The Notebook

Don't you just love those love stories?? You know, the ones that are a little far-fetched to have even happened in true life. The Notebook (2004) is a bit like that, it's all about love for 99% of the movie. Good thing was, was that the story was bearable because it was set in the 1930s-50s, and it's always easier to watch a love story that's got a period setting. I think it's just that I view that period as the 'romantic' period. So the story is told through the voice of old Noah, who is reading the story of Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Ali (Rachel McAdams) to an Alzheimer's stricken woman in present day. The story is about enduring love, but also forbidden love as Ali comes from a rich family and Noah has nothing at all to his name. They have a wonderful summer of love, but end up parting ways as Noah goes to war, and they think they'll never see each other again. Ali rebounds from this relationship and is about to marry Lon (James Marsden), a wealthy man, but Noah is still under the impression that Ali will come back for him. While watching this, it's easy to get very loved up, and the chemistry between McAdams and Gosling is undeniable (they were together at the time in real-life so I guess that made a huge difference). It does have it's similarities to some age-old romances, like Casablanca in a way, and it is one of those stories that nobody ever forgets. Lovely performances really carry it through some flaky bits, but otherwise, one to treasure.
8/10