Malcolm and Marie

While it might be an audacious experiment, Malcolm and Marie doesn’t supplement its ferocious titular performances with sufficient dramatic heft.

A two-hander that might work better on stage, this black-and-white romantic drama from director Sam Levinson (TV’s “Euphoria”) employs pared-down concept with just two characters, one location, and one night. It achieves an unsettling intimacy as we watch them air their dirty laundry, but to what end?

The opening sequence finds Malcolm (John David Washington) strutting around a remote upscale house while Marie (Zendaya) sits on the toilet. From there, the mood darkens considerably as the film deconstructs their relationship.

They’ve just arrived home from the premiere of Malcolm’s directorial debut. He’s buoyant about the initial reaction, but still apprehensive about the impending review. However, Marie doesn’t share his enthusiasm, apparently miffed that the outspoken Malcolm didn’t thank her during his remarks, since evidently his passion project is based on her rags-to-riches life story. Plus, she’s an actress and wasn’t even considered by her own boyfriend for the lead role.

Both smart and sophisticated, they subsequently bicker about gender politics and various unresolved hostilities. It’s playful at times and downright nasty at others. “You are genuinely unstable. I am actually concerned for your mental well-being,” Malcolm exclaims while noshing on a bowl of mac and cheese.

The film is technically polished and confidently steered, with the gorgeous cinematography and alluring jazzy score setting an appropriate tone. However, you wish it had more to say considering the heavy reliance on emotionally charged dialogue.

You wonder if Levinson is using his characters as a vessel to air some of his own gripes about mainstream Hollywood, artistic expression, subconscious biases, and the shallow nature of criticism.

The boldly committed performances avoid self-indulgence by carefully modulating strength and vulnerability. Despite their noticeable age difference, the actors generate a convincing chemistry even as their nonstop arguing becomes exhausting.

Both have some potent rants — ahem, monologues — along the way, but overall these stuffy artistic types aren’t especially likeable or relatable, and we’re not heavily invested in whether they ultimately break up or stay together.

As Malcolm and Marie starts to spin its wheels after a while, their petty bitterness won’t resonate with most moviegoers. By the end, we share their frustration, but not for the intended reasons.

Rated R, 106 minutes.