Take This Waltz

In actress Sarah Polley's second effort behind the camera, Michelle Williams stars as Margot, a freelance writer married to likable lug Lou (Seth Rogen), who is compiling a cookbook of chicken recipes. When Margot meets handsome Daniel (Luke Kirby), a rickshaw driver who also happens to be her neighbor, a mutual attraction is sparked, leading to a dance of conflicting emotions. Margot is clearly in distress, vaguely dissatisfied with her marriage but reluctant to hurt Lou, so her steps toward infidelity are halting and painful. Daniel is more clearly eager, although he tries to be cautious. And Lou remains in the dark, but in his rather bovine way is aware that his wife is growing distant. Polley skillfully traces the evolution of this relationship not only in words but also in telling gestures, particularly on the part of Williams. Take This Waltz is that rare film that handles soap-operatic material in a subtle and perceptive way—serving up a tasteful, honest presentation of a potentially mawkish subject. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a "making-of" featurette (38 min.), an ASX TV behind-the-scenes featurette (5 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the BD-Live function. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a refreshingly mature film.] (F. Swietek)