The Notebook (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
Nick Cassavetes' romantic drama, 'The Notebook', is a sweeping love story for the ages. The 1st character we meet is an elderly man (James Garner) who reads a story from an old notebook to an elderly woman (Gena Rowlands) in a nursing home. The story in the notebook transports us back to a beautiful, idyllic summer just before the start of World War II, where rich girl, Allie (Rachel McAdams), comes to the small country town of Seabrook, North Carolina with her vacationing parents & meets a poor lumber yard worker named Noah (Ryan Gosling) at the town carnival. Despite their differences in social status & personality, they fall madly in love during that magical summer. But before long, Allie's snobbish mother (Joan Allen) forces a break-up. Allie despairingly heads-off to college, while Noah enlists. He writes letters to her 365 times, but her mother sees to it that she not know about them.
After the war, Noah returns home to restore an old abandoned mansion that he & Allie once dreamed of. All the while, Allie meets & falls for wealthy, handsome soldier, Lon (likeable James Marsden) and, this time, her mother approves. But just before their wedding, Allie happens upon Noah. Against her own better instincts, she finds that she's still madly in love with him. In one long gorgeously staged sequence, she stops by the 200 yr. old home which Noah has restored {for them}. Their passion is rekindled & unbridled. They spend some days together and, their hearts are filled with the nostalgic joy of that one memorable summer. How would Allie's parents & her fiancee react? Will she leave Noah again for a more sturdy life?
'The Notebook' unfolds in 2 time frames & 2 narrative frames featuring the same 2 main characters. The elderly lady in the beginning of the film IS Allie. She suffers from Alzheimer's disease. And so, to stir her memories & keep her brain working, the elderly man, Noah, reads from the journal that recounts their youthful romance. It's heartwarming (but also quite sad) to watch the current day scenes between James Garner & Gena Rowlands. Because of this, it's easier to enjoy what occurs in the 1940's sequences. And although you ultimately feel for Allie's mom & Allie's fiancee, you WANT Allie & Noah to end up together in the end.
This film shows the kind of sentimental love story that you only read about in novels. Rachel McAdams is a doll, and she nails the spectrum of emotions required of complicated Allie. Ryan Gosling exudes quiet confidence and, watching his pursuit of trying to win Allie back into his arms is heart-rending for us viewers who wants them together so desperately. I believed every second of McAdams & Gosling's emotionally-charged portrayals. And both Gena Rowlands & James Garner provide a real emotional anchor to the story. Rowlands moved me deeply as the ailing Allie. And Garner's narration, in particular, is flawless: "I am nothing special. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who's ever lived: I've loved another with all my heart & soul; and to me, this has always been enough" -- gut punch!
Despite the film genre at hand, as far as I'm concerned, all 4 actors give Academy Award-worthy performances. I also must commend Cassavetes' sturdy direction, some beautiful 1940s period detail, & the warm cinematography that evokes the kind of nostalgic romance that we mere mortals could only dream about -- I'm reminded of some gorgeous sunset shots on the water, or a rowboat ride through a sea of swans, or the now iconic embrace by our two young lovers in the rain.
Now, though I mention that 'The Notebook' is a love story for the ages, it isn't perfect. Some scenes linger too long. And although you realize that this couple seems to have had a long, loving life together, the story ends on an expectedly weepy note; bittersweet, to say the least. Everything about 'The Notebook' is designed to evoke strong emotional reactions and it works amazingly. That said, the more cynical or jaded viewer may find it all too sappy for merit. But what the movie does so well is bring to LIFE that rare perfect summer romance that becomes a lifelong love affair. Gosling & McAdams' chemistry permeates the screen. And the gentle spirit of the film will definitely linger with accepting audiences for long after it's over.
After the war, Noah returns home to restore an old abandoned mansion that he & Allie once dreamed of. All the while, Allie meets & falls for wealthy, handsome soldier, Lon (likeable James Marsden) and, this time, her mother approves. But just before their wedding, Allie happens upon Noah. Against her own better instincts, she finds that she's still madly in love with him. In one long gorgeously staged sequence, she stops by the 200 yr. old home which Noah has restored {for them}. Their passion is rekindled & unbridled. They spend some days together and, their hearts are filled with the nostalgic joy of that one memorable summer. How would Allie's parents & her fiancee react? Will she leave Noah again for a more sturdy life?
'The Notebook' unfolds in 2 time frames & 2 narrative frames featuring the same 2 main characters. The elderly lady in the beginning of the film IS Allie. She suffers from Alzheimer's disease. And so, to stir her memories & keep her brain working, the elderly man, Noah, reads from the journal that recounts their youthful romance. It's heartwarming (but also quite sad) to watch the current day scenes between James Garner & Gena Rowlands. Because of this, it's easier to enjoy what occurs in the 1940's sequences. And although you ultimately feel for Allie's mom & Allie's fiancee, you WANT Allie & Noah to end up together in the end.
This film shows the kind of sentimental love story that you only read about in novels. Rachel McAdams is a doll, and she nails the spectrum of emotions required of complicated Allie. Ryan Gosling exudes quiet confidence and, watching his pursuit of trying to win Allie back into his arms is heart-rending for us viewers who wants them together so desperately. I believed every second of McAdams & Gosling's emotionally-charged portrayals. And both Gena Rowlands & James Garner provide a real emotional anchor to the story. Rowlands moved me deeply as the ailing Allie. And Garner's narration, in particular, is flawless: "I am nothing special. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who's ever lived: I've loved another with all my heart & soul; and to me, this has always been enough" -- gut punch!
Despite the film genre at hand, as far as I'm concerned, all 4 actors give Academy Award-worthy performances. I also must commend Cassavetes' sturdy direction, some beautiful 1940s period detail, & the warm cinematography that evokes the kind of nostalgic romance that we mere mortals could only dream about -- I'm reminded of some gorgeous sunset shots on the water, or a rowboat ride through a sea of swans, or the now iconic embrace by our two young lovers in the rain.
Now, though I mention that 'The Notebook' is a love story for the ages, it isn't perfect. Some scenes linger too long. And although you realize that this couple seems to have had a long, loving life together, the story ends on an expectedly weepy note; bittersweet, to say the least. Everything about 'The Notebook' is designed to evoke strong emotional reactions and it works amazingly. That said, the more cynical or jaded viewer may find it all too sappy for merit. But what the movie does so well is bring to LIFE that rare perfect summer romance that becomes a lifelong love affair. Gosling & McAdams' chemistry permeates the screen. And the gentle spirit of the film will definitely linger with accepting audiences for long after it's over.