Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful acting in a terrible flat
Review: Another movie I wouldn't have watched, if I hadn't become interested in Rickman's acting - and that would have been a shame.The plot sounds very sentimental: Juliet Stevenson is heartbreaking as Nina, who can't get over losing Jamie - which is understandable, since Jamie went very suddenly. He had always been careful about not getting a cold and suddenly he dies one day after getting a sore throat. A silly way to leave, so it's not a wonder, that Nina can't help being angry and lost. His apartment is a mess, infested with rats. And she can't get a grip of life, although she has wonderful friends around her. Excellent acting by all them, by the way, real British quality work. She keeps hearing Jamie's voice (everyone who's lost a loved one knows, what it is...) and finally, when she is really down, she suddenly hears his cello - and Jamie stands behind her in flesh. The way Jamie (Rickman) holds her is more like dancing than acting, really beautiful and moving. Very lightly the movie avoids sentimentality and lets Stevenson and Rickman be both touching and comical. One minute Rickman is talking about the wonderful capacity of human beings to love and wondering where it disappears - and then: "I blame the government. I hate the bastards." Wonderful work. So is their singing, though they sound quite terrible at times. Funny thing is, that Rickman speaks in a very musical way, almost singing - but sings like he's afraid of hearing his voice for real. Anyway, Jamie is suddenly happy again, which is no wonder, Rickman couldn't be a more lovable ghost even if he shaved that silly moustache. But he's always chilly - and he brings along friends, who like watching old movies. Although the ghosts are very nice and polite and helpful and keep the rats out and play beautiful music, too (I wouldn't mind them living with me), Nina notices slowly, that it isn't exactly what she wanted. And another man steps into her life, a funny man, who is alive... Again I'd like to give 4,5 stars if possible. This is a very nice movie, touching without being unbelievably sentimental and funny without falling into cheap comedy, the actors are great, real personalities, and the change in Nina's flat depicts interestingly, how her life and state of mind changes with the return of Jamie and the help of his dead friends - though Nina hardly sees it as helping. It's hard to say, what I missed, so that I couldn't give 5 stars. Maybe a bit sharper work in directing and manuscript. It takes a couple of times until you really get the feel of the movie - but it's worth it. For rainy, gray evenings, absolutely!
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely wonderful film, not to be missed!
Review: The commentary of Anthony Minghella was extremely interesting. In addition to the usual insider tidbits about the film, Minghella gave us a great deal of information about how little he knew about film making when he directed the film, how short the shooting schedule was (28 days), and what a small budget they had ($650,000). He pointed out every directorial mistake he made; things that he 'would never do now' because he would be embarrassed by them. Being the writer as well as the director, he also shared with the viewers that he thought he was writing a comedy. Only later upon seeing the reaction of audiences did he come to realize what strong emotions the film could evoke and how viewers perceived the message as being about how to handle grief, so much so that it has become a tool used by professionals to help the bereaved handle their loss. Given how much more personal this film is than 'The English Patient', the viewer might infer that directors can often be more effective when they don't know so much about their craft and they are not trying so hard to manipulate their audience with camera angles, wide shots, pans, etc. etc. What the viewer might more clearly discern is that this film is so successful, so entertaining, and so powerful almost solely due to the cast. The writer actually meant to say something else, the director was uneducated in his craft, but the actors more than made up for all those shortcomings. The cast, particularly the three main characters, transcended all the flaws, found meaning the writer didn't write, and turned in top notch, grade-A, 100% flawless performances. This film encompasses more than a lesson in grief management. It is an education in all we can learn about love, true love. Showing what it truly means to love totally and completely, so much so that we will do absolutely anything for the welfare of those we love, including helping them get over their love for us if necessary. Alan Rickman, according to the director, played his role with almost no emotion because it was what the role required. Rickman is superb enough at his craft to appear to be superficial, irritating, and insensitive and still manage to exude more heartfelt emotion than most actors can display when they are giving their best effort. Using only his arms and hands in a loving embrace, Rickman conveys more to the viewer than 20 pages of a script would reveal. Juliet Stevenson displayed every possible emotion one can experience when dealing with both grief and with love, with the sorrow of the mingling of the two, and the happiness of discovering the latter. The supporting cast, comprised of a group of well-known, highly regarded English actors and a variety of friends and relatives of the writer/director, fulfilled their roles admirably. When watching a film primarily for the purposes of seeing Alan Rickman's performance, his presence is often the best thing about the film. Not so with 'Truly, Madly, Deeply'. Alan and Juliet together make the film all that it is, and that is wonderfully entertaining and deeply touching. This movie makes 'Ghost' seem as lightweight as a wisp of wind and a waif of smoke. 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' is the 'real thing'. The film touches your heart and stirs a multitude of human emotions. Alan and Juliet alternately, or sometimes simultaneously, bring tears to your eyes, laughter to your lips, and ample amounts of pain and joy to your heart. Speaking of 'tears to your eyes', don't even attempt to watch this film without a box of tissues handy. You will definitely need them. You will be entertained and touched, and you will be glad you made the decision to watch this movie, not just for the first time either.
Rating:
Summary: Rickman Fans...Delight!
Review: While "Truly, Madly, Deeply" is not a new release, it is very much worth purchasing if you like music, romance...and, of course, if you - as I - enjoy Alan Rickman. TMD is about a woman ("Nina"/Juliet Stevenson) who has lost her boyfriend/lover ("Jamie"/Alan Rickman)...the love of her life...her reason for living...you know, all that passionate and everlasting stuff. Seems he died of complications from a sore throat, a definite wink for Rickman, known in the Biz as The Voice (even before Dogma), for obvious reasons... It seems Nina cannot get on with her life without Jamie. The man soothed her with CELLO MUSIC, for heaven's sake. He SANG to her...THEY sang duets and she played the piano and danced, ala Isadora Duncan. They delighted in mutually warped senses of humor... We're talking dream relationship here...and then...suddenly he's dead and - devastated -- Nina cannot face life without him. Ultimately, Nina's grieving and pain brings Jaime back...in a corporal form. Two drawbacks; he is ALWAYS cold, and some of his afterlife buddies have moved in along with him...video-watching ghosts from beyond, who take over Nina's little flat, making themselves at home in front of the telly watching old movies until all hours. At first, Nina is in heaven. Shutting herself up in her flat to glory in the return of the admittedly delicious Jamie, she effectively eliminates everything else in her world. But reality must enter the picture (this being Hollywood and all), and soon Jamie's annoying little habits begin to get under Nina's skin (think lying back in a warm tub, a cleansing mask on your face, and opening your eyes only see to a plastic fish - wearing glasses -- "swimming" at your face...or...being awakened with Rickman's soft baritone voice crooning "It's Raining in My Heart" in your ear as a cold glass of water is systematically drizzled on your head.) Jamie is also into totally rearranging Nina's apartment, something she has endeavored to make uniquely her own. The birth of a friend's baby and finding a new male acquaintance, are the catalysts that finally make Nina choose life over death. In a five-hankie scene, Jamie has Nina translate a beautiful poem - about a lover choosing to go on and not follow the dead love to the grave -- as he recites it in (poor) Spanish. If you are a Rickman fan, this is a MUST SEE. He is delightful as the moody, persnickety, musical Jamie...and it is an added treat to hear his rendition of "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Any More". He has a not-half-bad singing voice, and it's obvious he was having a hoot doing it. If you view Rickman as merely "the cool guy who plays Severus Snape in the Harry Potter flicks", you ALSO must secure this movie! If you have enjoyed the man in other movies, but have never seen this one (it's novel...one of the few I can think of where he leaves ALL his clothes on -- including an overcoat -- and still remains the sensuous Alan Rickman we know and drool over) you SIMPLY MUST! Five enthusiastic stars for Rickman at his most divinely delicious!
Rating:
Summary: A study of loss, grief and recovery (VHS Edition)
Review: This film which was directed by Anthony Minghella is a remarkably intelligent study of loss, grief and recovery. Sympathetic translator Nina who has just lost her great love cellist Jamie, has shut herself off emotionally and is too immersed in her grief to let herself be influenced by the outside world which tries to extract her from it. But Nina is impervious to this, her loss has thrown her into the depths of despair. The return of Jamie as a ghost enables Nina to deal with her heart wrenching grief, give him a place in her heart forever and eventually to recover. Since, like Nina, I've experienced loss and grief 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' struck a deep and resonant chord within me. Sad, wistful, heart wrenching, intelligent, sparkling and funny, all in one package. 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' tackles its subject matter in a very respectful, brilliant and subtle way. Not in the least because of the superb, quirky performances of Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman as Nina and Jamie. They enjoy a wonderful chemistry and an excellent supporting cast adds only to this. But Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman dominate this picture. The ghostly element provides an interesting and quirky twist, but this is first and foremost a study of loss and grief, which I cannot but recommend very highly!
Rating:
Summary: really lovely
Review: super sweet love story..with a major twist. heartbreaking and wonderful too.
Rating:
Summary: Re. "about that music"
Review: The adagio that Jamie & Nina play is in fact the second movement of Bach's Sonata No. 3 in G minor, BWV 1029. Maisky & Argerich's version on the DG disc 415 471-2 (J.S. Bach, Cello Sonaten BWV 1027-1029) is excellent.s
Rating:
Summary: about that music ...
Review: For Italgen - The music performed by Jamie and Nina is a piano concerto, *not* one of the unaccompanied-cello pieces. Try Bach's Piano Concerto in G Minor, BWV 1058 [2nd movement].
Rating:
Summary: Exquisitely ACTED as well as a DIVINE love story
Review: The story might seem like fluff, especially when broken down in a brief review (many good ones have already been written). But I assure you, this is a deeply moving, deeply felt, funny, touching, and wonderful story told with love and a terrific attention to detail. AND the acting is terrific -- Juliet Stevenson is a MASTER!!! The music is wonderful. The cinematography is simple and beautiful. (Did I already say the acting is great? Can I say it again???) The story is great. What more could you want? Unless all you like is wrestling and monster trucks (no offense to those of you who do), you will enjoy this movie. And if you love a good soul-mate story, you will LOVE IT! I watch it over and over. It's a classic! (Oh, and get out the tissues...)
Rating:
Summary: A Question and a Comment
Review: What is the music the cellist plays? I've purchased all of Bach's unaccompanied cello suites and don't find it. ALSO, is it only my impression, or did Jamie come back to slowly and deliberately force his wife to remember the less than perfect reality of their relationship and, by making his return funny but pretty unpleasant, force her to reach out and get on with her life? I say this because of the way the ghosts were back-slapping Jamie in the window and the way he quietly smiled and shrugged in response as his wife left what she thought was an empty apartment with her new friend to a new future. Did anyone else think he and his friends had a plan for her benefit?
Rating:
Summary: Touching comedy!
Review: I just love this movie. I have watched it many times over the years. It is a sweet, moving comedy about finding love again after the loss of a lover. It is simple and has a beautiful poem and beautiful music. You'll laugh, you'll cry!
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