With the Oscars just around the corner and everyone twittering about their favorites’ chances, why not stoke the debate over who deserves the Best Actress statuette? Then again, I haven’t seen “Doubt,” “Frozen River,” “Changeling” or “The Reader.” Mea culpa. But I can make a small contribution when the discussion turns to “Rachel Getting Married.”

The story centers on Kym (Anne Hathaway), a recovering addict with choppy hair and a cigarette habit who’s spent more time in rehab than your average pop star. Though she’s still as immature and self-righteous as a teenager, it appears she’s made enough progress to attend her sister’s nuptials. Her father, Paul (Bill Irwin) and step-mom, Carol (Anna Deavere Smith), drive her back to the big old Connecticut house they call home, where friends, family and a host of musicians are already milling about as Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) irons out all the last-minute details of the backyard reception (which, by the way, is probably one of the most extravagant affairs I’ve seen in a long time).

This happy ambience is undercut by the family’s tragic past, which is revisited with dramatic restraint. Though dad and sis are happy to see Kym again, she’s not ready for life outside rehab, and they’re caught off-guard when she–sometimes inadvertently–forces their pain to the surface once more. The storyline reaches a crescendo with a confrontation that feels like nails on a chalkboard. It’s sad to see Kym struggle to maintain her grip; still, there’s a dynamic here that leaves room for tender moments, shedding light on family bonds, however frayed they’ve become by loss.

I know it’s a big cliché, but the movie plays like a well-arranged composition: Dramatic trill, sustained melody and subtle pitch all combine to make “Rachel Getting Married” a song about those familial highs and lows. And that’s not just me being clever: Not only is the groom, Sidney, played by Tunde Adebimpe of the band TV on the Radio, but the supporting cast includes hip hop pioneer Fab 5 Freddy and Tamyra Gray of “American Idol.” And Jenny Lumet, who wrote the screenplay, is the daughter of the legendary Lena Horne. It feels right that so many of those involved had that musical sensibility.

Much like its “all-natural” score of on-the-set music, the cast makes for an appealing ensemble as well. Anna Deavere Smith and Bill Irwin (both of whom worked on “The Laramie Project“), together with Debra Winger, emote without weighing the story down and preventing its progression. And of course, Hathaway’s performance as the immature, self-centered Kym carries the movie. Is it Oscar-worthy? I can’t say. The important thing is, when you set aside all of the Academy’s politics, it’s still impressive. Director Jonathan Demme also deserves praise; it’s his prudent use of the handheld camera that gives the entire film a very personal, almost documentary-like feel. At times, it’s what you might expect to see watching someone else’s wedding videos–subtle moments, overheard conversations and all.

“Rachel Getting Married” comes out on DVD and Blu-ray March 10th. Special features are said to include deleted scenes, audio commentary, a behind-the-scenes featurette and a look at the music in the film.