Notting Hill
★★★★★
I was a bit taken aback by how much I loved Notting Hill. I believe I saw it when it first came out and maybe caught snippets of it here and there on television, but I was hooked the moment the movie began. The screenplay by Richard Curtis is masterful, lovely and above all, simple. As an audience, we are able to connect to Hugh Grant's William Thacker immediately. The mixture of his charm, humbleness and dry humor makes you forget that in real life he is about as famous as Julia Roberts.
The two make a unlikely pair on the surface, but as the two grow as characters, we can easily see why Robert's Anna is drawn to the humanity of William's world and the tenderness that he, and most importantly, his friends and family radiate. Curtis is brilliant at writing and creating a supporting group to support his protagonists, and they are the heart that really drives this story. I absolutely love the beats and character growth that happens at his family's birthday party. So much is said with quick banter, introductions and an infamous last brownie.
I also enjoyed the behind-the-scenes glimpse into the celebrity lifestyle, the character of Notting Hill itself (I loved the "seasons" tracking shot) and the simplicity of a park bench in a garden and all that could symbolize. Grant and Roberts not only play off one another perfectly, but grow into their characters's relationship before our very eyes with humor, sexiness and tenderness. Yes, Notting Hill has all the rom-com tropes that we come to expect, but when they are utilized to perfection like this, you forget all of that and melt into this story with ease.
