‘Love Actually’ A Retrospective
Written & Edited by: Lee Fenton
Upon its release, I actually resisted liking ‘Love Actually’.
In fact, when someone close to me suggested watching it - I took a look at the cover of the dvd and said something along the lines of,
“Looks like another one of those romantic comedies. I’m not into it.”
At the time - I was young and only just beginning my journey into film. Luckily, the person decided to play the copy of ‘Love Actually’ regardless of my objections. After viewing the entirety of the feature, it dawned on me… I did enjoy the movie.
It just so happens that I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Hell, upon viewing it again, a little while later - I realized I absolutely loved the film and would probably recommend it to anybody willing to listen.
And that’s just what I did.
Now, years later, I’ll make a case for why you should check out this darling of a film, if you haven’t already seen it.
‘Love Actually’ is great for anyone who needs a good morale booster around the holidays.
It’s also a very suitable watch for Valentine’s Day, since it focuses heavily on the subject of love and romance. But at its heart ‘Love Actually’ is a Christmas movie, through and through. It takes place during the 12 days leading up to Christmas and deals with themes of charity, forgiveness, peace towards your fellow man, and families reuniting for the holidays.
So, seeing as we are almost in the month of December, let’s dive into this wonderful motion picture - directed by the talented Richard Curtis!
‘Love Actually’ stars a host of famous hollywood actors and british celebrities:
Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Bill Bob Thornton, Emma THompson, Kiera Knightley, Bill Nighy, Laura LInney, Hugh Grant, Andrew Lincoln, Lúcia Moniz, Olivia Olson, Rodrigo Santoro, Rowan Atkinson, Claudia Schiffer, Abdul Salis, and many more!
‘Love Actually’ is set in London during the Christmas season, and the storylines of various characters become intertwined throughout the film.
The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success, grossing over $246 million worldwide.
"Love Actually" has become a holiday classic, often being re-watched and celebrated during Christmas time.
The iconic scene where Mark (played by Andrew Lincoln) confesses his love for Juliet (played by Keira Knightley) using cue cards became one of the film's most memorable moments.
The film's soundtrack, featuring songs like "Christmas Is All Around" by Billy Mack (played by Bill Nighy) and "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey, became popular during the holiday season.
"Love Actually" explores themes of infidelity, unrequited love, and the complexities of relationships.
It was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.
The film's script was written by Richard Curtis, who is also known for writing other romantic comedies like "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Notting Hill."
The opening and closing scenes of the movie, featuring footage of people hugging and greeting each other at Heathrow Airport, were inspired by real-life stories of reunions at the airport during the holiday season.
"Love Actually" was originally intended to be a TV series, but was eventually developed into a feature film.
The film's title, "Love Actually," is a play on words, emphasizing the idea that love is actually all around us.
Despite being a romantic comedy, the film also tackles serious themes, such as grief, loneliness, and the search for true love.
The cinematographer for ‘Love Actually’ was Michael Coulter.
“Michael Daley Coulter BSC (born August 29, 1952[1]) is a Scottish cinematographer. He achieved prominence for his collaborations with writer-director Bill Forsyth, and went on to work on high-profile films like Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Sense and Sensibility (1995), FairyTale: A True Story (1997), Notting Hill (1999), Mansfield Park (also 1999), Love Actually (2003), The Bank Job (2008), and The Hustle (2019). He was nominated for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for his work on Sense and Sensibility. He is a member of the British Society of Cinematographers, and BAFTA Scotland.” [1]
I find the cinematography to be non-obtrusive; allowing you to absorb the drama unfolding while not becoming too emphatic with swift close-ups and zooms. It’s a static style that Coulter utilizes - it manages an intimacy with the characters that fast cuts and fancy framing techniques might lose.
FairyTale: A True Story was one of my favourite films as a young lad. Therefore I’m downright ebullient to know that this man is still working. The United Kingdom is a source of an unbelievable amount of talent. So, I always like to spend some time and highlight our neighbours ‘across the pond’ and their contributions.
Check out Micahel Coulter’s recent work in:
The Hustle (2019) starring Rebel Wilson & Anne Hathaway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j5hwooOHVE
In closing,
‘Love Actually’ is a film that will improve your day, make you laugh,
and hopefully help you to forget how stressed you are from the holidays.
And isn’t that the best gift of all?
Rating 9/10
A big box of quality chocolates, and eggnog with white rum.
Christmas cheer, required.
Sources:
[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Actually
