- Film Review
- Reviewed By Dave Aldridge
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3 out of 5
A shameless tear-jerker and as corny as they come, this retro romantic drama skilfully pushes all the right emotional buttons. The movie opens in the present day with elderly James Garner reading to nursing-home resident Gena Rowlands from an old notebook. We then flash back 60 years to the events chronicled in the journal - an ill-starred teenage romance between poor country boy Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, the daughter of rich city folk. There are no prizes for guessing the connection between the two couples. Slickly made by Rowlands's son, Nick Cassavetes, the film benefits from uniformly excellent performances from a quality cast that includes Joan Allen and Sam Shepard. Cassavetes should have taken his foot off the slush pedal more often, but if you're in the mood for melodrama, this weepie could be just the ticket.
Plot Summary
Romantic drama starring Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner and Gena Rowlands. The story of an ill-fated teenage romance helps an old man to bring the love of his life back from the shadowlands of senile dementia.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Noah Calhoun
- Ryan Gosling
- Allie Hamilton
- Rachel McAdams
- Duke
- James Garner
- Allie Calhoun
- Gena Rowlands
- Lon
- James Marsden
- Fin
- Kevin Connolly
- John Hamilton
- David Thornton
- Anne Hamilton
- Joan Allen
- Frank Calhoun
- Sam Shepard
Crew
- Director
- Nick Cassavetes
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