SYNOPSIS:
The
stars of Unfaithful rekindle their on-screen chemistry in this
rich tale of hearts' awakenings based on a bestseller by Nicholas
Sparks. Richard is Paul, a surgeon who long unwittingly traded
family for career. Diane Lane is Adrienne, a devoted mother
trying to move on after her husband's infidelity and struggling
with his desire to return to their marriage. At a remote inn
on the Outer banks, Paul and Adrienne expect to do some serious
soul-searching. But an approaching storm forces each to turn
to the other for strength, setting the stage for a life-resonating
romance.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Hollywood
gets a tad mushier whenever a Nicholas Sparks novel is published.
Following "Message in the Bottle", "A Walk
to Remember" and "The Notebook", "Nights
in Rodanthe" is the fourth movie adapted from a Spark’s
novel released under the Warner Bros banner. If you are not
an avid follower of what Spark is brewing, soup of the day
consists mainly of romance, heartbreaks and occasional tragic
turn of events. You get the drift.
Richard
Gere and Diane Lane play Paul Flanners and Adrienne Willis
respectively. Paul is a surgeon who is trying to make up with
his estranged son, Mark (an uncredited James Franco) and also
facing a lawsuit in his work while Adrienne is currently going
through a rough patch in her relationship with her infidelity
ex-husband and her daughter. The two unlikely duo met when
Adrienne is tasked by her friend to tend to her nice cozy
inn by the sea for the weekend and Paul happens to be the
sole customer for the week.
While
"The Notebook" spans decades detailing the loving
relationship of both protagonists, "Nights in Rodanthe"
wastes no time in getting the fire started. Trapped inside
the inn by an impeding hurricane, Mother Nature forces the
two lonely middle-age souls to confide in one other. They
pour their sorrows and bare their heart out over the short
weekend. In Spark’s world, nothing is too convenient
or unbelievable. The chemistry between Gere and Lane is undeniable
in which their performances in the erotic drama, "Unfaithful"
prior has proven it. The pair up of the two veterans perhaps
is the saving grace of this conventional tear-jerker.
The narration
in the novel works rather well on paper but in the movie version,
everything becomes mundane and predictable. It’s obviously
not the actors’ fault, blame it on the thin script which
doesn’t carry itself well on the big screen as certain
plottings and characters are further water down given the
original material is already pretty frail.
Besides
the chemistry between the two leads, another notable 'lead'
comes in the form of the nice inn featured for the exterior
scenes in the movie. A place I’m sure will had many
romantic diehards clamoring to visit after the movie ends.
"Nights
in Rodanthe" works especially well on a rainy night.
As in the case of Paul and Adrienne, it’s the perfect
excuse to warm up to your other half with a cup of hot tea
or wine in hand. Just act surprise and stifle a little when
the expected plot twist came crushing.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
Lost
In The Hurricane - Unlike the barebone Code one DVD,
this Code 3 version contains 4 Deleted Scenes with commentary
by director George C. Wolfe (no option to turn it off though).
AUDIO/VISUAL:
Presented
in anamorphic widescreen 2.40:1, the visual while not exactly
pristine is satisfying on the whole. Dialogue is clear throughout
and some ambience sound effects turn out rather well during
the hurricane sequences.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by Linus Tee
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