Jen Hearts The Notebook [Movies I Heart Series]
Sometimes, I’m a real girl. I wear make-up and fix my hair every day, squeal over new purchases and burn up my credit card with online shopping just like most other girlie girls. However, when it comes to movies, I’m anything but a girl. I blame my mother who used to give my sister and I Tonka Trucks and He-Man figurines to play with instead of Baby Born dolls. She also favoured films like Superman over your average cheesy rom-com. This is why most movie nights with the girls, I suggest something like “Shaun of the Dead” or any film starring Bruce Willis for the evening’s entertainment. Luckily for me, my gal pals have similar tastes. Despite all this I just can’t help but ‘heart’ The Notebook.
This weekend I noticed the local TV station advertise it as the evening movie. I surprisingly caught the beginning without even trying (this never happens to me) so sat down and became engrossed in the film immediately. The Notebook, a romantic drama that is partially set in the 1940’s, is the touching tale of two young lovers who face extreme odds on the journey to love one another. It stars Ryan Gosling (Noah) and Rachel McAdams (Allie) in the title roles and features screen legends James Garner and Gena Rowlands.
For starters, you could watch the entire movie with the volume off. It’s just a beautiful picture. The sweeping look of the film was created by award winning French cinematographer Robert Fraisse, who is able to get something new visually from war era America. This is an achievement in itself considering the sheer volume of WWII films that are churned out by the Hollywood machine. Costumes by Karyn Wagner helped to further invigorate the 40’s look with her unique take on wartime fashion. Combine these elements with excellent location shoots and a simple yet effective soundtrack, the entire feel of the film puts you right in the moment and surrounds the title characters with the comfy blanket of great planning and attention to detail.
The look alone is often enough to create an enjoyable film, even if the performances are only just watchable. In The Notebook, director Nick Cassavetes (John Q, Alpha Dog) was able to coax his actors into tender and honest performances likened more to epic Oscar-worthy dramas than your average generic romance. Ryan Gosling has slowly been building a solid body of work and has been all but shed his clean-teen Mickey Mouse Club image, opting for parts that challenge him and move him such as last year’s Lars and the Real Girl.
Rachel McAdams, who first made waves as a high school Villain in Mean Girls opposite Lindsay Lohan, stumbled a bit after The Notebook with roles in frat-pack comedy Wedding Crashers and poorly received thriller, Red Eye. However, she’s trying to rectify that now taking on potentially career making roles in The Time Traveler’s Wife (opposite Aussie Eric Bana) and State of Play (with another Aussie, Russel Crowe). However, it is both Gosling and McAdams performances in The Notebook that many will remember them for. In fact, they became so good at loving each other on screen, they began a real life romance that sadly fizzled out after the hype of the film did.
The Notebook is not without its problems and the more hard hearted or critical of people will say it was cheesy or too melodramatic and that at least one scene was truly forced. However, this film isn’t really for thinkers, it’s for lovers. If you’re a lover, check out The Notebook on DVD. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy, yes even the fellas.
For more from Jen, check out her blog at http://www.jenreviewsmovies.com and if you have anything you’d like her to talk about here, email: info@jenreviewsmovies.com. (Though her eyes may be puffy from enjoying tragic and romantic moments, she’ll do her best to respond)
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