A Timeless Love Story

Rating: 9/10 (18 February 2005)

The Notebook seemed to do well and people seemed to enjoy it. I didn't realize it was as good as it turned out to be or I would have seen it much earlier. The Notebook is a beautiful, touching, love story, well acted and wonderfully directed by relative director newcomer Nick Cassavetes.
The Notebook takes place during the depression era and throughout the forties. We are introduced to young, hard working, quiet, free spirited Noah. During a chance encounter and the carnival Noah falls in love with a rich débutante named Allie who is visiting the area for the summer with her wealthy parents. His charm and persistence eventually wins her over and the two fall deeply in love and have a passionate summer romance. A misunderstanding forces the young lovers apart for many years and Allie eventually falls in love with another man who is more to her social standards but the passion is not the same. Noah who goes to war, returns and builds his dream home as he always said he would. Once again fate brings the young lovers together and Allie is forced to choose between her first love and the man everyone believes she belongs with. All this is told through an elderly man reading to a woman suffering from senility.
First of all, The Notebook is breathtaking. It captures the era is such a way that it draws you in and makes you fall in love with everything about it. It's the most romantic scenery set amongst less than romantic situations such as the depression and war. The story is paced perfectly and we genuinely feel this incomparable love between the two young lovers. That's the most important thing to establish for this story. The twist to the story, to me, was never much of a twist and in fact you'll pretty much know what's going on from the moment it starts but that really only adds to the romantic tone of this film. Canadian Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams are steamy together and both play their roles perfectly. You feel each character's emotions and spirit and you feel for both of them. The supporting cast including the amazing James Garner and Gena Rowlands are amazing in their small but so important roles. Anyone looking for a romantic film must see this one!! I admit I didn't overly enjoy the final ending, I think it was a cop out and could have been handled different but it's still a beautiful amazing movie. Possibly the best romance movie I have ever seen. A must see!! 9/10