First things first. This a romance written and directed in the old-style. If you don't like 'chick flicks', 'weepies' or any film that involves hankies then don't watch this.
This movie is, as are all good movies based on a novel. The novel also called 'The Notebook' was written by a guy named Nicholas Spark's. He managed to write this passionate tale of romance in about six months, it was published in 1996 and was on the bestsellers list for almost two years. Similar to that old classic Gone With The Wind, The Notebook goes straight for the heart, making it a perfect romantic novel for movie makers.
The story begins with an elderly man (James Garner - Space Cowboys) called Duke reading a story which he has read many times before. This time he is reading it to an elderly lady (Gene Rowlands - The Skeleton Key) is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The story Duke is telling is about two young people (17 years of age to be exact) called Noah Calhoun and Allie Hamilton. They meet at a fairground in a small town in the 1940's. Noah is the only son of a widowed tradesman and Allie comes from an upperclass and wealthy family. And yes, you've guessed it..... they fall madly in love.
Like all good love stories they are soon driven apart, in this film it is by the girls parents. When this happens young Noah decides to enlist in the army and so they start to grow further and further apart. After the war Allie is engaged to a wealthy, handsome and charming young man of her own stature but still harbours feelings for her long lost Noah. Then one day she sees a newspaper article describing the restoration of an old mansion (which just so happens to be the one that Noah had promised her that he would buy her) so sooner rather than later they meet up again and carry on from where they left off.
The difference with this love story is that there is a bit of mystery. This is concerning the elderly pair at the nursing home, firstly is the elderly lady indeed Allie? And who is the chap reading her the story - could it be Noah or the handsome, wealthy man to whom she was engaged?
Of course, by the time this all happens the film has been on for a while and my girlfriend has broken down into fits of tears & I'm off to buy another packet of tissues.
The two main characters are played with some vigour by Ryan Gosling (Remember The Titans) and Rachel McAdams (Mean Girls). Even though I thought the film was pretty average, I thought they played their parts well. Other notable characters include Allies mother played by Joan Allen (The Bourne Supremacy).
This movie is ultimately a 'weepie' and the perfect film if you are a born romantic but it just didnt make much of an impression on me. I think i'm more of a Love Actually kind of guy myself. Basically the film is about falling in love and looking back on it and wondering whether we had made different choices. I do think that the film is beautifully shot (despite my average rating of the film).
An interesting fact for all you film buffs out there is that the director Nick Cassavetes is actually Gene Rowlands son (she plays the elderly lady suffering from Alzheimers).
The DVD Special Features are as follows;
Optional Filmmakers Feature Length Commentaries
3 Featurettes
Casting
Theatrical Trailer
and the main cast list is;
Noah Calhoun - Ryan Gosling Allie Hamilton - Rachel McAdams The Man ("Duke") - James Garner The Woman - Gena Rowlands Anne Hamilton - Joan Allen Lon - James Marsden Frank Calhoun - Sam Shepard
Thanks for reading!!!
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Production Year: 2000 - Drama - Director: Giuseppe Tornatore - Original Language: Italian - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Monica Bellucci, Giuseppe Sulfaro, Luciano Federico, Matilde Piana
Watched this film the other day. Thought it was quite good but after friends had ranted and raved about it being greeat I was a little disappointed.
Good review! Sarah xx
clsturdy 17.01.2006 23:36
Great first review and welcome. Claire:-)
al1892 17.01.2006 18:23
Not sure it's my kind of film but good review. al x
Advantages: Great acting, makes you cry (c'mon it's good to cry), good weepy ending. Disadvantages: Clicheed and unrealistic - You feel like you've seen it all before.
Renza 17.01.2009 (17.01.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of The Notebook (DVD)
Jan 17th, 2006
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