"Love Actually" starts on USA channel at 10am EST (Is anyone else a sucker for this movie?)

[TahitiNut]

I have to admit to being a big mush puddle when it comes to some things ... and this movie (not a 'great') seems to stir my porridge and make my eyes leak. Especially the ending ... which converts me to some blubbering chick-flick-groupie.

Anyone else?

I notice that this movie, made in 2003, seems to be gaining critical approval over the years. Like the "Big Chill" (rated low at the beginning and now rated highly) it seems to be finding an increased 'hard core' repeat-viewers.

Political? Well ... I find that my reaction to seeing the Obama family feels a LOT like my reaction to the ending of this movie.

Does this make any sense whatsoever?

[graywarrior]

1. OMG! Aaaaallllaaaaannnn!

[hisownpetard]

14. Oh, NO! THere she goes again...

[graywarrior]

20. Weeeee eeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeee!

[hisownpetard]

28. OK, so you apparently have your own private stash of Alanobilia, which only serves to

fan the flames. No wonder!!

[flygal]

2. I just keep thinking of that Office episode

where Kelly babbles on forever about Netflix and Love Actually I thought it was a good movie - but I'm partial to While you were Sleeping for some reason....bill pullman....

[lizziegrace]

41. Bill Pullman

[BonnieJW]

3. ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I watch it all the time. Can you check to see other viewing times for me? I'm at work and can't watch at 10 AM.

My sister said she and her husband tried to watch it one time, but couldn't follow it. They voted for bush. Twice.

[TahitiNut]

6. I've noticed that *some people* just can't bring themselves to listen to a British accent

... for some reason. I have virtually no problem listening to accented English being spoken, no matter if it's ESL, British, Scottish, Irish, or Deep South. It just doesn't pose any difficulty for me. Others, however, seem to be viscerally clogging their own ears -- investing more resistance than savoring in hearing the dialog. I note that this is most often a difficulty conservatives have ... especially those conservatives 'rooted' to living in one place all their lives.

The only scheduled play time is right now, according to my search (and the IMDB site).

[T Wolf]

27. I LOVE a UK accent. After you adjust your ear, the many variations are easily understandable.

Maybe it's because it is exotic AND still "English" to our ears.

[TahitiNut]

31. I, too, savor it ... and enjoy identifying the regional accents.

Cockney (and East End) is pretty easy ... and Yorkshire ... and Liverpudlian ... and then north side of London.

[LanternWaste]

4. Something about the story line with...

Something about the story line with the aging pop-star and his manager gets to me every time, especially the way they try to man-up after their one and only real display of emotions. "Let's get pissed and watch some porn."

And of course Colin Firth's story line is just so romantic in all aspects.


I think it will eventually become one of The Cultural Christmas Movies, along with It's A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story.

[peacefreak]

7. Another sucker for Love, Actually.

If you loved the Rock Star story, you should look for a DVD called Still Crazy. Bill Nighy plays another aging Rocker. Sweet, funny. I think this character was a forerunner to his performance in Love, Actually.
I love the nude stand-in story line. They're the most innocent couple of all, even with their "bits" showing.

[TahitiNut]

9. I love the construction of the stories ... interlinked and covering an array of loving relationships

Bill Nighy does a remarkable job with the rock star bit, imho. (Yes, I choke up on that one.) I get all kinds of giggles over the porn actor stand-ins and the Wisconsin 'tourist,' too.

The Liam Neeson character (loving his stepson) nurturing the "fist love" discovery of his step-son is remarkable, too.

Colin Firth's character -- with the investment in risk and learning (Portuguese?) is fascinating.


Of course, any movie with Keira Knightley is already a good one.

[BonnieJW]

13. I love the tourist too.

Here is a young guy looking for romantic adventure and which destination does he choose? Why, Milwauke, of course. In winter.

[T Wolf]

5. Love it, actually. Though I feel no connection to anything political from it. So many

good stories in that one movie.

And, in the end, the love you take is equal to the love, you make.

[TahitiNut]

12. Political connection ...

A speech given by Hugh Grant in ‘Love Actually’ -- where he extols the virtues of Great Britain and refuses to cave to the pressure of its longstanding ally, the United States -- was etched in the transatlantic memory as a satirical, wishful statement on the concurrent Bush-Blair relationship. Tony Blair responded by saying in 2005, "I know there's a bit of us that would like me to do a Hugh Grant in ‘Love Actually’ and tell America where to get off. But the difference between a good film and real life is that in real life there's the next day, the next year, the next lifetime to contemplate the ruinous consequences of easy applause."

Billy Bob Thornton plays an American President that's CLEARLY a Bush parody ... and Hugh Grant's PM character is quite like Tony Blair ... except single.

[T Wolf]

25. You are correct. I had forgotten about that thread. nt

[TahitiNut]

26. It's apt for a movie about Love ... which requires courage and speaking the truth.

It's an essential element of the movie, imho.

[NashVegas]

8. They Owe Ani DiFranco Righteous Bucks

For stealing from "Arrivals Gate."

I'm left cold by it, for the most part, otherwise.

[hwmnbn]

10. That one scene where Emma Thompson...

realizes that the jewelry piece she thought was for her went to someone else. It was brilliant acting without dialogue. After opening her gift (which was some jive Joanie Mitchell collection CD) she excused herself, went to her bedroom and quietly ran the gamut of emotions.

I'll always remember how powerful that scene was.






But no, I'm not a sucker for chick flicks.

[BonnieJW]

16. I always cry during that part.

They put her in the dowdiest outfit to emphasize that she is a middle-aged wife and mother and her world has been cracked.

[TahitiNut]

18. They also had her wearing a "fat suit" ... since she's actually very slim.

The visual had to be developed, I guess.

[sufrommich]

21. Teariest part of the movie to me. Emma Thomson was

was masterful. I love the movie and it seems like one of those sleeper hits that most have seen and loved .

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

23. I literally feel as if I'm kicked in the stomach at that part. It is so heart breaking.

Holding back tears as I'm thinking about it.

[dugaresa]

11. I have to say that I like all story lines except the one with Emma Thompson

and Alan Rickman...

Everyone else is falling in love or having great things happen ...but she is dealing with the fact that her husband is a schmuck....and it has been some time since I have seen it...but did he sleep with that sleazy secretary?

[TahitiNut]

15. Well, it IS one flavor of a "loving relationship" ... both the secretary and Thompson.

The movie would be incomplete, imho, without the inclusion of those two "flavors."

[BonnieJW]

17. Yep.

But went on to regret it. His loss is tremendous.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

48. But past giving her a necklace...

Nothing ever happened between them.
He came to his senses before anything stupid ever happened.
Don't forget that.
And they ended up back together in the end, working it out.
Duckie

[supernova]

19. It's a really sweet movie. You have wonderful taste.

somehow, someway, without being schmaltzy. Probably has to do with the actors and the director. In different hands, that Love Boat construct could have flopped miserably. But it doesn't. It doesn't lose the way and yes, it makes me cry.



I really l loved Colin Firth's story line, the Laura Linney one, and Emma Thompson. And of course, Liam Neeson and his son (God I just want to snuggle them both! )

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

22. I LOVE this movie! I have it on DVD and even put it on my computer! It always

hits me as if it's the first time I've seen it and I still cry (with joy or sadness) in the same parts.

IMHO, it is a Perfect movie.

BTW...the ensemble cast...some of my most favorite actors on this planet.

[TahitiNut]

24. The cast is astounding, imho.

"Four Weddings and A Funeral" is another of my very favorite movies ... and Hugh Grant seems to do a terrific job in anything he's in ("Notting Hill" for example).

Colin Firth MAKES the "Bridget" movies, imho. Renee Z. is quite good but he's absolutely right on target.

Emma Thompson is a guarantee I'll like a movie. Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman, and on and on and on.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

43. Four Weddings And A Funeral is great too!

I also adore Bridget Jones' Diary, which I've watched as often as Love Actually. That was also another brilliant cast. The second one left me very disappointed. I remember listening to a live Joni Mitchell album and she had sung Both Sides Now and someone in the audience asked her to sing it again. She then said, nobody asked Van Gogh to paint a Starry Night again.

Back to Love Actually.... And to fill in the on and on... Laura Linney..one of the finest actresses we have. Although being nominated several times for Academy Awards, winning an Emmy, has never reached Movie Star status. Keira Knightly in her first adult role, was exquisite. Liam Neeson (nothing else needs to be said but his name), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Peter)another brilliant actor. Have you ever seen Kinky Boots? It's a great film! There there's Andrew Lincoln who played Mark. He did a tv series in the UK called Afterlife, and was wonderful in that. Afterlife can be viewed on youtube. It's like Medium, but much darker.

Bridget, Love Actually, Four Weddings and a slew of other excellent movies have been put out by Working Title Film. You should go to their site and check out what new confections are in the works there! The latest one that will probably garner numerous Academy Award nominations is Frost/Nixon.

[TahitiNut]

29. "God only knows what I'd be without you" ... and DU gets all blurry at the end of the movie.

(sigh)

[WolverineDG]

30. One of my faves

Especially the opening with the Bay City Rollers.

dg

[Rambis]

32. Decent movie, crap soundtrack

almost couldn't stand it-

[Hell Hath No Fury]

33. A movie I love.

I saw this when it opened and was struck my the very political message it was saying. The whole Iraq thing was in full swing IRL and, when The Speech came on, my friend and I were clapping wildly in the theatre. And the closing with the arrivals -- to see a young Muslim women with her child -- at a time Muslins were being demonized -- it was a clear message on the directot's part.

And I appreciated greatly that not every story had "Hollywood" ending -- sometimes love is not what we think it should look like, and sometimes it is downright painful.

It's a good movie that will come into its own in time.

[TahitiNut]

37. Exactly the impressions I had, too.

Not only the lifestyle and multi-cultural aspects but the portrayal of Duhbya by Billy Bob Thornton ... and aspiration to tell him to go fuck himself. In a movie about love, Bush was the antithesis ... the Grinch ... a self-centered, hateful, arrogant predator.

[On the Road]

34. All I Remember About That Movie

is that Keira Knightley looked lovlier than I have ever seen her. If I was the guy with the videocam at the wedding, I would have done the same thing.

[redqueen]

35. I've never seen it...

but after seeing people here talk about it so much recently, I'm definitely going to watch it the next time it's on.

I like some romantic comedies, so I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy it.

[Aristus]

36. I think the storyline with the porn lighting doubles keeps it from being a true chick-flick.

I love that story angle. Here are these two shy young people working as lighting doubles for porn films, of all things. They see each other naked all the time, pose in faux-sex poses, and yet they are very shy and reticent with one another. I thought the dichotomy of those elements was very appealing.

[TahitiNut]

38. "One cannot see well except with the heart, the essential is invisible to the eyes."

That's the line from the Little Prince that came to mind most in their relationship ... there's being nude and being naked. Exposing one's SELF to another human being has very little to do with clothing.

[SeattleGirl]

39. I love that movie!

So many great scenes. One that always gets to me is the one in the airport where the little boy runs to his stepdad after seeing the girl at the gate.

[WannaBeGrumpy]

40. Definitely in my Top 10!

I've watched it probably a million times.....

..but then again, I'm always a sucker for Alan Rickman.


I absolutely love love love the ending. I cry everytime.

[TahitiNut]

42. Well... I'd expect as much from Laura's kid. (Gotta love ya!!)

Hugs to you and your mom!

[PassingFair]

44. I tried to watch it one Saturday afternoon.

I LOVED what I DID see, but my mother lives
across the street, my husband can't keep his
hands to himself, my kids demand my attention
every few minutes, and only one of my relatives
lives more than a half-hour away. And she CALLS.

Needless to say, with interruption upon interruption,
I don't remember much.

I remember INTENSE frustration with my family members,
and finally telling my mother (impolitely) to shut up.

I must buy or rent that movie and pop it in some day
when everyone is GONE.

[MrScorpio]

45. I am

The only problem with USA is that they play the edited version

[Missy Vixen]

46. What a wonderful movie

We saw it again a couple of weeks ago on another cable channel, and I choked up at the end, too, just like the other 25 times or so we've seen it.

What a wonderful movie. I love the intersecting stories in this movie, but I really did love the woman who was after Hugh Grant's character. I really liked the idea that she'd be brave enough to go after the man she loved, no matter who he was or how impossible it seemed.

Julie

[YellowRubberDuckie]

47. I am so glad I am not the only one who loves this movie!

It is so sweet. I don't think there's a single story in it that doesn't make me want to hug someone.
And you made perfect sense.
Duckie

[Flaxbee]

49. Love it. Love it, love it, love it.

Do you have any favorite storylines? I like the Colin Firth one, the Alan Rickman/Emma Thompson one, the kid who goes off to the US and ends up finding his dream girls... I like all the characters, but those three interwoven stories are my favorites.

[beac]

50. Funny you should mention it....

I was reading a cooking blog yesterday and the blogger had the mp3 of Olivia Olson singing 'All I Want for Christmas is You' and I started choking up. And I am a 100% grumpy Xmas-hating Grinch, but somehow that scene-- and the whole movie really-- gets me every time. It's one of only two movies I've ever purchased on DVD (the other being 'Holy Grail'--lol).

If anyone else wants to tear up a little this evening, here's the scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pikz3DMhu54


Apparently, they hired Olson w/out realizing what an amazing singer she really was and they actually had to 'dirty up' the vocal track b/c preview audiences didn't believe it was really her singing.



edited to add: And yes, the Obama family makes me choke up too. So much for my steely, not-a-crier image. It's going to be eight wonderful years of ol' softie misty-eyed joy.