I remember that when I first saw the preview for this picture, I knew immediately that I would love it. The trailer wasn't extremely descriptive regarding the film but as it turns out it didn't have to be. At the time my movie snob friend was very excited to see it and so invited me along with her to go watch it. She was excited to see the actors involved in the picture. Hopeless romantic that I was (and still am) I was interested in the film itself. The stellar cast was a delightful added bonus.
The opening of the film is wonderful, simple, and powerful. Hugh Grant talks about how when he gets gloomy he thinks of the arrivals gate at Heathrow. He reminds the audience that despite many people's assurance/attitude that the world is not a good place, if one goes looking, one will find that "Love Actually is all around" in many forms that we take for granted (I certainly wasn't quite expecting all of the forms presented in the film.)
This movie is technically a Christmas movie as it takes place right around Christmas. The cast is a beloved array of various British actors including but not limited to Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman (R.I.P.) , Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, Bill Nighy, Rowan Atkinson, Martin Freeman as well as two excellent American actors Laura Linney and Billy Bob Thornton.
For me this movie was my first time seeing Andrew Lincoln. This was also my first time seeing Thomas Brodie-Sangster (love this kid in this movie!) Almost all of the characters in this picture are lovable to some extent.
As the title and opening sequence explains this movie is about love. When I hear about love, I almost immediately think of romantic love. While this movie includes a goodly amount of romantic love it talks about other love as well i.e. love between siblings, love between friends, unrequited love, established love, new love, casual love, true love, and even touches on forbidden "love".
After I watched the movie, I happened to watch some tv interview with the movie's producers/director (honestly I don't remember who it was specifically) and the speaker stated that the central "hub" character of the movie is actually Emma Thompson. She is most directly connected to almost all of the more major characters in the movie.
On a side note, I am convinced that Rowan Atkinson portrays an angel in this picture. You decide after you watch the movie.
On another side note, Andrew Lincoln's Mark sets the romantic bar so high that he is probably second only to Westley from Princess Bride in my humble opinion.
On a third and final side note, Rodrigo Santoro totally won my heart as the mysterious, sweet, handsome Karl. I identify him so strongly with this character that when I have seen him since this picture I always think of him as Karl.
I won't go into too much detail of who loves who and so on because I don't want to. I am convinced that this movie has something for everyone although given its R rating this isn't a movie for children to see unless you have seen it enough to anticipate and possibly censor the movie. The picture continuously bounces between the various scenarios and characters in the movie although it doesn't feel rushed or abrupt. You spend just enough time with the characters to care but not to forget about the other stories involved.
The filmmakers did such an excellent job of seamlessly tying everything together with such ease that others thought that they could replicate the magic by simply featuring an all star cast and hoping for the best. Unfortunately for those two other films, it wasn't and isn't as simple as that and they both flopped.
To this day the filmmakers of Love Actually seem very appreciative of the fact that they made this excellent film happen and have implied that they probably wouldn't be able to replicate the process hence no sequel.
But this movie doesn't actually need a sequel. One of the films "secret" strengths is that it is actually realistic. I love a good "happy ending" as much as the next person but this picture reflects that real life doesn't always include "happy endings" or at least not immediate "happy endings". The movie ends as real life would happen (with the exception perhaps of the Prime Minister but that's ok because he's excellent fun).
For me personally I take a most optimistic view of what happens to the characters in this picture. It ends in such a way that you can make up your mind.
Hope you enjoy the movie. Try watching it at least once. I'm certain you won't regret it for one reason or another. It is one of the best that I have ever seen. Sorry for spoilers.
No comments:
Post a Comment