Marie and Bruce
Marie and Bruce
| 19 January 2004 (USA)
Marie and Bruce Trailers

A day in the life of a couple trapped in a sadomasochistic relationship. When Marie decides to break up with Bruce, their conversation devolves into a torrent of foul-mouthed rippings and ferociously humorous musings on their marriage, love, hate and committment.

Reviews
StyleSk8r

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

... View More
Tayloriona

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

... View More
Benas Mcloughlin

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

... View More
Jerrie

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

... View More
Desertman84

Marie and Bruce is a black comedy that stars Julianne Moore and Matthew Broderick.Tom Cairns directs the psychological comedy drama Marie and Bruce, adapted from the play by Wallace Shawn.The story was set over a period of 24 hours.It involves the troubled marriage of neurotic New Yorkers Marie and Bruce. What follows is a bleak psychological study of the breakdown of a modern relationship. Despite the interesting premise,the viewer might find this film not-so- interesting due to the fact that both Marie and Bruce are too unlikable to the point that one might hardly care about their characters.But nevertheless,I commend the performances of both Moore and Broderick.

... View More
Monsieur Halifax

Marie. Bruce. Marie and Bruce. It's very interesting art-house film. It's so surreal. Both of the main characters are so annoying that they feel almost unsympathetic. The dialog is so random and unnatural. But I like it. As matter a fact, Marie and Bruce is one of my all time favorite film. Marie and Bruce seem to have been in long marriage and they spend most of the days by nagging on each other and at the same time they both don't listen the other. It's kind of sadistic relationship. Like Marie says to Bruce: "Don't you get it, you're not even a living thing! It's easy to leave you because you're not real." It kind of works both ways. They are both zombies, totally numb. Marie mocks Bruce all the time but Bruce doesn't even react to those insults. Like he doesn't hear what Marie says. And every time Bruce starts conversation with Marie she just rolls her eyes and seems to be away like dreaming. Marie despises Bruce and at the same time she loves him. Like she says herself: "Bruce is like a god." Bruce on the other hand, doesn't feel any kind of sexual attraction against Marie. He tries to make a hit on a girl in a restaurant. He goes to the dirty hotel room just to watch the naked woman in a house across the street. He makes conversations with every woman on the party except Marie. Marie really enjoys mocking Bruce and she somehow enjoys the coldness of Bruce. Julianne Moore and Matthew Broderick were both adorable and their performances are very enjoyable. Marie and Bruce is surreal love story between two tired people who are seriously tired from each other but they can't live without each other. I highly recommend this film but I have to warn, it's not easy peace to watch. There is lot of symbols and scenes that might not make any sense. Marie and Bruce is movie for a thinking person.10 out of 10

... View More
Chrysanthepop

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.

... View More
gradyharp

Wallace Shawn wrote the very fine 'My Dinner with Andre', a talky but sensitive film that created a niche for conversational stories without plot. Sadly the qualities of that play to film result did not make it with his MARIE AND BRUCE. On paper it looks as though this strenuously boring film should be worth watching: Shawn's previous credentials, the direction by Tom Cairns, and the presence of Julianne Moore and Matthew Broderick together with little feature appearances by the likes of Campbell Scott and Blossom Dearie should suggest investing time in viewing. Unfortunately the film's premise is so dull that even the technique of having characters speak exactly what is in their minds mixed with dialogue seemingly more appropriate for human ears and adding dreamlike sequences including some rather randy voyeurism - stage worthy though these techniques may be - just can't make this dreary story of a day in the dissolution of a VERY bad marriage work. The only character in the film with whom the viewer can empathize is a friendly dog. Pass on this sad flop. Grady Harp

... View More