Zendaya and John David Washington shine in tense, engaging drama; While it's a bit over-long and gets structurally hazy at times, it keeps its hooks in you with its leads’ captivating turns
you'll need to take a deep breath before watching; this is a one-on-one so astute and scathing; "Malcolm & Marie" is a film of the moment, powered by Covid, BLM and #MeToo - but good enough to stand the test of time
the seductive fluidity of the camerawork, as much as the punchy performances and muscular writing, keep Malcolm & Marie compelling even when it risks becoming an extended exercise in style
the best performances of the year in the first great movie of 2021; Zendaya and John David Washington are two of the most exciting actors around right now, and seeing them spar with each other is as compelling as you'd hope
the actors do their best with what they're given [but] they lack chemistry; The whole movie comes across as deeply self-conscious, more concerned with how it sounds than what it's saying, consumed with impressing people rather than expressing something
Review rate : D+by Mary Sollosi[Entertainment Weekly ]
thanks in no small part to two powerhouse performances, it makes for an utterly absorbing ride; Zendaya and John David Washington deliver career-best performances in this mesmerising two-hander that ruminates on love, life and art
Sam Levinson's high-contrast, low-reward romantic drama is a stunning example of how airless a film can become when it’s shot in a bubble; It's frustrating to see two brilliant actors work so hard to evolve these characters beyond their narrow concepts
Sam Levinson's drama is an intimate portrait of a couple ravaged by their own insecurities; a movie that can feel like an emotional drain due to the built-up hostility between these two characters but is always captivating thanks to the performances
Sam Levinson's "Malcolm & Marie" is a purposely self-absorbed meta-narrative about a navel-gazing director at odds with his muse--an enticing premise on paper--that too often obscures its heart in lieu of tedious diatribes
a smart, fiercely performed movie; It's pugnaciously well-acted, flavoured with vinegary insights and rage-filled denunciations, and a hilarious set piece of scorn about how awful film critics are
"Malcolm & Marie" is a vibrant, perceptive film; Throughout the psychological games and emotional twists and turns, Zendaya and John David Washington keep the audience as off-guard as the characters do each other
by Jamie Gaham [Total Film ]
by Peter Bradshaw [The Guardian ]
