Marie and Bruce (2004)

Director:

Tom Cairns

Writers:

Wallace Shawn (screenplay) and
Tom Cairns (screenplay)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A surreal story of two people.

Plot:

Based on a play by Wallace Shawn, the film is a dark but comical glimpse at one day in the breakdown of a marriage. |

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Julianne Moore	...	Marie
Matthew Broderick	...	Bruce
Bob Balaban	...	Roger
Griffin Dunne	...	Restaurant Guest
Julie Hagerty	...	Party Guest at Frank's
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Aaron Baker	...	Antione
Andy Borowitz	...	Jim
Steve Burns	...	Fred
Carl Burrows	...	Mariner
Blossom Dearie	...	Gwendolyn
Brother Eden Douglas	...	Eccentric Dinner Guest (as Brother Douglas)
Marshall Efron	...	Ed
Tom Riis Farrell	...	Frank
Michael Ferreira	...	Yvonne (as Michael McDerman)
Robert Gant	...	Bartender
Robert Lehrer	...	Leader
Campbell Scott
Christopher Evan Welch	...	Party Guest
David Wiater	...	Tim

Also Known As:

Marie & Bruce (Australia) (DVD title) (International: English title) (alternative spelling)
Wallace Shawn's Marie & Bruce (USA) (poster title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language including sexual references, and some nudity.

Runtime:

90 min | Australia:83 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:16 | USA:R | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Holedigger Films

Trivia:

The film originally premiered in the US at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2004. However, because of distributer problems, the film took a long 5 years to hit the US market (in which it was released internationally on DVD from 2005-2007), finally arriving on DVD in March 2009.

The Ballad of Bruce and Marie

Shawn's 'Bruce and Marie' has that feel of a conversational play. Well, it is based on Shawn's own play and portrays a day in the life of two couples about to end their dysfunctional marriage. Now, I did find the movie somewhat enjoyable mostly because of the comedic parts and the performances. However, in a conversational movie, dialogue is of primary importance and here it just fails to have that effect on the viewer. The lines are too ordinary and appear to lack the salt that makes meat tasty and this is where 'Bruce and Marie' lags behind. It needed more punchlines. Yet, Matthew Broderick and Julianne Moore make this an entertaining banter. Many have failed to see that Moore's Marie was supposed to be annoying. It's what years of bad marriage does. It makes someone more irritable and crankier while on the other end Bruce is more relaxed and at the same time seeking comfort elsewhere. So, in a bad marriage, one is either bitter and lonely or one is lonely and seeking comfort somewhere outside. The interaction between the characters are fun to watch. The dream sequences are well shot as Shawn manages to express that dreamy feel of the scene. The director does make his point clear and the film ends beautifully.