About the only thing I knew going in to Marty was that Herb Stempel famously lost to Charles Van Doren on 21 with a question about this utterly wonderful Best Picture winner. Every once in a while, it seems the Academy puts away all their love for big epics and dark mysteries and tales of desperation and woe and falls head over heels for a warm gem like Marty. (Recent nominees Sideways, Little Miss Sunshine, and Juno definitely fall into the small-budget-big-heart category that this movie kicked off).
Ernest Borgnine is adorable as oafish Italian lump Marty, who feels pressure from his stereotypical mom and his weaselly friends to go out and score a “tomatah” at a dance hall or a dive bar on 72nd. But fate steps in and hands him a wonderful, if a little homely, woman named Clara who’s dumped by a jerk at the Starland Ballroom. A night of meet-cute ensues, and their relationship takes funny and charming turns at every chance encounter.
As a film, Marty is just like a warm patch of sunlight. For 90 minutes, we get to bask in the glow of a sweet underdog story, with moments of perfect nebbishy romance (Marty running through the streets, exhilarated, trying to find a taxi after he drops Clara off at her house, is one of the most romantic moments in any Best Picture winner, ever) and an undefeatable humanity shining through.
An 8, with a big smile on my face.