Netflix Doubles Down on Baumbach with Two Excellent "Marriage Story" Trailers

Scene from Marriage Story

For the second time, Netflix looks like they're trying to get a director and writer Noah Baumbach into the Oscar race. In 2017, they released the successful The Meyerowitz Stories, which found one of Adam Sandler's most acclaimed performances in years. However, it wasn't meant to be as The Academy outright ignored it. Well, Baumbach has returned to a familiar well for his next film for the streaming service: Marriage Story. It's the story of romance in a relationship that may be falling apart. Seeing as it features Adam Driver in one of his first post-Oscar-nominated roles (Best Supporting Actor - BlacKkKlansman), it looks like this film will have an easier time getting into the conversation. Thankfully, if the trailers and release look like any indicator, it will be even easier for Baumbach and the supporting cast to join in on the fun as well. 

It seems a bit cliche nowadays to think of Baumbach without thinking of relationships in some sort of flummox. Along with Margot at the Wedding, his breakout film The Squid and the Whale was an extensive allegory about divorce that remains one of the key texts on the subject. He has a deeper understanding of relationships than most filmmakers seem able to do. Even in his recent years, he's explored it among friends (Frances Ha), family (Mistress America, The Meyerowitz Stories), and age groups (Greenberg, While We're Young). He has been a consistently enjoyable filmmaker and one who seems tragic the more that he misses out on bigger acclaim. He's had it before, he just seems to be having trouble getting it again.

Something feels special about Marriage Story. For starters, it's one of Netflix's major Oscar pushes in their first year since breaking the barriers with The Academy with Roma. Now they need to keep that traction going, and it seems apt to pair the higher-profile The Irishman with the more intimate and personal Marriage Story. It does have the added benefit of having Driver in a major role. With him recently earning an Oscar nomination, he has a higher profile than normal right now, and there's a good chance that it will be the shoo-in that is needed for everybody else, such as Scarlett Johanssen. There's a lot of potential here that could be exciting, especially given that The Meyerowitz Stories remains one of the streaming service's best releases in its short existence. It might have not gotten the awards buzz they wanted, but it proved they were capable of more serious and ambitious stories.

One of the already exciting things about Marriage Story is that it features two trailers, billed as a "his and hers" style trailer where each person gives their opinion on the opposite character. It's a nice little gimmick and one that shows bigger confidence in the project than a mere Fall release. While it covers similar ground, it already leaves an impression with the audience that this film is different from what Netflix has released. It makes one want to know more, especially as there have been few standout dramas with major marketing pushes for Oscars yet.

Here's the first trailer:

The focus on Driver's character Charlie is plenty of fun, reflecting good chemistry with the son character. It builds through eccentric moments before getting to the heart of the trailer, which is a serious conversation at the end. It's a nice teaser that makes one want to know what happens next.

Here's the second one:

Again, it covers similar ground. Still, it manages to create a sense of empathy for both characters through opposing perspectives. It allows the viewer to "take sides" before things really get going. It's a fun approach and one that gives a sense that this is a movie that will challenge its characters emotionally throughout the running time. It doesn't go for conventional plot description, instead of looking at who is at the center of the drama.

Here's the plot description according to IMDb:

A stage director and his actor wife struggle through a grueling, coast-to-coast divorce that pushes them to their personal and creative extremes.

There's a lot to look forward to with this film, if just because Baumbach has been one of the most consistent filmmakers of recent times. He isn't afraid to explore dark subject matter while grounding it in humanity that few have captured. Considering that he's already gained an Oscar nomination for another divorce drama, it does feel like he's set up for similar success. This time feels special, if just because Netflix has a bigger draw than they did in 2017. They have room to get even Johansson into the category, provided she brings something to the relationship that is exciting or heartbreaking.

Considering that marriage stories tend to do well at the Oscars, this is a fairly attractive movie in that way. Besides The Squid and the Whale, previous relationship movies that have received some acclaim at the Oscars include Scenes from a Marriage, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, 45 Years, Blue Valentine, and Annie Hall. There's something universal about a relationship that most audiences will clamor for, especially when there's a need for more adult programming out there. It's been a rough year for mature stories, and this could be the push that is needed to get the film recognized. 

Marriage Story would seem like a longshot if released by any independent studio, unfortunately. However, Netflix is coming off of a big year and feels like it could pull through with another fantastic year with even more nominations. The cast is incredible and the story sounds compelling. All that needs to be seen is the film itself. While The Irishman seems destined to hog a lot of the Oscar glory, Marriage Story could be a backdoor contender that will resonate and build over months. It doesn't seem like a cash-grab nor is there a sense of cynicism in the trailer. It looks like a genuine portrait of grief in the 21st century. The only question is if everyone will go for it.