Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson are credited with giving some of the purest cinematic experiences to Hollywood’s entertainment industry through their masterpiece movie Marriage Story. Released in 2019, the rom-com served as a lot more than just a romance comedy with all its emotionally deep and perplexing plotlines.
Though it has been more than half a decade since the Academy Award-nominated smash-hit flick from Noah Baumbach hit the screens, it hasn’t stopped fans from bringing it back and reminiscing all those incredible moments from the movie – all of which is once again making them realize how much of a treat it was to see the pair in Marriage Story.
Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson were beyond incredible in Marriage Story
For one that ostensibly aimed to capture the elements of a marriage that started with love but heartbreakingly came down to divorce, Noah Baumbach did nothing short of an outstanding job at seizing all those emotionally complex moments and incorporating them in Marriage Story. Then there are the lead actors who didn’t fail to deliver either.
Set around the love and life of Charlie Barber, a stage director (played by Adam Driver), and his actor wife Nicole Barber (played by Scarlett Johansson), the 2019 rom-com saw them struggle through a grueling, coast-to-coast divorce that pushed them to their extremes – both creative as well as personal – as they tried to navigate through it all.
While the entire film in itself was a critically acclaimed masterpiece that garnered multiple nods at the Academy Awards that followed too, some of its scenes really stood out from the others in excellence. One of these being revisited by fans is the devastating fight scene which sees both the Barbers burst out at each other and eventually break down.
This scene had the pair – especially Driver’s Charlie – spit out some really hurtful words to each other. Like when he told her how he felt “life with you was joyless.” Or when he said before completely breaking down, “Every day, I wake up and hope you’re dead– Dead like– If I could guarantee Henry would be okay, I’d hope you get an illness and then get hit by a car and DIE!“
All of these scenes were so iconic because of the dialogue, yes, but even more so because of how they were enacted by the actors, which was nothing short of absolutely epic and Oscar-winning. In fact, as fans are pointing out now, what Driver pulled off, especially in this heartwrenching fight scene, was something really beyond praiseworthy.
Fans are praising Adam Driver for his breathtaking performance in Marriage Story
While the other scenes are commendable as well, Driver’s acting in this one particular moment is really piling up appreciation from fans from all around the globe as they point out how the actor perfectly depicted a man who is getting upset by the regrettable words coming out of his own mouth in anger with the pain of saying it all to begin with.
Taking to X, here’s what they have to say:
i don’t really care for this movie, but Driver does something in this scene that i’ve never seen an actor lock in on before, which is how upset he is by the words coming out of his own mouth, a very common thing in anger https://t.co/5FsK5mCPpC
— Corey Atad (@CoreyAtad) February 19, 2025
totally, he pushes it so far here, and it’s so real, specifically how that upset doesn’t stop him from actually saying any of it
— Corey Atad (@CoreyAtad) February 19, 2025
the scene is written and directed toward the idea of the characters, his especially, saying regretable things, but Driver reaches something deeper, which is the pain involved in saying those things to begin with
need that guy to do a good movie again
— Corey Atad (@CoreyAtad) February 19, 2025
this is the most realistic argument i have ever seen in film. it’s usually the dude who does the rage + sobbing i. these things and I literally can’t name another instance of this in hollywood. anywhere.
— laura ⚔️ (@LauraFlowD) February 20, 2025
This movie was a great dissection of a dysfunctional marriage and Driver nails it perfectly. IMO this role alone should be winning him way more Oscar-worthy opportunities but then again I’m just a tourist here.
— FerrousTitan (@ferroustitan) February 20, 2025
Driver took it to a whole new level of acting, He was being real and that shows how good he is.
— 🔞Rayne-Arts (@ArtsRayne) February 20, 2025
this argument felt so real, like you accidentally walked into a private moment
— MADISON HEIGHTS – TS 🇦🇺 (@Madisonxheights) February 20, 2025
they didn’t act this scene, they experienced it 😳
— Cici (@dreamyycici) February 20, 2025
To put it in a nutshell, Marriage Story‘s fight scene is a masterclass in acting, with Adam Driver delivering a breathtaking performance worthy of being revisited and praised by fans. The raw emotion and realism he brings to the scene make it feel uncomfortably real, which only further cements his status as one of Hollywood’s most talented actors.
Marriage Story can currently be watched on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
