Sunday, March 22, 2009

Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990)

Nina (Juliet Stevenson) is having a hard time coping with the death of her boyfriend Jamie (Alan Rickman). In fact, she has mostly fallen apart, withdrawing from life, refusing to go out and refusing to take care of every day things at home. While she has many people that care for her, she is stuck in a mire of depression and sees no way out. That is, until Jamie returns from the dead. Their happiness is somewhat short lived when he starts bringing all his ghost friends over and she begins to think that maybe she really does need to get out and start working on building a life for herself again.


Alan Rickman who plays Jamie who plays the cello

This is such a clever and intelligent movie. Again, I kinda loathe a lot of the ghost fare that gets passed around, but this is a great little character drama. Juliet Stevenson does a wonderful job of playing a woman completely arrested by grief and depression, trying to act like she is not. Rickman is wonderful as her ghostly boyfriend. I never knew Rickman could portray a charming love interest?

I really love that this movie addresses the fantasy of what it would be like to have your loved one back after death. This is the fantasy many people have had when they lose someone they love. It also addresses what it might be like for the deceased watching someone they love lock themselves away from the world due to their pain and anguish. If you watch this one, just keep in mind what you think Jamie's true motivation is for coming back and all of it will make sense. It is such a beautiful story.

The one thing that I didn't like about this is the choice of the other love interest, Sandy (Bill Paterson). Nothing against Bill personally, but Nina's relationship with Jamie was based off a love of music and conversations and, well, they fit together. I didn't really see what Nina saw in Sandy. Yes, he was a nice guy, but I didn't feel any chemistry there. Not only that, but I just found him darn annoying. She obviously has to make a choice, but I didn't see Sandy giving Jamie much of a run for his money, even if he happens to be dead. If it had been me, I would have ditched annoying guy for dead guy, but I think that would have ruined the movie.

My favorite scene is available here on YouTube, where Rickman and Stevenson do an adorable duet of the Walker Brothers hit "(The) Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore". It is perfect for showing the fun they have together and why they were in love to begin with.

This is a great little British independent film. It is not a comedy so much as a drama, but it does have light moments here and there. It has a wonderful script, good acting and a great director, Anthony Minghella, who actually passed away suddenly and much too young, just like the main character in this film. Wow, another one I recommend. I seem to be on a roll.

3 comments:

Jennythenipper said...

I looooooooove this movie. Great, great romantic melodrama. Up there with Camille and Return to Me and ...that's just about it. I like it so much more than An Affair to Remember its not even funny.

Alan Rickman is sexy. You have have to, have to watch Sense and Sensibility now. If you have already watched it, you have to watch it again and notice Alan and how sexy he is.

I totally agree with you. I'd never ditch the living guy for the dead guy in this. Guess we both failed to get the point of the movie, eh?

AbbyNormal said...

Jenny - I heart you all over again. :-) I haven't seen Camille (I know, I know) but I love, love, love, obsessively love, Return to Me.

Before watching this movie, I would have never used sexy in the same sentence with Alan Rickman, but he totally is in this! I will take you up on your challenge and watch Sense and Senesibility. I haven't seen it in far too long anyway. Bad, bad Jane Austen fan.

Nancy "Beaky" Bruce said...

I have GOT to get around to seeing this one.... it's on my rental list but way too far down in the queue.

Camille. oh!!!


Esther and I had a great time "watching" it together while we were on the phone, until mine stopped playing and I had to change DVD players.... Memories.

Wonder if we can get a conference call....

Return to Me - what a beautifully perfect movie in oh so many ways. I love Minnie Driver -- but never better than in that role.