A very moving film

Rating: 10/10 (4 March 2002)

If you do not have a heart then you will not like this movie.

I went to see it with my wife and my 14-year-old daughter and I found myself, a 44-year-old man watching the film with tears streaming down my face. Simply a superb film.
I found the characters to be different and interesting, not following the similar `pop star in a movie' profile. The Jamie Sullivan character played by Mandy Moore was an expansive, complex character that typically can't be played by such a young person, but she nailed the character perfectly, playing her with such depth and feeling that I don't think it could have been done any better by anyone else.
Shane West also did a wonderful job playing Landon Carter. I though he played this character perfectly. His emotions, his inner struggle with his desire to be with Jamie or to continue to be `cool', his anger, and non-caring attitude. He used all of these emotions to paint this character flawlessly.
Peter Coyote also played the part of Reverend Sullivan, Jamie's father to a T. He perfectly portrayed the Christian father with the inner struggle of seeing his daughter grow up and having to let go, also because of her illness, wanting to protect her.
This movie is a `must see', but bring a box of Tissues.