Directed by Nick Cassavetes and adapted from the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook is a romantic drama that came out of nowhere to become one of the most beloved romantic tearjerker of all-time. (IMDb : 8.0/10). In all truthfulness, this is the only movie to this day that has left me bawling like a freaking pussy trying to staunch the waterworks the first time I saw it.

Duke (James Garner) is an elderly man who spends all of his time reading a love story from his notebook to an elderly woman (Genna Rowlands) with an advanced form of Alzheimer’s disease. The story is set in 1940′s North Carolina and is about the tribulations of a young couple. Penniless country-boy Noah (Ryan Gosling) meets Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams), the spoiled daughter of a rich family in vacation in his town, and after some early reticence from her, the two spend an idyllic summer together. Unfortunately, Allie’s parents, more specifically her mother (Joan Allen), are none too keen to have their young daughter mingle with a local blue-collar everyman. The night before Allie leaves, she playfully makes Noah promise to renovate an old crumbling mansion to her liking. The two reluctantly separate and Noah starts writing letters to her every day for a year. The only problem is that she never writes back to him. Heartbroken, Noah enlist in the Army to fight in World War II and seven years go by before he sees her again. Allie has moved on but he hasn’t and he decides to put his mind into rebuilding that old plantation mansion, somehow thinking that if he ever restores it, she will come back to him.

The Notebook is a shamelessly corny and predictable tearjerker that extols the virtue of true love with no regards for what the cynics among us may think or not.

The Notebook is a shamelessly corny and predictable tearjerker that extols the virtue of true love with no regards for what the cynics among us may think or not. It is the kind of old-fashioned romance movie that doesn’t really get made all too often anymore and it’s a tribute to Nick Cassavetes uncompromising direction that this movie somehow hits the right notes despite taking on all the cliches of its formulaic genre. From the first instant, the movie wants you to surrender to its romantic premises. Reinforced by Aaron Zigman’s excellent musical score, the strikingly lush cinematography by Robert Fraisse has an atmospheric feeling to it that evokes romantic nostalgia. Shots of serene lakes, multicolored sunsets or  flying sea birds give an unhurried feel to the film. The movie is carefully paced, clocking in at 123 minutes which feels just about right.

We have all seen the characters of The Notebook somewhere before. They are nothing new but each actor was able to give their respective characters a fresh twist that made them more colorful and memorable. Although all the characters initially appear fairly stereotypical, they eventually become fully fleshed out. Even Allie’s mother, played by the always reliable Joan Allen, eventually gets a chance to add another layer to her initially witch-like character. It’s also refreshing to see that Allie’s fiance, played by the underrated James Marsden, is depicted as a really likable good guy. Not only does it add a little suspense as to who she is going to pick at the end, but the viewer doesn’t have to wonder why she is engaged to him in the first place.

Ryan Gosling was offered the job from the onset as he was Cassavetes’ first and only choice for the role of Noah. Gosling has made a living of playing dark, tormented characters and he is extremely adept at underplaying his characters with a naturalistic and genuine touch. The movie was shot backward so Gosling could lose 25 lbs over a few weeks break to play the younger Noah, and you have to admire his dedication which is apparent in his physical transformation. I initially thought he was a little too mellow especially when contrasted to McAdams’ bubbling energy but upon reflection, he held his own and that was the way to go. Having him match her energy would have made everything unauthentic. It’s easy to feel sympathy for his character as he is yearning for his beloved one to come back to him. The two share that one thing that is so rare on screen: sizzling chemistry which is all the more remarkable given the fact that, at times, they reportedly could not bear the sight of each other on set.

Numerous well-known actresses auditioned for the part of Allie but it was the then-virtually-unknown Rachel McAdams who got her first leading part. Cassavetes knew that he had to be especially demanding and get the best performance of her because the film’s emotional heart rested on the female protagonist. Allowed to spread her wings, McAdams  is a stunning revelation, lighting up the screen and showing terrific range and depth of emotions. Not only does she achieve striking chemistry with Ryan Gosling but she also does with James Marsden. Her multifaceted character evolves between being a giggly free-spirited debutante, a bratty and spoiled child, a giddy little dynamite stick on springs, and a feisty yet peachy lady of high society. All of this while going through the entire range of human emotions and keeping this girl-next-door femininity that befits her character so perfectly. Allie is just plain utterly delightful and there is no questioning why Noah becomes smitten with her (who wouldn’t?) or why old Duke is still so persistent about reading to her right by her side after all of these years.

As charming as the two young leads are, it is the legendary James Garner and Genna Rowlands who deliver the final emotional blows. Genna Rowlands, Cassavetes’ mother, nails the blank and confused face of a woman stricken by dementia. She gives just enough hints of hopes to James Garner who is pitch-perfect as her devoted husband who can’t bear to be away from his beloved wife and has to deal with an irreparable loss. Their final scenes together is probably where even the most stone-hearted souls lose it– freaking old people, I swear.

The movie is far from perfection — the first 10 minutes could easily have been disposed of — but it goes to show you that competent direction and great lead performances can go a long way to infuse life into some lifeless material. The film feels complete and has everything that a pure old-fashioned romance movie should : young budding love, mature love, the perfect guy, a girl to die for, emotional highs and lows, sweet nothings, even a monologue in the rain. The Notebook is a movie that is really pleasing for the romantic at heart and that is probably the main reason why it has single-handedly revived the genre. I bet most people who did not like the movie were not able to get past this initial cynicism that one might have against sappy and melodramatic romance movies. Whether you believe true love that last a lifetime really exist or not is beside the point. The film is only a great remainder that there is a reason why every single human being on Earth yearns to love and be loved.

Featuring exceptional performances from the cast and unapologetic but restrained direction from Nick Cassavetes, The Notebook somehow manages to raise above its overly sappy and trite premises to become a lovely old-fashioned celebration of true love. Maybe it’s too sentimental, manipulative and mushy for some, but isn’t it supposed to be?

B+

(8/10)

Notes: Rated PG-13 for some sexuality. 123 minutes. Quotes and extra material from DVD’s director’s commentary.