Take This Waltz - A Movie Review

Some things in life stick. It’s making the right decisions that are tough.

Take This Waltz is a 2011 film. Margot, a young writer finds herself torn between her loving, stable marriage to Lou and an intense, passionate attraction to Daniel, a charismatic artist she meets on a business trip.

Take This Waltz is a complex love story. Everyone will have a different opinion on the character’s actions and how to interpret the film. The biggest takeaway is to find connections that are right for you.

Playing a woman who occupies a lot of sadness, Margot is unsure of her life desires. Once again, Michelle Williams conquers a difficult emotional performance. Margot has questionable erratic behavior, her mood changing abruptly and making fast decisions. I feel bad for her because she is not benefiting from the right help for her issues.

The relationship between Margot and Daniel (Seth Rogan) plays an immense part in the film. Still, in their honeymoon phase, they are affectionate and have a sweet relationship. Studying this relationship, the pair love teasing one another and are constantly wrapped around each other.

But there is tension. Depending on how you analyze it, Margot avoids talking while Daniel refuses to see the matter. He also ignores his wife’s outbursts and brushes her issues aside. There are limits that strain the relationship.

Rogan was excellent in the part. His performance showcases that he is capable of more than just comedy roles. Daniel is somewhat aloof to the situation, but when he puts the pieces together, boy does Rogan do an incredible job with his emotions.

Lou (Like Kirby) is also up to interpretation with how he acts around Margot. He takes advantage of Margot’s behavior but at the same time doesn’t want the affair to escalate.

In her small role, Sarah Silverman had her own personal story that touches on a key message at the end. I wished that had a bigger role until her last scene in the climax. Silverman slays it in the delivery of a gut-punching monologue.

For those who don’t recognize Sarah Polley, she played Ramona Quimby in the 80s television series, Ramona. As the director and writer of Take This Waltz, Polley did an excellent with the film’s subtle nature of capturing the nuances of human connection. She demonstrated bold moves.

Polley had excellent filmmaking incorporating neat one-shots. The film's visual style and intimate cinematography further enhance the narrative’s emotional depth. Sound design is also reflected beautifully in one scene where Margot and Daniel are on different sides of a window, mouthing a song to each other.

Take This Waltz is a bold presentation of femininity. One scene in the film presents women showering together in a public bathroom. I thought this scene was random, but as Silverman discussed, it’s a presentation of vulnerability and pride.

This is a film about marriage. One of the film's greatest strengths lies in its ability to capture the complicated nature of love. Through its honest portrayal of Margot's conflicting emotions, Take This Waltz presents love as a complex mixture of desire and vulnerability.

The ending of Take This Waltz could have been more clear. I thought it was all a fantasy. Take The Waltz will likely spark debates among viewers, but it leaves room for interpretation. The open-ending is deliberate to let audiences reflect on their own relationships.

Take This Waltz is also about pursuing happiness as long as we find a purpose. Some things in life stick while other times they’re not meant to be. Find Take This Waltz on HBO.