The Notebook
Dir: Nick Cassavetes
2004
**

Nick Cassavetes still has a long way to go before he reaches the greatness of his parents. The Notebook is nothing more than a manipulative attempt to make the audience cry and in doing so, convince people that it's an Oscar-worthy emotional epic, when in reality, It's nothing of the sort. The young actors are totally unconvincing. Ryan Gosling's attempts at depicting madness involved nothing more than lowering his eyebrows and growing a beard and Rachel McAdams's performance is as over the top as it is bile-inducing. Both are great actors and have made amazing films since, I feel blame lays with the director. The Notebook's only saving grace were the scenes involving the brilliant James Garner and Gena Rowlands, although it's safe to say it wasn't their finest hour either and I almost felt sad for them. It was very predictable, totally unconvincing, cliched to the point where it felt it was spoofing itself and above all totally unsensational. Why it is so highly regarded is beyond me, it's inoffensive enough but totally forgettable.