Notting Hill

"Excellent"

Notting Hill Review


Julia Roberts is Julia Roberts - almost - in Notting Hill, a well-crafted romantic comedy from the geniuses behind Four Weddings and a Funeral.

The deceptively simple plot begins when uber-famous film star Anna Scott (Roberts) winds up in William's (Grant) book shop on Notting Hill, something of a British cross between a pre-Disney Times Square and a Moroccan street market. After William accidentally dumps orange juice down Anna's front, an on-again, off-again, on-again, off-again, on-again love affair blossoms.

Using Anna's (and Julia's) celebrity as a catalyst, the plot is propelled along by run-ins with the press and paparazzi, the duplicity "required" of a big film star, secret love affairs on the side, world travel, and buttinsky PR flacks. It's amazing that Anna comes off as likeable at all, but with EveryBrit Grant as her foil, it's hard not to fall for her in the end. Of course.

So far, sounds like an everyday comedy - but Notting Hill wins its real points in the details. Director Michell's London is every bit is real as a Beatles album. And, big surprise, it's the cast of completely unknown supporting characters that really carry the film. Special kudos to Rhys Ifans as Spike, William's pig of a roommate, who carries large chunks of the film on charm (or lack thereof) alone. I give him an early Best Supporting Actor nod.

If you like lighthearted romances, Notting Hill is for you. The women in our audience (who comprised about 90% of it) would seem to agree. I can't complain, either. I mean, it's Julia Roberts. How can you not fall for her?

Breakfast is served.



Notting Hill

Facts and Figures

Run time: 124 mins

In Theaters: Friday 28th May 1999

Box Office Worldwide: $363.9M

Budget: $42M

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Production compaines: Bookshop Productions, Notting Hill Pictures

Reviews

Contactmusic.com: 4 / 5

Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
Fresh: 81 Rotten: 17

IMDB: 7.0 / 10

Cast & Crew

Director:

Starring: as Anna Scott, as William Thacker, as Bella, as Max, as Spike, as Honey, as Bernie, as Tony, as Martin, as Rufus the Thief, as Annoying Customer, as Ritz Concierge, as 'Time Out' Journalist, Lorelei King as Anna's Publicist, as Jeff King, as PR Chief

Contactmusic


Links


New Movies

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

After the thunderous reception for J.J. Abrams' Episode VII: The Force Awakens two years ago,...

Daddy's Home 2 Movie Review

Daddy's Home 2 Movie Review

Like the 2015 original, this comedy plays merrily with cliches to tell a silly story...

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

There's a somewhat contrived jauntiness to this blending of fact and fiction that may leave...

Ferdinand Movie Review

Ferdinand Movie Review

This animated comedy adventure is based on the beloved children's book, which was published in...

Brigsby Bear Movie Review

Brigsby Bear Movie Review

Director Dave McCary makes a superb feature debut with this offbeat black comedy, which explores...

Battle of the Sexes Movie Review

Battle of the Sexes Movie Review

A dramatisation of the real-life clash between tennis icons Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs,...

Shot Caller Movie Review

Shot Caller Movie Review

There isn't much subtlety to this prison thriller, but it's edgy enough to hold the...

Advertisement
The Disaster Artist Movie Review

The Disaster Artist Movie Review

A hilariously outrageous story based on real events, this film recounts the making of the...

Stronger Movie Review

Stronger Movie Review

Based on a true story about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, this looks like one...

Only the Brave Movie Review

Only the Brave Movie Review

Based on a genuinely moving true story, this film undercuts the realism by pushing its...

Wonder Movie Review

Wonder Movie Review

This film may be based on RJ Palacio's fictional bestseller, but it approaches its story...

Happy End  Movie Review

Happy End Movie Review

Austrian auteur Michael Haneke isn't known for his light touch, but rather for hard-hitting, award-winning...

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Seemingly from out of nowhere, this film generates perhaps the biggest smile of any movie...

The Limehouse Golem Movie Review

The Limehouse Golem Movie Review

A Victorian thriller with rather heavy echoes of Jack the Ripper, this film struggles to...

Advertisement
Artists
Actors
    Filmmakers
      Artists
      Bands
        Musicians
          Artists
          Celebrities
             
              Artists
              Interviews