MY FAVORITE MOVIE: “Love Actually”

 

          People have often asked me what is my favorite movie ? I have always deferred by saying that it depends on the “genre”… the type of movie: action, comedy, drama etc.

Well after last night (12/23/2014) and watching for the umpteenth time “Love Actually” and once gain experiencing the true joy of watching that movie, I can now declare that it is my all-time favorite movie.

In my opinion, “Love Actually” is the closest there is to a perfect movie. From the flawless writing and direction (both by Richard Curtis ), the wonderful ensemble cast, the marvelous, oh so right-on music and soundtrack, the contemporary Christmas setting in London and on and on.

There are so many memorable scenes, the wedding, the Prime Minister’s inspiring rebuke of an arrogant American President, the stepfather/son relationship, the bar scene in Wisconsin when the British guy strikes hot chick gold, the song at the school Christmas show, and best of all (and one of my all-time favorite scenes in a film): the marriage proposal at the Portuguese restaurant ( shades of the Romeo/Juliet balcony scene)

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Then there is the perfect ending at Heathrow Airport where most of the characters and several subplots merge into a joyful finale topped off by the wonderful Beach Boy song: “God Only Knows “playing in the background.

 

( A bit of Trivia: The airport greeting footage at the beginning and end of the film is real. Director Richard Curtis had a team of cameramen film at Heathrow airport for a week, and whenever they saw something that would fit in they asked the people involved for permission to use the footage.)

 

If you have not seen it, you have missed out on an awesome movie experience.

 

If you have seen it, then watch it again… it never gets old, it just gets better !!!!

 

(Currently available on Netflix.)