Film Review - The Notebook
Written by Art Villafane   
Wednesday, 24 June 2009

When this movie first came out a couple of years ago I heard it was a “chick flick’. Naturally, being the he-man that I am, I ignored it. But I had a copy of it in the house and every once in a while I would be tempted to watch it. Finally last week I decided to watch it. Boy was I wrong about this movie. This is no “chick flick”. It is a well written, well-acted gem of a movie.

The movie centers on Noah who regularly visits a female patient at a local nursing home. To pass the time he reads to her a story from an old notebook.

The story is of a young couple long ago who are from opposite sides of the tracks.  The young man is poor and struggles to make ends meets. The young woman is from the upper crust. They fall in love and try to be together.

However, parents, circumstances and World War II come between them. Her mother naturally does not want her to marry beneath the young girl’s station and in fact pushes another, “more suitable” beau as a better choice. After a long separation they reunite, but the question is: can they rekindle the fire and passion and love that they had so long ago?

I won’t divulge how it turns out. I will leave that for you to find out. However, I will tell you that as Noah’s narrative continues you start to realize that there is a story within the story – and what a story it is.

The elder Noah is played by James Garner and his voice is faultless as the story teller. The patient is played by Gena Rowlands in an unforgettable role. The young couple is played by Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams – both of them are quite convincing as star crossed lovers.

Other actors include Joan Allen as the rich mother and Sam Shepard as the young man’s father. The period feel of the movie is spot on. The simplicity and yet hard struggle of pre-war America is captured throughout the film.  I have always liked Ryan Gosling as an actor. He is always convincing in the roles he plays - an actor who makes it looks easy.

In a bit of trivia: the movie is directed by Nick Cassavetes who is the son of John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands.

If you have not seen this movie - go get it and watch it. I believe you will agree that this truly a gem of a movie.

Art Villafane
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