The Notebook

Let me just say straight off the bat I am not a big fan of the romance film. I rarely come across a truly exceptional film within the genre but I am always pleased when I do. The Notebook is one of these films.

Based on Nicholas Sparks somewhat successful book of the same name, the film begins with the introduction of a man called Duke (James Garner) and his companion (Gena Rowlands). Both reside in an aged care facility where the two meet up regularly as it would seem, to share a story within a notebook that Duke has. Very little is revealed initially about the two as the story within said notebook is delved into straightaway. Beginning in America’s deep south circa 1940’s about a young working class man by the name of Noah (Ryan Gosling) who is smitten by a young southern belle called Allie (Rachel McAdams) who he falls head over heals for at a carnival during the summer.

What follows is a whirlwind romance that is somewhat clichéd. With the usual poor boy meets rich girl, rich parents of rich girl want her to meet rich boy instead scenario. Set against this backdrop of class struggle & World War II, our two young lovers are torn apart and as fate would have it are drawn back together again years later, ultimately leading them to question their hearts. Not an entirely new concept here, but the way it is executed is what makes the film work.

The two young leads work well together, and are a delight to watch. I’d be very surprised if we don’t see more of them in years to come. The story itself moves along nicely and never once labours as it skips back and forth between the past and the present. The more we learn of the old couple in the present, the more we begin to understand their relationship leading to a very touching and poignant climax.

The Notebook is presented in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio and is widescreen enhanced. The level of colour detail is quite natural and generally suits the tone of the film. The older segments of the film are given a slightly different colour, which subtly distinguishes the time period. The transfer is free from artefacts, which should be expected from such a recent film. There is no aliasing present, and no obvious edge enhancement visible.

I will point out that the image itself isn’t the sharpest, displaying a slightly soft look resulting in a lack of definition in long shots, where the actor’s faces or sets that aren’t immediately present in the foreground loose a little detail. Not really an issue, more a by-product of the genre and style of filmmaking employed I feel.

The main soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and benefits from EX decoding, so fellas if you are stuck on the couch with the wife for this one you can perfectly justify the expense of adding those additional channels to your set-up! Having said that, it isn’t the most aggressive soundtrack. The rears and sides fill occasionally with ambient noise throughout the feature, with the score spilling into the surround channels quite nicely.

As you would expect from a film like this your subwoofer will probably be asleep for most of the feature. Only waking up to reinforce the score or add some punch when needed, most notably during the all too brief WWII scene. Dialogue was clear and easy to understand. Overall the soundtrack is perfectly suited to the style of film here. There is also a Dolby Surround 2.0 track included that is perfectly serviceable in lieu of a 5.1 set-up.

Certainly, a reasonable amount of extras here. If you’re a fan of the film/book you’ll be pleased with what’s on offer. All menus are enhanced for widescreen displays, and feature Dolby 5.1 Audio.

Deleted Scenes/Alternate Scenes (27:17):
12 Deleted scenes are presented with or without the Directors Commentary and can also be viewed continuously with a play all function. The scenes are presented in 2.35:1 (16:9 Enhanced) with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Some are new scenes and extensions of scenes cut from the film in order to satisfy pacing or the targeted censorship rating.

Audio Commentary with Nick Cassavetes (Director)
A very informative commentary and much like the doco’s the director is upbeat and has lots of info regarding the shoot. His passion for the project is obvious and I found him rather engaging in his delivery as he held my attention for the duration of the track.

Audio Commentary with Nicholas Sparks (Novelist)
Much like the directors commentary, the author is full of info about the book, and the films adaptation. If you are a fan of the book you will no doubt appreciate some of the detail about the writing.

Featurette: All in the Family - Nick Cassavetes (11:40)
Nick Cassavetes personality and his commitment to the project are on show here. Details all too briefly his family’s motion picture lineage (his mother is Gena Rowlands by the way) and the actor’s give him plenty of kudos here.

Featurette:

Nicholas Sparks - A Simple Story, Well Told (6:38)
Interview with all round nice guy Nicholas Sparks, and his publishers who can’t say enough good things about him.

Featurette: Southern Exposure - Locating "The Notebook" (11:34)
A little detail on South Carolina, it’s history and the transformation involved in transforming it back over half a century.

Featurette: Casting Rachel and Ryan (4:07)
A short little piece detailing the search for the two young leads featuring interviews with the Cast, Director, & Producer. Also features snippets of production video of screen tests.

Featurette: Rachel McAdams Screen Test (3:07)
Production Video Book ended by a pivotal dialogue scene from the film. showing how well the young lead nailed it on casting day.

Lastly, the obligatory Theatrical Trailer, often missed on alot of the recent DVD releases.

The Notebook didn’t set the box-office alight when released theatrically but you can rest assured that you will be entertained and touched by the end of it. Nick Cassavetes film is shot well and definitely goes for the heartstrings unashamedly. A decent cast and a beautiful score make this film stand out from the rest so listen up Gent’s, if you’re in need of a “Chick Flick� for the better half. There is just enough here also to keep you entertained, however, you may want to keep those tissues handy!