Movie
The Notebook
Star Cast
James Garner
Joan Allen
Gena Rowlands
Sam Shepard
Ryan Gosling
Rachel McAdams
Director
Nick Cassavetes
Producers
Mark Johnson
Lynn Harris
Screenplay
Jan Sardi
Jeremy Leven
Studio
Alliance Atlantis
Running Time
123 min.
Genre
Drama
Release
Theatrical: June 25, 2004
DVD/Video: February 8, 2005
Review
The Notebook is a highly under-rated movie. It hasn’t got the approbation it deserves. Many people have rejected it even before watching it by calling it a “Chick Flick” (a foolish film just for girls). I just pity those people who decided to discard this movie, as they have no idea what they have missed!
By no means it’s a film just for girls and by no means it’s a foolish film! It’s a film for everyone out there who believes in love! It’s a film for everyone who has the courage to give his heart to someone very special! It’s a film for everyone who can do anything for their beloved! It’s a film for every true lover!
An old man (James Garner) visits an elderly lady (Gena Rowlands) frequently in a nursing home. He reads her a story from a faded notebook. The story is about a young couple Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) & Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams).
Allie visits Seabrook, North Carolina to see her family. There she meets Noah and before they even realize it, they are madly in love. They have many things in common like thoughts, zest for life and their feelings for each other. But there is something uncommon too – financial condition. Allie comes from a rich family whereas Noah is a not-so-wealthy guy. Thus, when Allie’s mother comes to know about Noah she sends her away from him.
Noah sends her one letter daily for a whole year i.e. 365 letters but her mother didn’t let the letters reach Allie. Heart broken he decides to write one last farewell letter to his sweetheart! Then he goes away to serve his nation in the World War II.
He comes back from the war and starts living alone in a 200-year-old house with his memories. Allie is engaged to a successful businessman (James Marsden) who loves her a lot. Allie reads an article in a newspaper about Noah’s handiwork. She visits Seabrook again and meets Noah after seven long years! The time has come for her to make a decision once and for all about the path her life and love must take!
You may have seen such stories and characters before, but the way this movie has presented it, it’s very calm, fresh and soothing! It plays on your emotions and you are forced to shed a tear or two. It’s a great break from common Hollywood action and comedy flicks. Also, the movie has well defined beginning, middle and end. Nothing is left to the imagination of the viewer.
Acting wise every one has done justice to their role. They live the character they play and a better star cast than this wouldn’t have been possible for this movie. Background score is really touching and so are the dialogues. No complaints against direction or screenplay either! The movie is rated PG-13 for some sexuality.
All in all a very romantic film and a must watch for every romantic soul like me! I dedicate the review on this romantic film to my girlfriend Pari, as I’m missing her badly, like Noah missed his Allie!
© Tanmay Singh, 2004