Sleeper hit of the summer.

Rating: 9/10 (15 June 2004)

Surprisingly (or not), I saw this movie like everyone else and his uncle--at a sneak preview on Saturday, June 12th. Why didn't they just release it then instead of the 25th? But, I digress
I'd read The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks a few years ago and frankly, I hated it. There was nothing wrong with the story itself but sentence structure and Sparks' use of metaphors were (I thought) simplistic and clichéd, and the characters never really got into my head. I didn't finish it, just skipped to the end to see who she chose and that was that
So suffice it to say, I didn't have the best of expectations for the film, and was really only tuning in to see just what else Ryan Gosling is capable of. He's a genuinely interesting actor who has done some exceptional independent films (think 2001's The Believer and 2002's The Slaughter Rule, my personal favourites) but here he is starring in a film by Nick Cassavetes of A Walk to Remember fame. I'll get to that in a minute.
The film opens to a shot of a man rowing across a lake at dusk in silhouette. It's a gorgeous scene marred only by the lazy swooping of a flock of swans that were clearly, painfully computer-generated, and made me wonder what I was in for. Thankfully, I soon forgot about them and lost myself in the love story. Overall, beautiful cinematography.
I won't get into details of the plot except to say that it includes some of the most romantic ideas ever put to screen, most of which were taken from the pages of the book, and very easily could have been unadulterated sentimental cheese if it weren't for the cast. Someone, somewhere, got it right when they cast Rachel McAdams opposite Ryan Gosling as the young Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun. These two have chemistry like hasn't been seen on-screen in the last 10-15 years and are far and away the best reason to see the film. Together they're intoxicating, three days later, I still can't get them out of my head. Their work is equally unpredictable, exciting and sincere, and it gives the film instant credibility.
Gena Rowlands and James Garner are legendary in their own rights, making excellent use of what comparatively little screen time they have, and it is their scenes that really pack an emotional punch. James Garner has one moment in particular that just wrecked me. I was curious as to how they would create the scene where Allie remembers again and, surpassing all of my wildest expectations, it remains the only scene in the film that made me cry (as opposed to just giving me a lump in my throat), including the ending.
I couldn't help but wish that James Garner had tried to mimic Ryan Gosling's mannerisms, speech patterns and body language because I didn't really feel that they were playing the same character. It's easily acceptable though--if I were of his stature, I wouldn't make a movie just to do an impression of an up-and-comer either. The Notebook also boasts arguably the *worst* war scene since EVERY war scene in Windtalkers, and I think the filmmakers could have increased the tension surrounding Allie's decision between Noah and Lon (James Marsden, under-utilized with only about 10 minutes of screen time).
Undoubtedly, there will be people who have nothing good to say about The Notebook because they detest love stories and are unable to understand why it will connect with a mostly female audience. They'll argue that love like Noah and Allie's doesn't exist in the real world--and for the most part, it doesn't. But when I watched this movie, I saw my boyfriend countless times in Noah, and I believe (even while I cringe at how corny this sounds) that there isn't a couple out there that can't find something to identify with too. That's why the whole Movie Love argument isn't valid here--there may *not* be one couple that ever existed in the history of time exactly like them, but they do exist, in their totality, through the 6 billion people on Earth. You can't argue with that.
After the screening, I watched the girl sitting in front of me lean over and give her boyfriend a kiss that spoke volumes. The Notebook made me want to run right home and give my boyfriend the biggest hug ever (and them some), so frankly, most men will not regret seeing this film if asked to by their girlfriends, and I think we all know what I mean. ;)
The one thing The Notebook really made me aware of though was my grandparents, and the countless other couples going through similar circumstances. To lose your memories, and forget everything that means anything to you is terrible, both for you and those who love you. The ending of The Notebook may be really corny, there's no denying it, but it certainly is a nice thought, to be able to make someone remember and to not be alone in the end.
This movie is going to be the sleeper hit of the summer. No magic wands, no spiders, and certainly no trolls. I'm going to see it again when it opens on June 25th, and I'll be first in line for the DVD (though I probably won't be reading the book again).
**** out of 5 stars, if only for the war scene, and a little James Marsden is always a good thing.