Love Actually (2003)

One Of My Top 10 Greatest Movies Of All Time

A love story from all different angles and all perfectly intertwined with humor to top it all off. A stacked cast full of great British actors, Love Actually is a real life (and rather adult, I don't think you would want your children watching this), creatively written Christmas movie. They cover almost every romantic and heart-breaking situation that can occur in an average persons life (well almost average I suppose). From a troubles in a long marriage to happiness in a brand new one. You have a washed up rock star who realizes in all his efforts to return to the lime light full of easy women and glamorous parties that all he really wants is the company of a long time friend for Christmas. You have bosses falling for the help, and two people falling in love even if they don't know what the other is saying due to a language barrier. My favorite story in the movie is the recently widowed father who spends the movie helping his son with his situation, aka the "total agony of being in love".

The story begins at the Heathrow Airport arrivals gate where `Love is everywhere" as couples and friends alike great each other with happiness and affection. The first character you are introduced to is the washed up rock star recording the most awful Christmas record of the season (although very hilarious, I must warn you he in particular will drop the f word at least once a line). Even though each character has its individual story, the story tends to revolve around the new prime minister (and his family) played by Hugh Grant. The Prime Ministers problem throughout the movie is the crush he has on one of his secretary/assistants, who everyone else calls the "chubby girl". Another character, Colin (Kris Marshall) is just looking for easy romance that he believes can be found in American women, so for Christmas he heads state side. Many different stories, many different ways to relate!

If you are the type of person who doesn't enjoy vulgar language, I wouldn't pick this one up because it is everywhere. It also has some nudity, so as I said before, probably not the best for children to watch. It is though, funny, creative and entertaining. You won't be disappointed with this movie, I can assure you. It will make you laugh, smile, and almost want to shed a tear at its sweetest moments!!!
September 30, 2008

It's all about love

This is one of the few chick-flicks I will watch (over and over again). I find it endearing, sad, heart braking, happy, funny, and a little bit confusing. I am not a huge fan of Hugh Grant, but I love him as the prime minister, looking up at the picture of Margaret Thatcher, painfully in love and utter something like this:

"I bet you didn't have problems like these. Of course you did, you saucy minx!"

And who doesn't like his dancing in the hallways of Number 10, Downing Street?

There is so much to love in this film, although it makes me cry, it also makes me feel so good inside. Definitely one of my favourite films of all time. September 17, 2008

Good little film

The start and end of the film takes place at Heathrow, where a montage of people being greeted by their loved ones is lent poignancy by the opening narration of Hugh Grant stating that all the known messages left by the people who died on the 9/11 airplanes were messages of love and not hate, and the closing song of the Beach Boys' God Only Knows. Also effective is the use of cameos in the film, most notably as dream babes such as Claudia Schiffer, Denise Richards, and Shannon Elizabeth make brief appearances in the airport as love interests for some of the diverse characters, who we see now have known each other in casual ways, each with different takes on love.
Is Love Actually a film that will challenge you the way 2001: A Space Odyssey does? No. But it is a film whose well-written and acted characters and charm will stick in your mind long after their counterparts from lesser, schmaltzier films in its genre have faded. September 14, 2008

This movie is love...

There is a lot going on in `Love Actually'; a whole lot. That is a good thing, for that means that there is more to love, and love I do, for `Love Actually' is kind of like the ultimate romantic comedy. The film revolves around eight couples (not always in the most conventional sense) as they strive for love during the holiday season.

To get into every aspect of this film individually would take too much time and space, plus it would take away from the whole surprise and joyous mystery of the film, but I will touch try and outline the plot a little.

At the center of the film there is the young prime minister who has become smitten with his caterer. His sister is having trouble in her marriage, for her husband has fallen prey to the young office temptress. Her best friend Daniel is dealing with the death of his wife and raising her son (his stepson) Sam, not to mention finding some solace. Then there is Jamie, who is going through a rough patch in his love life when he catches his girlfriend in the arms of another man. Young lovers Juliet and Peter are trying to get their marriage off to a good start, and Sarah is trying to find love while juggling other responsibilities. Add to this a washed up rockstar on the verge of a comeback and workmates (working in very compromising positions) and a young Brit who dreams of American girls and you have, in a nutshell, `Love Actually'.

You'd think that this may be a little much, but it works, really, really well. Each couple actually finds some sort of closure to their story, even if it's not the typical happy ending we are hoping for (I'm looking at you Sarah).

What makes this film work so beautifully is above all else the script, penned by first time director Richard Curtis (who made a name for himself writing `Four Wedding's and a Funeral'). He wonderfully shifts the focus of the film from character to character without ever losing the audience or taking away from his characters. Each group or couple or individual is given their opportunity to shine and engage us. Sure, some couples are given more scenery to chew, but the audience will never feel jilted in any way.

And then there are the brilliant comedic (and dramatic) performances by the entire cast. Truly everyone is outstanding and to single anyone out in particular seems almost cruel, but there is no denying that Bill Nighy steals the show as Billy Mack, the washed up rocker who is battling the popular boy band for billboard sales. His comedic timing is brilliant. Other actors who shine are Colin Firth and Liam Neeson and Laura Linney who all capture the loneliness that comes from abandonment and or responsibility and they do so magically (especially Neeson and Linney). Emma Thompson is marvelous as Karen, wife to Rickman's Harry; the husband with a wondering eye. Hugh Grant is always superb, and Martine McCutcheon matches his humor beautifully. I know I'm missing some, but I would be just foolish to miss Thomas Sangster who turns out a beautifully well rounded and sincere child performance that captures his youth and not a Hollywood fabrication of childlike maturity.

As the films final frame comes into view the audience feels fulfilled, albeit a little stuffed, but it's a good kind of stuffed; like the feeling you get after holiday dinner. There's a smile on your face, a little food on your chin and this overwhelmingly warm feeling in the pit of your stomach that lets you know everything is alright. August 22, 2008

It actually is just about love.

Love Actually is bookends with scenes of people reuniting in airports. The point of these scnes and ultimately the film is that love is all around us. I think the director is making a direct statement of hope and optimism in light of the tragedies of September 11th, which had just recently happened. I suppose all the most reason to place these scenes in airports. The movie is, of course, not about airports. The movies is a collection of stories all about people falling in, falling out or overall just trying to deal with love. There is a widower trying to bond with his step son. A man in love with his best friend's wife. A woman dealing with her husband's potential infidelities. And so on and so forth. Some stories feel less contrived than others, but all in all this film is everything one would want a romantic comedy to me. It isn't to cliche, sweet, funny, heart-warming and a little sad. Even if you don't like every story in the film, one or two will probably tug at you. And anyone that doesn't get a little teary eyed at the wedding / All You Need Is Love scene... well there probably isn't anything wrong with you, but I really do love that scene. August 22, 2008

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