The Notebook

I vaguely remember reading “The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks. I am an avid reader and a book must really hit me to stick. Although most stick in some form or another. I am always surprised by what does stick.

We decided to see the movie, The Notebook, this past weekend directed by Nick Cassavetes. I had no expectations. I read a few reviews but none too intensely. Sometimes, I find it better this way.

Let me start by saying, I love a good cry at the movies. If you do, this is the movie for you. The movie starts off a bit slow but builds up to a really heart pulling ending. The way the story unfolds is very clever. James Garner, who plays an older Noah, is the husband of Gena Rowlands who plays an older Allie. Gena plays an woman who has lost her memory to dementia. James/Noah reads her a story that attempts to jog her memory. The movie cuts back and forth to them and the young characters in the story, Noah played by Ryan Gosling and Allie played by Rachael McAdams. Rachael McAdams literally lights up the screen when she comes on. She is an incredible young actress.

This is the ultimate love story. Allie loves Noah and Noah loves Allie but unfortunately Noah comes from the wrong side of the tracks. Her parents disapprove and they force the separation. Allie finds someone else but the love still remains. You see Gena/Allie as the older character getting as absorbed in the story as you are in the audience. What will happen? Will they end up together?

Seeing the older couple together in an old age home with Gena Rowlands having dementia was probably one of the most upsetting parts of that movie. My grandmother lived the last few years of her life in a home which she did not want to be in and had dementia too. She was always hitting the side of her head as if trying to jog her memory back. It was beyond sad to watch that happen to someone you love. This is really what the movie is about.

If I had been at home, I probably would have sobbed uncontrollably outloud. I could actually see most people in the movie, once it had ended, clutching their tissues and trying to be discreet.

Now that a few days have passed, I have to say, the movie has really stayed with me. I loved it. What can I say, I’m a real sucker for the love story.