Adapted by Jan Sardi (Shine), with a screenplay by Jeremy Leven (The Legend of Bagger Vance), and direction by Nick Cassavetes (John Q), The Notebook has often been referred to as a “chick flick.” While I suppose that’s an apt description, I think many men will find something to appreciate about the film as well. An unapologetic tearjerker, the filmmakers have done an impressive job of telling the story from both the female and male characters point of view.
James Garner stars as Duke; an elderly man living in a nursing home ho reads a story aloud to a fellow patient (Gena Rowlands). The woman is suffering from dementia and rarely remembers anything. Doctors have said her condition is irreversible but Duke believes otherwise; sincerely believing he can bring her memories back, if he just keeps reading the story from an old tattered notebook.
The story begins in 1940. At a carnival in Seabrook Island, South Carolina, local boy Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) sees seventeen-year-old heiress Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) for the first time and is immediately infatuated. She repeatedly refuses his persistent advances until their well-meaning friends lure them together; they get to know each other on a midnight walk through empty Seabrook. In a short time, the young couple falls deeply in love. While Noah’s father approves of the relationship (Sam Sheppard) Allie’s mother (Joan Allen) does everything she can to keep her daughter away from this boy with no money.
Under pressure from Allie’s parents, the two teenagers go their separate ways. Seven years pass and Allie has fallen in love again. Lon Hammond, Jr. (James Marsden) is everything Allie’s mother wants for her daughter; he’s “fabulously wealthy,” handsome and smart. Back in Seabrook Island, Noah has purchased and renovated a plantation mansion, the scene of one of his most romantic moments with Allie. He’s rejected all offers from others to buy the house, believing Allie would someday come back to him.
The film follows two different tracks: The flashbacks to the teenagers falling in love and the forces that would pull them apart and the elderly couple recounting their relationship with one another. Both relationships have their poignant moments but it’s the interactions between the elderly couple that will likely resonate with most viewers. Yes, The Notebook does have its share of romantic clichés but few would deny the emotional power of Duke trying to reconnect with his wife by reading her the story of their life. With the help of great actors like James Garner, Gena Rowlands, Sam Sheppard and Joan Allen, Nick Cassavetes has crafted a romantic drama that manages to remain grounded in reality, rather than sugar coated in fluff.
The Giftset is packaged in a box that measures 6-3/4″ high-by-1-3/4″ wide-by-5-1/2″ deep. Inside, there’s a standard Blu-ray case that holds both the Blu-ray disc and the DVD; a leaflet with a code to access and download the film’s Ultraviolet Digital Copy; an envelope housing six 6-1/2″-by-5″ glossy color postcards of Ryan and Rachel, each featuring a quote from the film. We also get a similarly sized hardcover, 96-page journal, and a heart-shaped silver locket with chain.
Presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, this 1080p transfer showcases the film’s lush photography very well. Colors are vivid and accurate, while the impressive level of detail only serves to accentuate the beauty of the South Carolina nature photography. Film grain can clearly be seen, giving the source material a welcome cinematic feel. Skin tones look natural throughout, while darker scenes display fine contrast, giving darker scenes a nice sense of depth.
The accompanying Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track preserves the film’s front heavy construction, only engaging the rear channels for music and environmental ambiance. Clarity is excellent here, with dialogue, music and environmental sounds coming through without distraction. The LFE is subtle, stretching to the middle range bass area. Overall, this is a strong track that uses the soundstage quite well.
A standard Dolby Digital 5.1 track has also been included, along with German and Russian 5.1 tracks. All are available with optional subtitles in English, Spanish, Russian, and German languages.
All the extras from the previous Limited Edition Gift Set, which means, that aside from the locket, postcards, and diary, fans are getting nothing new here.
- Commentary by Nick Cassavetes: The director talks mainly about casting the actors and how and why each scene was shot. Nothing particularly riveting, pretty standard stuff.
- Commentary by Nicholas Sparks: The author talks about the real-life origins of the story and the historical background of the American south during the period the story is set, as well as analyzing the nature of romantic love stories.
- Deleted/Alternate Scenes (with optional commentary) (HD, 27:17) 12 deleted scenes or alternate takes are included here in anamorphic widescreen, with optional commentary from the editor Alan Heim. There’s a lot here, but it’s mostly worth a look.
- All In The Family: Nick Cassavetes (SD, 11:40) The cast and crew discuss how wonderful the director is.
- Nicholas Sparks: A Simple Story Well Told (SD, 6:36) This little featurette covers writer’s rise to success on his first published novel, which was The Notebook.
- Southern Exposure: Locating The Notebook (SD, 11:33) This featurette looks at the locations chosen for shooting the film in North Charleston and South Carolina and how they tried to recreate the period of the 1940s.
- Casting: This is broken into two sections – a tediously narrated Casting Rachel and Ryan (SD, 4:07) and Rachel McAdams’ Screen Test (SD, 3:37), where you can see exactly why she got the part.
- Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:08) The trailer looks great but gives absolutely everything away. Avoid this if you haven’t seen the film already.
The Notebook: Ultimate Collector’s Edition Gift Set will be available on April 30, 2013, from Warner Home Video.
*Note: Non format-specific portions of this review were first published in our review of the DVD version of The Notebook (Limited Edition Gift Set).
