Rachel Getting Married

Oscar-nominee Anne Hathaway stars as Kym, who's spent years in and out of rehab trying to beat a drug dependence that led to the accidental death of her younger brother. Although the story ostensibly revolves around the coming wedding of Kym's sister Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt), the newly sober older sibling manages to hog much of the attention with her outrageous antics, which include having sex with the best man. Ultimately, Kym even comes to blows with her mother (Debra Winger), as what started out as a happy family weekend dissolves into chaos. Director Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs) seems to be channeling the late Robert Altman here in a film that bustles with quirky supporting characters and snappy dialogue. Demme captures a plethora of memorable moments—ranging from the walking-on-eggshells aspect of a divorced couple's reuniting, to the forced joviality that often accompanies strained social events—all of which are beautifully realized. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include two audio commentaries (the first with producer Neda Armian, screenwriter Jenny Lumet, and editor Tim Squyres; the second with costar Rosemarie DeWitt), a 50-minute cast and crew Q&A session, 20 minutes of deleted scenes, a 16-minute behind-the-scenes featurette, “The Wedding Band” musical featurette (8 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the BD Live function. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a winning film.] (E. Hulse)