50. The Notebook (2004) - Nick Cassavetes

The Notebook (2004) - Nick CassavetesThe movie focuses on an old man reading a story to an old woman in a nursing home. The story he reads follows two young lovers named Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun, who meet one evening at a carnival. It's probably a good thing that I caught The Notebook on TV last year rather than seeing it at the cinema because if I did I fear I may have come out of the screening a blubbering mess. That's right I got Notebooked! Few movies have made cry but this one suceeded. Not only on the first viewing, but on the second as well!!!! (Third time I was ok, but my girlfriend was in tears!). I don't know anybody yet that has managed to sit through The Notebook and not be effected by it. It's a wonderful fantastical tale about young love and romance and the sadness and truth that it is vulnerable and can't possibly last forever. After a bit of a shaky start, young duo Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams pull thier perfromances together and their passion as a frantic young couple in love is undeniable (not suprised to hear they are now dating). They know they are in love from their first date and we can see it too. We know that they are never going to find anyone else as perfect for each other no matter how hard they try.... that's one of the real successes of this film. I'm a sucker for this type of story when the chemistry between the two leads works, like Titanic or Before Sunrise/Sunset. The legendary James Garner and Gena Rowlands are the real tearjerkers of this film though. Their realistic portrayl of the effects of Alzehmeir's disease and the sadness that the love of your life has forgotten you by the ravages of disease. Garner's performance is so heartbreaking, he spends his whole time trying to get the the woman he loves to remember him, if only for a few seconds, so they can share a brief moment of their love together again. Cinematographer Robert Fraisse desveres praise to. The guy who brought the grim and horrifying backdrop of war in Enemy of the Gates, brings a stunningly beautiful and visually spectacular setting to The Notebook which adds to the scene's romantic pay off. Director Nick Cassavetes shouldn't be forgotten here also, the way he handles the infamous "rain" sequence is pure joy... he knows exactly which buttons to press to get a reaction out of us. Sure there are cliches everywhere in The Notebook (disaproving middle class mother who wants to keep her daughter away from working class boy, soppy scenes at the carnival, James Marsden typically as "the other guy", love lost then found then lost then found) but when a film is as good as this you don't mind. Infact you celeberate it. From the opening scene of a picturesque lake at sunset this movie had my emotions. If their is any guys (and especially gals) who haven't seen this film yet then you have been warned... you will get Notebooked!