The Notebook, movie review

Nick Cassavete’s

THE NOTEBOOK

Film Review by

Joanna Marie Tan

Casts:

Rachel McAdams and Gena Rowlands

as Allie Hamilton/Calhoun

Ryan Gosling as Noah Calhoun

Joan Allen as Anne Hamilton

James Marsden as Lon Hammond

The Notebook is one of the most excellent novels Nicholas Sparks have ever written! I was so happy when I saw it on the big screen and as expected, left me with a crying eye. This is about a couple who were put to a test through time. Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) met Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) when they were young teens. They fell in love but had difficulties with Allie’s parents because they did not like Noah for her for he was from a poor family. Allie was forced to move to a different place and thought that Noah forgot about her, not knowing that Noah wrote her 365 letters a year but Allie’s mother kept it from her. They fought for their love and finally got married after long years of waiting. The hardest part was that Allie had Alzheimer’s. Though she forgot everything about her life, Noah did everything for Allie to remember her. He wrote their love story in a little notebook and read that story every single day.

The performance of each and every character on the film was excellent. All of them did well and they were really fit for their roles. All praise for the acting performance of Gena Rowlands as the old Allie, I think she was the best of the best. The way she showed her emotions as a woman who had Alzheimer’s was heartbreaking. I tried to find out who portrayed the role of the old Noah, but unfortunately I didn’t. Whoever he was, he did great! I felt so pity for him seeing his eyes get too depressed because no matter how hard he tried, still Allie can’t remember him. Also, the happiness in his eyes when for a while, Allie did. I love how the cinematpgrapher of the film balances the colors and lights that were used in the film. There were lots of orange scale colors for the flashbacks and you can really see the contrast of colors between flashbacks and present day scenes. I’m not into vintages but I love the choice of materials used on the film, as well as the locations. The dresses wore by the characters were lovely even though those dressed were classic. The house that Noah rebuilt in the film was much more dramatic because of its location: near the lake. Oopps! And the greatest location? The lake scene where Noah brought Allie, and they were surrounded by swans. (I guess those were swans, laughs!)

All praise for the people behind this film. They never failed to put tears in my eyes every time I watch it. It was a tear jerker but it won’t break your hearts till the end. It will show you that no matter how hard life gets, as long as you see love as the most powerful thing on Earth, you will surpass every trial that comes with it!