Marie, also damaged but sharp tongued was a great match for him. It was evident in how speechless she left him at the times she was passed the invisible rant baton. This is not to say it wasn’t uncomfortable watching two clearly damaged people confusing toxic attachment for love, but at least in the midst the acrimonious bile, there was somewhat a balance of power.

Of all the monologues in the film however, two were particularly striking and worthy of note. Malcolm’s shocking long rant on the white critic at LA Times review about his film and Marie’s thank you monologue at the end.

While one left a sour taste in my mouth and the other made me shed a tear or two for how heart wrenching it was, the unifying factor was the impressive delivery by both actors. The two monologues were exceptional.

Acting:

The Zendaya in this film is not the sweet young woman you’re used to seeing on Disney shows or other young adult movies. The Zendaya in Malcolm and Marie was charismatic with a confident yet understated je ne sais quoi. She was phenomenal. I have heard of her exceptional performance in the TV show Euphoria also directed by Levinson, but haven’t seen it. I liked her in the greatest showman but this is no doubt her deepest movie role yet, playing a recovered addict in a ‘relationship’ with an uber toxic partner. Against this backdrop, I was wary and didn’t know what to expect.

I am happy to inform you that Zendaya with the humdinger of a performance she gave in this film is on her way to cementing her place as one of Hollywood’s greats. I went back to re-watch her delivery in some scenes to analyse the emotions that played on her face during many of Washington’s rants and she was exceptional. Except for one scene where she confronted Washington about not casting her in his movie and it somewhat appeared like her tears were in-genuine, she blew me out the water with her delivery in what I consider to be a very technical role. Watch out particularly for where she (Marie) proved to Malcolm that he ought to have casted her.

Washington. Where do I even start? He was great in this movie, but maybe a little too much. Don’t get me wrong, his interpretation of a narcissistic Malcolm was brilliant, but on some occasions it seemed to me like he was over acting, to the extent that it almost felt like I was watching a stage play. Worthy of note here again is the white movie critic rant scene. It was really good but A LOT to take in.

He was infuriating, as the character ought to be, and I admired the effortlessness with which he delivered many of his monologues. The vitriol rolled off his tongue unbridled and I winced many times. Yeah, he was that convincing.

I liked Washington in Blackkklansman. But here, I saw his roundness as an actor. While talking about this film, he mentioned that he had to lean a lot on Zendaya for guidance because of her experience compared to his ‘meagre’ 7 years in the industry. His delivery was however not reminiscent of someone who had spent just 7 years as an actor. In fact, he came across as an actor well grounded in stage acting, super confident in the role. A true son of his father Denzel and already blazing similar paths of glory, he has impressively managed to earn his place as one of Hollywood’s finest without being overshadowed by his legendary father. He no doubt has many years of remarkable showmanship, hallmarked by awards, accolades and critical acclaim ahead of him.

In conclusion, Malcolm and Marie was an intense movie. It dealt intently with toxicity in relationships and shows us everything a relationship shouldn’t be. It will entertain you, shock you, and evoke different emotions in you, depending on what your personal experience has being where relationships are concerned.

I didn’t like that it ended somewhat aoristic but oh well! Good movie still.

It’s a 7.5/10 for me. Watch, and let me know what you think.