Rachel Getting Married - A-

In theaters. Rated R, 116 minutes. Trailer.

"You may be through with the past, but the past is not through with you." This Magnolia quote is never spoken in Rachel Getting Married, but its message is felt throughout. Anne Hathaway is Kim, the junkie sister of the bride. After an expectedly warm reception from her relatives following a 9 month stint in rehab, her sister's wedding weekend turns into a visceral reckoning with the family demons that are the source of her addiction. Click below on what Margot at the Wedding could have been:

The tension with her sister Rachel starts first after she learns she is not the maid of honor. It slowly builds as we learn about the tragedy in their family (caused by Kim) and how they have all dealt with it. Director Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia) shoots the film with handheld cameras, giving it the feel of a documentary and inundating the audience with intimate moments. There are several masterful sequences that end up being ruined by an inadvertent or accidental reference to the tragedy. Initially, we blame it all on Kim, but as her parents' neuroses (especially her distant mother, Abby (Debra Winger)) become clearer we begin to shift the blame and the film becomes a parable on the realities of life after a tragedy. Kim talks sadly about wanting to believe in a God that can forgive her, but not wanting there to be a god that would. This film exposes lots of the raging sea of emotions underlying most family gatherings in a real and authentic way.

There are no easy answers or forgiveness for Kim or her family. She can't move on and neither can they...Lumet and Demme seem to be saying they never will. The script (by Jenny Lumet - Sidney's daughter) unpeels like an onion. Symbols, conversations, looks and comments deepen and change in their meaning as the story unfolds. They aren't 'spoilers' in the traditional sense, but it enhances the enjoyment and meaning of the film enough to warrant their omission in this review. This is a very likely Best Original Screenplay nominee, and the authenticity and intelligence of most of the dialogue was a main component of my enjoyment.

The cast here is excellent. Hathaway is all but guaranteed a Best Actress nod for a great performance (and a rough year that will likely attract the Academy's sympathy). Role players Debra Winger, Mather Zickel and Bill Irwin are all excellent as they participate in and bear witness to the turmoil. Demme's direction is first-rate, with several musical interludes (1 too many for me) and long scenes with a meaty payoff. The film features an alarmingly diverse wedding (mixed-race couple, multiple religion wedding with Hawaiian themes?!) and lots of music.

My favorite scenes were anything with Debra Winger and the dishes scene.