The critically-acclaimed Marriage Story premiered in NYC on Sunday evening at the newly-reopened historic Paris Theatre. The movie previously debuted at the 57th Annual New York Film Festival last month, and opened in select theaters Nov. 6.
The aptly-named film follows a husband (Adam Driver) and wife (Scarlett Johansson) as they struggle to co-parent their young son (Azhy Robertson) during a bicoastal divorce, with attorneys (Laura Dern, Alan Alda, and Ray Liotta) escalating tensions.
Marriage Story has already powerfully resonated with audiences with its subtle brilliance, emotional performances, and poetic script. Much like the iconic Paris Theatre itself, Marriage Story resurrects the art of the character study and reflects on the beauty and turmoil of every day.
Writer, director, and co-producer Noah Baumbach walked the red carpet with partner, writer, director, and actress Greta Gerwig, whose highly-anticipated film Little Women opens Christmas Day. Baumbach currently is hosting the film series, “Noah Baumbach in Residence” at the Metrograph movie theater in the Lower East Side, and Marriage Story’s premiere at the Paris Theatre embodies the necessity of independent cinemas.
Photo by: Marion Curtis / StarPix for Netflix
“It’s always been important but it’s obviously much more important now than it has ever been,” Baumbach said. “I can’t believe what Netflix did with the Paris Theatre, it’s incredible. Two weeks ago this was all closed and here we are with a movie premiere. This theater is a classic; it’s a New York institution. We have to keep supporting these, and people have to keep going to the movies so these theaters can survive.”
Similarly, star Laura Dern, who plays lawyer Nora Fanshaw, spoke about the need for theaters. “It’s the reminder of sitting in a cinema just to have this church-like experience of experiencing something together. We don’t want to lose church,” Dern said during her acceptance of the Vulture Festival inaugural Honorary Degree the day prior. “I’m so grateful to Netflix who is protecting the Paris Theatre and making sure that their auteurs are getting the release they want.”
Photo by: Marion Curtis / StarPix for Netflix
Dern, who also stars in Gerwig’s upcoming Little Women, further praised recent films’ return to a “70s style” authentic cinema. To Dern, Marriage Story aligns with this “a million percent.”
“It’s about the people. It’s the films that made [writer-director] Noah [Baumbach] want to do what he does, and made me want to do what I do so to get to be part of this with him is an incredible gift,” Dern said on the premiere red carpet.
Her character Nora–hired by Scarlett Johannson’s Nicole to gain custody of son Henry (Azhy Robertson)–is at first glance a similar character to her turn as high-powered executive Renata in HBO’s Big Little Lies. Yet Dern’s analysis of Nora’s sophisticated determination separates the two roles. “Nora only cares about winning and doesn’t care what people think,” Dern explained. “She’s a true bulldog in her profession, and Renata I find very vulnerable and kind of tender and incredibly complicated. She will always lose her cool, and Nora would never yell or do anything that’s not PC because she’s going to win.”
Photo by: Marion Curtis / StarPix for Netflix
The juxtaposition of Nora’s “bulldog” professional tactics and opposing lawyer Bert Spitz’s (Alan Alda) more disheveled approach only adds to the dynamic screenplay. Alda was first drawn to the film due to its script and the cast surrounding the film. “It’s a wonderful script, and then I realized that I wouldn’t only be playing in this terrific script but I’d be working with Noah [Baumbach] and these brilliant actors,” Alda said. “These are some of the best we’ve got.”
Photo by: Marion Curtis / StarPix for Netflix
A highlight for Alda was working alongside Adam Driver. “I really loved working with him. He’s such a good actor and he’s such a good person. He’s fun to be with,” Alda said.
Scene-stealer Azhy Robertson, who plays Driver and Johansson’s son onscreen, also connected with both lead actors on set. “They were definitely some of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” Robertson said of Driver and Johansson.
Photo by: Marion Curtis / StarPix for Netflix
Robertson actually had been Kylo Ren, Driver’s Star Wars role, for Halloween the year prior to being cast in Marriage Story. “He had to confirm with my parents– he didn’t think it was real!” Robertson laughed. The film even has a tension-filled Halloween scene, although Robertson’s character instead opted to dress up as a ninja.
Photo by: Marion Curtis / StarPix for Netflix
In contrast, actress Julie Hagerty, who plays Johansson’s overbearing mother Sandra, did not relate as much to her character. “I think Sandra is just somebody from the generation where you try and work it out. She doesn’t want to give anybody up. It’s complicated for her when there’s change,” Hagerty explained.
As the Paris Theatre’s lights glowed and the cast began entering inside, Hagerty summed up the evening with what most were thinking:
“It’s so thrilling to be at an opening like this and to be so proud of a film,” Hagerty said as she went to find her seat. “I’ve never been as proud of a film, and that’s from my heart.”
“Marriage Story” is in select theaters and will be available to stream on Netflix on Dec. 6.
