Love Actually

[MacGuffin]

And I'll take Martine McCutcheon over the overrated Keira Knightley anyday.

LEADING LADIES CLASH AT LOVE ACTUALLY PREMIERE  

LOVE ACTUALLY leading ladies KEIRA KNIGHTLEY and MARTINE McCUTCHEON clashed at their film's London premiere last night (16NOV03), as both vied for attention before the cameras.

Former soap star McCutcheon, 27 attracted attention at the glitzy event in LEICESTER SQUARE with her stunning VALENTINO dress, as she lived out her childhood dream of being the star at a film premiere.

However, tension between her and teenager Knightley - who had previously grabbed plaudits with her turn in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL alongside ORLANDO BLOOM - was evident when the pair posed with male lead HUGH GRANT.

An onlooker says, "It came to a head when Martine and Keira posed with Hugh Grant for a photograph. Hugh was busy nattering away to Keira and ignoring Martine, and Martine just went into a rage.

"She gave her the 'daggers look' and stormed off. With so many egos in the movie, there was a lot of friction - especially since Keira has such a glittering career already and Martine is just trying to break it in Hollywood."

[cowboykurtis]

i ACTUALLY loved this movie -- i want to see it again. haaaaaaaaaa

[Lucinda Bryte]

And I'll take Martine McCutcheon over the overrated Keira Knightley anyday.

LEADING LADIES CLASH AT LOVE ACTUALLY PREMIERE  

LOVE ACTUALLY leading ladies KEIRA KNIGHTLEY and MARTINE McCUTCHEON clashed at their film's London premiere last night (16NOV03), as both vied for attention before the cameras.

Former soap star McCutcheon, 27 attracted attention at the glitzy event in LEICESTER SQUARE with her stunning VALENTINO dress, as she lived out her childhood dream of being the star at a film premiere.

However, tension between her and teenager Knightley - who had previously grabbed plaudits with her turn in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL alongside ORLANDO BLOOM - was evident when the pair posed with male lead HUGH GRANT.

An onlooker says, "It came to a head when Martine and Keira posed with Hugh Grant for a photograph. Hugh was busy nattering away to Keira and ignoring Martine, and Martine just went into a rage.

"She gave her the 'daggers look' and stormed off. With so many egos in the movie, there was a lot of friction - especially since Keira has such a glittering career already and Martine is just trying to break it in Hollywood."

I say they should settle this a civil way. MUDWRESTLE!

[Raikus]

Great movie. It's just a really well done uplifting comedy. You'll smile and laugh throughout the movie. If you're expecting a transcendent experience like "Lost in Translation" I think you'll be disappointed. "Love Actually" is more in a well done "About a Boy" type vein.

[Kal]

I think everyone knows the type of movies Hugh Grant is in... this one is really great and everyone gives a really good performance... I really enjoyed it even after sitting in the theatre for over 2 hours... and I would definetly see it again or even buy the DVD

[Gold Trumpet]

I was definitely charmed by this movie, but it didn't sit well with me afterwards. The general complaint is that there were just too many stories going on. Some just dumb and not well written (dork kid going to wisconsin) and some just lacking in believability to actual romance (guy and portuguese girl). The result was that with the good stories, little was built to add to their good foundations of writing and acting. All the stories felt like snippets of the best parts of a feature length romantic comedies in which everything heartfelt was exploited. Also, some stories would go to the background for so long I almost forgot about them.

Yes, the story needed to find a pace in which to follow the characters and actually care for them. Hugh Grant, given most screen time, was still reduced in time too much. The best part of his acting is that he can belly ache in romance so well that he gains effectiveness and believability when you watch him because he has to twitch to everything around him. He brings depth to superficiality without trying to overly dramatic. The scenes in Love Actually just felt like him reacting to single situations in quick fashion. He was great, but the writing completely lackluster in really exploring all that makes him the master of the genre.

Then there is Emma Thompson. It was sad to see her as supporting character to three other stories for most of it (Grant, Rickman, Neeson) and given nothing. At the end, finally given some meat with her character facing the possibility of her husband cheating on her, she steals the entire movie in just one scene. When she confronts Rickman about his cheating and in a second, just breaks down in emotion and then quickly regains it when her kids come only seconds later, she conveys desperation like I've never seen before. Best actress in all the land, still.

Finally, the September 11 comments at the beginning were just dumb and out of place for a film that later would reduce the President of the United States as a classy redneck sex fiend.

[©brad]

this may or may not be the first time, but i completely, completely agree w/ gt.

let me say this; it was a cute movie, it had cute moments. i definitely smiled a couple of times, and a few parts were in fact pretty funny. (hugh grant knocking on everyone's door) taking it for the light-hearted, romantic feel good comedy that it is, overall it is a success, i suppose.

however-

the film's sloppy storytelling let me cringing. the main problem here is that it's really hard to actually care about all these characters when we only get short, four minute snippets of each of them before it cuts to someone else. furthermore, many of these plot lines could have been cut, as has been mentioned, and the film would have lost nothing. in fact, the film would have worked better, for it feels long. too long. which enlies the paradox- it actually needs to be longer to tie up all the loose ends and payoffs for its dozen or so characters. (this is why magnolia is three hours long)

the two things in particular that were really just plain stupid:
1. the billy bob thorton bush cameo-- come on! how blatantly heavy-handed and out of place! (as gt has rightfully pointed out)
2. the english dude that goes to america to get laid- this was like dragging on a joke forever and ever and ever-- i really don't get it. i was sitting there like "are they for real?" these american girls just swarm over this loser b/c he's british? lame.

the performances really save this one. emma thompson w/o a doubt takes the crown. i only wish she was in it more. the scene w/ her when she opens the gift and retreats to her room to listen to joni mitchel- a master actor at work here. i'm glad the film, which was so quick to cut to another subplot before letting u react to the previous one, held there for a moment. she's really remarkable.

also, laura linney's character was probably one of the most compelling, esp. the scene w/ her brother. it pissed me off that she was so easily discarded at the end. i mean, really, what happened to her? i found her subplot much more interesting than the porno couple or the dude marrying the portuguese chick.

and macman- i have to disagree w/ u on "God only knows" at the scene at the end. no waaaay was it more relevantly used here than in boogie nights. come on, it was a total ripoff!

overall, it's a'ight i suppose. like i said, it's cute and all, but it's biting off more than it can chew. less is more man.

[MacGuffin]

and macman- i have to disagree w/ u on "God only knows" at the scene at the end. no waaaay was it more relevantly used here than in boogie nights. come on, it was a total ripoff!

A ripoff? Look at the lyrics, and place it against the scene at the airport. The song works better here:

I may not always love you
But long as there are stars above you
You never need to doubt it
I'll make you so sure about it
God only knows what I'd be without you
If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on, believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me?
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on, believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me?
God only knows what I'd be without you

[©brad]

yeah, but mac- how is that more relevant for a film w/ so little substance?

i think it works much better with boogie nights, which above all is a film about family. u got the montage at the end- dirk returning home to jack and amber, his surrogate parents, in desperate need; "god only knows what i'd be without you"-- it couldn't be more perfect for that moment!

[MacGuffin]

yeah, but mac- how is that more relevant for a film w/ so little substance?

I dunno, what song in "Kill Bill" are you talking about?

But seriously:

overall, it's a'ight i suppose. like i said, it's cute and all, but it's biting off more than it can chew. less is more man.

Correct me in your argument - that there was too much substance, or too little, or too much with little substance? You said you cared about the Emma Thomson and Laura Linney character/storylines, but wanted more; there's a difference between little substance and wanting more. I think you're missing what was there: *SPOILERS*

The guy who's in love with his best friend's girl, the manager/star relationship, the "stand-in" couple who are working backwards in getting to know one another by becoming naked with each other, not just physically either. I found the writer/maid storyline more beliveable than the "American President"-type Prime Minister romance. I do agree that the guy's trip to America served no purpose, but the rest of characters are there, they have depth, as do their storylines; I don't understand what in more substance you want.

dirk returning home to jack and amber, his surrogate parents, in desperate need; "god only knows what i'd be without you"-- it couldn't be more perfect for that moment!

The montage starts, along with the song, with Buck opening his store. The return of Dirk moment is before this montage, in fact Dirk isn't even included in that montage. And while, yes, "Boogie Nights" is about family and their love, none of the characters are in love with each other (save for Buck and Jessie), and not to the extent that those in "Love Actually" are. It even ends with shots of real people greeting their loved ones; showing real love. That's why I think the song works better here than in "BN's" use of showing the characters' epilogue.

[©brad]

The guy who's in love with his best friend's girl, the manager/star relationship, the "stand-in" couple who are working backwards in getting to know one another by becoming naked with each other, not just physically either. I found the writer/maid storyline more beliveable than the "American President"-type Prime Minister romance. I do agree that the guy's trip to America served no purpose, but the rest of characters are there, they have depth, as do their storylines; I don't understand what in more substance you want.

do they really have that much depth? i'm not so sure. i mean, i'm not knocking the indivudual storylines themselves. like i said, i found the laura linney subplot with her brother interesting, and i think it had potential if it were dwelled on more. that's the problem w/ the film though. it's really six or seven different movies rolled into one; therefore, how can the characters or subplots have depth when we don't really see them fully developed? can u honestly say u know any of these characters as well as, say, amber waves or claudia wilson?  

dirk returning home to jack and amber, his surrogate parents, in desperate need; "god only knows what i'd be without you"-- it couldn't be more perfect for that moment!

The montage starts, along with the song, with Buck opening his store. The return of Dirk moment is before this montage, in fact Dirk isn't even included in that montage. And while, yes, "Boogie Nights" is about family and their love, none of the characters are in love with each other (save for Buck and Jessie), and not to the extent that those in "Love Actually" are. It even ends with shots of real people greeting their loved ones; showing real love. That's why I think the song works better here than in "BN's" use of showing the characters' epilogue.

the montage wasn't just of ppl in love, nor do i think the song is necessarily only about ppl in love sexually. i saw a lot of shots of families hugging in montage. the liam neeson character was there hugging his son. i mean, i did like the montage and the final split screen thing, and would say that the song works ok w/ it. however, it works much better w/ the montage at the end of boogie nights b/c we know and care more about the characters.

[MacGuffin]

can u honestly say u know any of these characters as well as, say, amber waves or claudia wilson?

Yes.

[©brad]

can u honestly say u know any of these characters as well as, say, amber waves or claudia wilson?

Yes.

fair enough.

[Ghostboy]

Well, I'm with cbrad and GT on this, even though I think I liked the movie more than both of them (or did I? I'm having trouble recalling much about it at the moment). Any of the stories that risked providing a bit of unhappiness were unceremoniously dropped before the conclusion. Especially Laura Linney.

One thing I disagree with you guys on, though, is Billy Bob. I loved his appearance, and as other reviews have pointed out, he perfectly blends Clinton and Bush together. It made me laugh.

[Gold Trumpet]

I don't think time spent more on certain stories would have increased to depth necessarily, but maybe more validity in us feeling what we are suppose to feel for them. Every story, including the laura linney one, is light. As cbr pointed out, its actually interesting, but if it was its own movie, i think the resolution in terms of romantic comedy wouldn't have been deep at all.

I understand what Ghostboy is saying about billy bob, but I'm guessing if you watch the movie again, it may get lame for you the way it did for us. Its an obvious joke with little story to really back it up so the obviousness of it is more apparent and more excruciating.

Also, I really hope praise of Emma Thompson in this gets beyond what cbr and I said. I can't recall all the other good supporting performances by an actress this year now, but if she doesn't win at the XIXAX awards this year, its sheer robbery.