Movie Review: "Notting Hill" by Roger Michell

 

Source: imbd.com

Source: Amazon Prime India

Show's Name - Notting Hill (1999)

Creator's Name - Roger Michell

Genre - Drama, Romantic-Comedy

Release - 13 May 1999

Runtime - 2h 4 min

Language- English

Synopsis - Spoiler Alert

Notting Hill is a love story of Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) and William Thacker (Hugh Grant). Scott is a famous actress and Thacker is a divorced man who runs a bookshop. The two meet unexpectedly when the former visits the latters’ bookshop. 

The story unfurls as the two discover the dynamics of their relationship and it goes through several twists and turns. The two date each other and eventually split first when Anna’s actor boyfriend visits him. As Thacker resurrects from the sadness, Scott visits him once more but this time, looking for a refuge from a media frenzy, yet again the love between the two rekindles. 

This time the media finds out about the fling between the two and an annoyed Anna leaves as she suspects Thacker’s flatmate to be guilty of spreading the information. 

As the movie comes to an end, Thacker and Anna get involved in a series of events with finally the two confessing their affection for each other. The movie ends with a pregnant Anna and Thacker spending time together in a garden.  

About the Director

The movie is directed by Roger Michell. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, the director, and producer is best known for Notting Hill (1999), Venus (2006), and Enduring Love (2004). A British theater, television, and film director, he passed away on September 22, 2021. 

Themes Involved

A love story at its core, the movie is a timeless classic that keeps you engrossed and does not fail to make you smile. The movie deals with the complexities of fame and the toxic media culture. 

The movie is a tale of the impact Anna’s fame has on her relationship with Thacker. The toxicity that Scott has to face and the self-realization that she undergoes are well depicted in the movie. 

Public Verdict

The movie was an out-and-out hit among the masses and was also critically acclaimed. The movie made massive numbers and was the highest-grossing British film of all time, surpassing the record set by Four Weddings and a Funeral in 1994 (also starring Hugh Grant), and the seventh highest-grossing film of 1999. The movie was conferred the Audience Award for Most Popular Film at BAFTAs in 2000. In addition to this, nominated in the categories of The Alexander Korda Award for Outstanding British Film of the Year, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for Rhys Ifans. 

The film was also conferred the Best Comedy Film at the British Comedy Awards. The film also received nominations at the Golden Globes, in three categories: Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical, Best Motion Picture Actor – Comedy/Musical for Hugh Grant, and Best Motion Picture Actress – Comedy/Musical for Julia Roberts.[64]

An adaptation?

The movie’s writer Richard Curtis never attributed the plot to a real-life relationship that might have inspired him. But if speculations are to be believed, the character of Anna was inspired by Hollywood A-lister Uma Thurman who had a fling with London publisher William Sieghart. 

What makes it a must-watch?

Well, they say one can never go wrong with a well-crafted love story and this is perhaps wherein the strength of the movie lies. The movie is a wholesome and beautiful tale of love that keeps one engaged. The chemistry between the lead actors and the performance of the supporting characters is also remarkable. Grant and Roberts make an adorable pair that leaves you in awe. Emma Chambers and Rhys Ifans and even Gina McKee etc also are adorable. 

For moments when you feel like you might be losing your grip over the movie, the dialogues keep you engaged. The infamous, “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” dialogue strikes a beautiful note and there are several such dialogues scattered across the movie that make it an absolute sweetheart to watch.  

The Bottom Line

The movie is a peaceful recluse that can be watched at the end of a long week. A light-hearted sweet tale that makes you smile and go all “aww”. 

My ratings for the movie - are 4 out of 5

You may watch the movie on Amazon Prime Video

Written By - Ananya Verma