Celeste and Jesse Forever

Written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack

Directed by Lee Toland Krieger
Starring Rashida Jones (Celeste), Andy Sanberg (Jesse)
89 minutes; 2012

I saw “Celeste and Jesse Forever” at a matinee this afternoon.  There were 2 other couples, one woman by herself, and me alone of course in theater.  The women in the couple arrangements got up during the movie, left and came back.  In general, they were restless. “Celeste and Jesse Forever” is a movie about the heartache of breaking up despite having strong lingering feelings – either love, lust, anger, regret or all of the above – but nonetheless strong.  Were these women seeing parts of themselves in the movie?  The guys didn’t move.

“Celeste and Jesse Forever” meandered between irritating clichés and truthful moments.  Maybe 70-30, and you can fill this in for yourself after seeing the film.  It was a long, repetitive, winding road of a story – if it was a story at all.  None the less I liked the film.  The acting was superb and Rashida Jones shines as an actress and even more so as a screenwriter.  Bravo Rashida. 

The no-narrative narrative is a trend in filmmaking.  Examples include “Your Sister’s Sister”, “Pariah”, and “Tiny Furniture”.  The strict three act formula story structure is old news and that is a good thing.

Other things disappearing are actual film projectors and the fluttering sound coming out of projection booths.  Today was the first day of all digital projectors at the Lagoon Theater.  Hard drives are being sent to theaters now instead of reels of film.  No film projectors or the strict three act formula story structures any more.  Welcome the new day.

The most important ingredient of “Celeste and Jesse Forever” that makes this film worthwhile is a female centric view of a relationships, careers, and life.  Celeste did not need Jesse to complete her, nor did her world revolve around him.  However, she loved him dearly, took him for granted, lost him, and it hurt.  Celeste was fully human and not a one-dimensional supporting function of a male character.  She loved, lived, suffered and laughed.  How refreshing is that?