It's back to 1999 for this week's film, a romantic comedy from the pen of Richard Curtis. Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant star in;
Notting Hill
Clearly Notting Hill is a famous and quite rightly a very popular film of the romantic and indeed comedic genre. We all know the story of Anna and William.
What? You don't?
Well let us give you a brief synopsis to cover the main points. William Thacker is the proprietor of a bookshop in Notting Hill. Anna Scott is an internationally famous actress who happens to be in London promoting her latest film. Anna visits William's shop looking for a book. This brief encounter ignites a spark of romance, which is subsequently doused when the couple literally bump into each other again later that day, as the drink that William has just purchased covers Anna, as they collide on a street corner. William invites Anna to his house to clean up and that spark is rekindled albeit briefly as the romantic tension rises and the couple kiss.
The film then continues to follow Anna as her career progresses and William as his friendship with Anna blossoms. Although it can only be a friendship, as their juxtaposed lifestyles prove difficult to merge. That really is the crux of the story, although love is in the air, are the practicalities of getting a lowly shopkeeper from Notting Hill, to be with a starlet from Beverley Hills a reality or is it just a dream for them both?
Hugh Grant is superb as William. Quintessentially British and 100% Hugh Grant, as he really doesn't play any other character, but then you wouldn't want him to,he is perfect for the role and takes the words of Richard Curtis and translates them to the screen with aplomb and his own almost self-deprecating humour. As for Julia Roberts, she glows from the screen. Her sultry good looks and and the occasional impish smile makes her so easy to watch and she's not bad at acting either, taking her role as Anna Scott and playing her with passion, panache and poignancy.
Whilst we wax lyrically about the main cast, let us not forget the supporting players who really add another layer of charm, wit and enjoyment. Rhys Ifans as Spike, William's housemate is magnificent, he portrays the wacky characteristics to perfection, providing much of the comicality. Tim McInnery and Gina McKee play Max and Bella, friends to William who are always there to lend support, along with the magnificent Emma Chambers who plays William's crazy sister; Honey. Also praise should go to Hugh Bonneville who plays Bernie another friend of William, who looks so much younger than the characters that Bonneville plays now, which comes as no real surprise as it is a 16 year old film, but still you know what we mean.
Notting Hill is classic Richard Curtis without a doubt, but there is something that puts this above his previous film of the same genre; Four Weddings and a Funeral and on a par with the also brilliant Love Actually. It is very difficult to say what that is, at a guess it is a combination of the very witty script, the warmth of the story, the desire for a happy ending that the story instills in it's audience. It is the choice of location, the choice of music, the cast. Well, it seems to be a bit of everything!
Sometimes, just sometimes a film will come along and capture a moment, it will dissipate through the screen an ethereal, fuzzy feeling of comfort, fabricating a tangible sense of pleasure, with the ability to make you smile effortlessly whilst watching. Yes, there is something very pink, fluffy and warm about Notting Hill, it is a very comfortable film, like slipping into an old pairs of shoes, or being cossetted in a celluloid bubble of happiness.
Let us rein in the verbosity somewhat and get down to some closing facts, Notting Hill is a modern classic. It is very funny, romantic and charming, with an exceptional feelgood factor that makes it so very watchable.
Some good scores here at TNiFN Towers, although some scored higher than others. (Editors note; I know! Unbelievable! I loved it.)
Anyway Notting Hill gets a very respectable;
TNiFN Rating 91%
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