Some aspects of Malcolm & Marie (especially the polarizing scene that mocks film critics) might have received mixed responses from viewers but overall, the black-and-white drama is a worthy addition to the pantheon of toxic romances in cinema. Such films often get brutally honest in exploring their protagonist's troubled relationships as insecurities are touched upon and mental wounds are inflicted.
Films reminiscent of Malcolm & Marie often rely on dialogue-driven screenplays as hot-headed arguments form a central part of the narrative. Rather than glorifying unrequited love, these dramas normalize the fact that not all love stories are meant to have a happy ending.
Marriage Story (2019)
It's not surprising to find people who would be quick to compare Malcolm and Marie's unsettling relationship with that of Charlie (Adam Driver) and Nicole's (Scarlett Johanson) failing marriage in Marriage Story, another iconic Netflix title. Finding inspiration from his own past relationship, writer-director Noah Baumbach attempts to weave a dramatic epic to chronicle the aftermath of a divorce, including debates over child custody and constant arguments seeking closure.
The epitome of the film's tone is, of course, the emotional fight scene that lasts for over 10 minutes. Coming from a male writer, a great deal of the story offers viewers Charlie's perspective. However, Baumbach's dialogues don't shy away from showcasing his selfishness, and fragile ego.
Private Life (2018)
Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti star as a middle-aged New York couple who are struggling to conceive a child through IVF. But as they deliberate upon the pregnancy, both grow increasingly mellow with their fading professional careers. The mental dilemmas reach a point when they question their own parenting abilities for their future child.
Rather than engaging in fights, the couple in Private Life share moments of subtle comedic jabs at each other that show their passive aggression. The recurring bittersweet humor and the lead performances make this Tamara Jenkins film worth watching.
Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
A prime case study in marital angst, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf feels extremely realistic in its verbal duels, chiefly because stars Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton also shared a tumultuous marriage in real life.
Taking shape in the course of one drunken night, the film revolves around an aging couple who seek to entertain a young couple whom they invite for a nightcap. The fiery dialogues and the volatile performances ensure that the night turns out to be as unpredictable as the marriage in question.
Big Eyes (2014)
Artistic characters in fictional films and biopics tend to have a strained relationship with their significant other, mostly due to their malignant obsession with their own art. In the case of Tim Burton's Big Eyes, a fraud painter (Christopher Walken) abuses his partner Margaret Keane (Amy Adams) to cash in on her art.
Keane is forced to paint one artwork after the other while her husband ends up taking all the credit. Based on a true story, Keane's story is poignantly brought to life by Adams while Waltz emulates his usual charmingly antagonistic self.
The Boys In The Band (2020)
The Boys In The Band is another Netflix option that would suit fans of intense 'talkathons'. Based on the stage play of the same name, the film takes place during a birthday party that turns into a serious affair. The ensemble led by Jim Parsons and Zachary Quinto play gay men in the 1970s.
With this context, the narrative touches upon certain secrets pertaining to the characters' sexuality and identity. Tragic relationships and friendships, both in the past and present, are brought up that makes each one of the partygoers introspect about their own emotions.
Gaslight (1944)
While the title of gaslight refers to actual gaslights, the male protagonist of this classic was so emotionally manipulative that it was the film that led to the genesis of the word 'gaslighting'. A bold psychological thriller for its time, Gaslight stars Ingrid Berman as a woman who doubts herself of having kleptomaniac tendencies.
Her lover (Charles Boyer) on the other hand, constantly guilts her into believing this lie even though he has the secrets to her self-doubts. The third act of Gaslight relies on predictable plot twists but it's the conversations between the two characters that make the film amusing. Boyer's portrayal of the patronizing husband perfectly exemplifies the vile nature of human toxicity.
Someone Great (2019)
A step above the usual Netflix rom-coms, Someone Great starts off with the split of a long-term relationship. As the lead character (Gina Rodriguez) gets over her heartbreak, her own self-realization and some bizarre encounters with her friends give her a sense of acceptance to face her reality.
Even though it isn't an intense drama, the film has enough scenes that can move viewers especially if they themselves got out of a mature relationship. Someone Great sets the example for other romantic films to promote realistic possibilities in modern-day dating. Even if one relationship didn't end up being a fairytale romance, the next one might just get better.
A Star Is Born (2018)
A Star Is Born, much like its predecessors, relies on a familiar tragic love story. But it's perhaps Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga's on-screen chemistry that adds more layers to the tumultuous bond the two musicians share in the film. What begins as a passionate romance soon turns ugly when professional envy comes into the picture.
Cooper's Jackson Maine is a seasoned artist way past his prime while Lady Gaga's Ally is a rising star making sense out of her newfound stardom. When Maine's ego gets shattered and Ally struggles with his drug addiction, trouble arises. The audience knows the doomed nature of their relationship thereafter.
The Spectacular Now (2013)
A pretty mature entry in the coming-of-age genre, The Spectacular Now is a fairly dubious journey of two high-schoolers and the unexpected love that blossoms between them. Even though it might seem like a simple boy-meets-girl love story, the boy in this scenario (Miles Teller) ends up being an emotional burden to his other half (Shailene Woodley), owing to his heavy alcoholism. But it's not just his drinking habits that cause a rift between the two.
The film, much like the novel it's based on, contrasts the ideological differences between the apparent lovebirds. While Teller plays an easygoing party animal who lives in the present moment, Woodley's character is an introvert who is often concerned about the future. Opposites do attract at times but in this case, they simply lack compatibility, no matter how hard they try.
Revolutionary Road (2008)
Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio first joined forces in Titanic, an interclass story of two people sharing a pure bond of love on an ill-fated voyage. In Revolutionary Road, the setting changes to suburban America of the 1950s. A man toils hard in his job while his homemaker wife wishes to lead a more passionate and content life. Dissatisfied with their current lives, they decide to start their life anew in another town.
However, this shift has its own repercussions and a clash of ideals takes place between husband and wife, as exemplified by some extremely aggressive dialogue exchanges between Winslet and DiCaprio. Revolutionary Road is melancholic to the point that it gets heartbreaking to watch.