The Notebook Cast: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands, James Garner, James Marsden.
The Notebook (2004) is a period:
Romantic drama film, based on the Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name, directed by Nick Cassavetes.It has been one of the best of the time, with a growing cult-like following gathered since then. It has set a high bar for movies, especially for its well-written adaption from the book.
Chemistry of the actors and cinematography. The plot of the movie revolves around Allie Hamilton, a young girl from a well-to-do family visiting a small town for her summer where she meets Noah Calhoun, who works as a lumberjack. Interactions between them blooms from a young friendship to an innocent summer love. They feed off over each other’s obsession with the other immersing in their life together. The movie shows their transformation from carefree teenagers to nurturing adults while also being star-struck in love.
Eventually they grow old through thick and thin, fighting all the hurdles and in the most romantic way die in each other’s arms, leaving us with a satisfying climatic end. Ryan Gosling was monumental in the portrayal of Noah Calhoun with an amazingly well-done character personification aptly capturing personal feelings of love, hate, loneliness, despair and heart fulness.
The older version of Noah played by James Garner carried forward the same nailing the connection he had with his heart. Rachel McAdams subtly finessed the role of a spoilt rich daughter unexpectedly falling in love with a boy from a lower stratum of society who helped her enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
We see only sparks of passion from her polished habits, but free when she’s with Noah. Her health gets the better of her, but Gena Rowlands favors us with her near perfect acting, leaving us with feelings inexperienced before. The movie rides high on two themes. Teen romance and class disparities. Both of the themes are vividly explored and touched upon as the movie progresses.
We see how it exploits emotions such as love and hate, to explain more serious themes of class difference and environment. It deals with the tough decisions we have to make under the influence of many emotions, and how, when contrasted with reason, it is an emotion that has the upper hand.
Why should you watch The Notebook?
It is a must watch for romantics, anyone up for a good tear up in the end and also something light with great narrative and acting. It is pleasing to watch with bursts of joy and satisfaction. Anyone up for a good time learning a little along the way about feelings and expression should definitely check this fine piece of cinema out.