Love Actually - cinematic gem or schlock?

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 3:31am

Had this argument yesterday with my mom, who cried through While You Were Sleeping and Sabrina (the newer one), but sat stone cold through this movie while I sniffled from, "It's the saddest part of my day, leaving you." to the end of the movie.

I say it's one of the smartest and creative romantic comedies written in the last few years, has great performances all around, and characters and storylines that you truly care about. (esp Colin Firth's and that little kid's storylines.) She says it's unbelievable (because falling in love with the brother of a guy in a coma after a freak subway accident is realistic) and silly, and not a cup of tea for a cynic like her. (again, i cite While You Were Sleeping as hardly a work of cinematic genius.)

Discuss.

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 6:40am

Did not see the movie, but I am in love with Emma Thompson.
and Keira Knightley.
yum.
-d.b.j-

Posted: 10/11/04 at 7:37am

I was hooked from the opening montage, during which the point of the film was revealed. Wonderful cast, with a script that, for the most part, avoided cliche'.

[Millie42]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 8:36am

Love Actually is one of my favorite movies.

Why does she consider it so unbelievable? I like how they dont just all have stereotypical happy endings. Each person is at a different point in their life at the end.
I think its wonderful!

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 9:31am

when it comes to romantic comedy, nothing beats Notting Hill

[ckeaton]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 9:44am

Love Actually is a great film. I'm a fan of Hugh and the character that he plays in all of his movies. I enjoy every aspect of it.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 9:53am

The Hugh Grant plot was dumb & unbelievable. Emma Thompson & Alan Rickman's was too real. The scene in the bed room after she opens her "gift" was heartbreaking. Keira Knightly's plot was sweet but any one w 2 brain cells knows that is a "confession" u don't make! ( Umm TO her i mean!)Was it Laura Linnley w the mentally ill brother? That one also was too true. Colin Firth ( I just met him!!!) was also sweet but rebound relationships always make be suspicious but I guess to keep w the theme of Love is all around worked. On the whole the mix is about 70-30 in favour. (IMHO)

[broadway86]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 10:05am

Love Actually is romantic comedy heaven. Bill Nighy is absolutely hysterical, and deserved an Oscar nomination, as did Richard Curtis's screenplay.

Great movie!

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 10:59am

I'm in a serious minority with this film, but I hated it. I thought it was absolute dreck. Poorly acted (Emma Thompson and Andrew Lincoln excepted), ridiculously scripted, badly directed, clumsily edited and saddled with the sappiest and most unbearably intrusive score in years. Awful.

Posted: 10/11/04 at 11:05am

Keira Knightley is the BOMB!

Why else would a thirty-year-old guy watch "Bend it like Beckham?"

Too bad King Arthur was sooooo shatty

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 11:09am

Keira Knightley has all the talent and sex appeal of wet cardboard. And the girl needs to eat.

[BwayLover]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 11:58am

I really like this movie. My favorite plot is the one with Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman, not only because they are two of my all-time favorite actors but also because it has the most heart. I enjoyed most of the other stories as well ( I like Hugh Grant a lot, but didn't like his story), and all in all- enjoyed the movie.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 11:58am

amen on keira.

however, i LOVE this movie. It's a lovely flick...all should see Emma in everything she has ever done...it's a master class in acting every time.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 11:59am

I agree completely with sabrelady. The scenarios that really worked were Emma Thompson/Alan Rickman and Laura Linney. The other scenarios were not believable.

The movie however did make me pull out the Joni Mitchell cd featured in the movie. Her bluesy version of "Both Sides Now" is incredible. She completely reinterprets the song and gives it a world-weary sadness. And the horn work in the song is outstanding.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:02pm

And Laura Linney's WAS believable? In what way exactly? Please explain it to me, because I thought her story line was ridiculous.

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:18pm

Wet cardboard's a bit harsh, don't ya think?

Did you see her in the remake of Dr. Zhivago?

She doesn't really need to eat, she needs to fill-out a bit. That will come with a bit more age.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:18pm

"And Laura Linney's WAS believable? In what way exactly? Please explain it to me, because I thought her story line was ridiculous."

She can't get over the guilt from her brother's problem and move forward with her own life. She won't allow herself to be happy and seek what she truly wants.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:20pm

I love this movie with the exception of the Laura Linney story line (though I did like the guy she was interested in). My favorite character was the guy who learned portugese to propose to his girlfriend.

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:24pm

I think the thing that struck me most about the film was that it presented the idea of 'love' in all its fictional permutations - from the unrequited to the fairy tale - with some serious stops at reality along the way. Yes, some story lines were unbelievable - unless, of course, they have happened to someone. My own little love story would be scoffed at by a critical analyst, and yet it is very much my reality. I appreciated the focus on the concept of love, and took each story for how it was presented. Overall, I laughed, I cried, I ached and I was joyful - which, not surprisingly, is exactly what the experience of love is like.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:33pm

Gotham - it was the way the brother was shown that I found so laughably inaccurate though, not how it impinged on her life.

And Rodney, no, wet cardboard was not harsh, I was being kind.

[laactress]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:36pm

This is one of my favorite movies of last year! I too like DGrant was hooked from the opening monent! I just LOVED it so much. I just won it on e-bay and can't wait to get it!

[BwayLover]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:47pm

Sidenote- Rodney, have you watched the original Dr. Zhivago? Watch Julie Christie and THEN tell me what you think.

I happen to think the brother was very realistic, and the way he affected her life was believable. But I mean, how can we judge? DGrant is right, sometimes we can't believe certain stories even though we know for sure they have actually happened.

The only story I didn't like was the guy who goes to Wisconsin to get laid. THAT was unbelievable.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:52pm

And then Denise Richards, the least talented and least attractive woman on the planet turned up at the end just to really add insult to injury.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:57pm

Love it! I was watching it again this morning as I was getting ready for work, as a matter of fact.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 1:55pm

As someone who has dealt professionally w mental health issues. the portrayal was not inaccurate. There are a lot of variables. The one thing I'm not sure I agree w is that he would be permited unlimited cell phone use. Phone privileges are often used as a positive reinforcement of good behaviors. BUT remember the theme was "love is all around ,actually" & I felt this was the one example of unromantic love. She truly loves her brother & she is all he has, how can she sacrifice him to achieve her own happiness? And he ( her date) also sees that she will always pick her brother's needs over his OR theirs so... there can be no future for them. poignant. Updated On: 10/11/04 at 01:55 PM