★ 5 / 10
_**Enjoyable, but contrived, love story with some very
Wuchak
_**Enjoyable, but contrived, love story with some very puzzling questions**_ While on vacation in the Northeast a researcher for the Chicago Tribune (Robin…
_**Enjoyable, but contrived, love story with some very puzzling questions**_
While on vacation in the Northeast a researcher for the Chicago Tribune (Robin Wright Penn) finds a romantic message in a bottle that is truly moving. After her editor prints the letter it becomes a hit and she travels to North Carolina to find the man who wrote the message (Keven Costner). Paul Newman is on hand as the latter’s father while John Savage plays his angry brother-in-law.
"Message in a Bottle" (1999) is an entertaining drama/romance with quality actors and East Coast locations. Unfortunately, parts of the contrived plot are too much of a stretch and some seriously perplexing questions are raised that I can’t detail without spoiling the movie for first-time viewers. Write me and I’ll share them with you.
Thankfully, there’s too much good to write the movie off as worthless. For instance, there’s a well-done subplot that has to do with manly antagonism and reconciliation. The average male has too much machismo to voice sappy apologies, but they clearly apologize & reconcile in less direct ways. Just read between the lines.
When Theresa asks Garrett, "Will you come and visit me,'' Roger Ebert complained about the (supposed) lousy writing of the latter’s response: "You mean, inland?'' I guess he failed to notice that Garrett had a smirk on his face and was playing with Theresa wherein she giggled.
Some people complain that the film was shot in Maine while the story takes place in The Outer Banks, North Carolina, which looks nothing like Maine and insults the intelligence of the viewer. In the producers’ defense, they tried to shoot in a couple places further south, but couldn’t get permits and so had to settle for Maine (Bath, New Harbor, Phippsburg & Portland). Yet the coastal scenery isn’t much of a focus, so it’s not that big of a deal. If it really bugs you, just imagine that Garrett throws the bottles into the ocean in Maine and Theresa finds the initial message while vacationing in Nova Scotia; problem solved.
The film runs 2 hours, 6 minutes, and was shot in Maine and Chicago, plus some stuff done at Falls Lake, Backlot, Universal Studios, Southern Cal.
GRADE: C
Read full review
★ 6 / 10
Thank god for Paul Newman
valleyjohn
I would normally avoid a film like this . I don't do romantic movies , especially overlong , Kevin Costner ones but I watched this because I'm going through…
I would normally avoid a film like this . I don't do romantic movies , especially overlong , Kevin Costner ones but I watched this because I'm going through the entire catalogue of Paul Newman films and unsurprisingly he is the best thing in this mushy , over sentimental chic flick .
A woman finds a romantic letter in a bottle washed ashore and tracks down the author, a widowed shipbuilder whose wife died tragically early. As a deep and mutual attraction blossoms, the man struggles to make peace with his past so that he can move on and find happiness.
In a way , this is the best character Kevin Costner could play . I moody , withdraw , sullen man which basically sums up his acting style. Robin Wright does a decent job but you have to wonder what her character sees in a miserable man , fifteen years older than her who wears beige slacks and a cardigan!
It's worth watching this film along just for Paul Newman. In one of his last performances he steals the show as the dad . He still has that twinkle in his eyes that we are so used to seeing .
The plot is ridiculous as they do often are in these kind of films.
One scene where Therese knows that Garrett is going to stay over night , she just happens to leave the bottle and letters in the bedside drawer right next to him . That's just dumb script writing.
As with nearly all Kevin Costner movies it's at least 45 minutes too long and the merciful ending is just typical of a Mills & Boon type novel .
Thank god for Paul Newman.
Read full review
★ 5 / 10
Mopey Costner
Musicop
If you're a big Kevin Costner fan, then you will probably like this film. But, if watching Costner mope around on screen for nearly two hours is not your cup…
If you're a big Kevin Costner fan, then you will probably like this film. But, if watching Costner mope around on screen for nearly two hours is not your cup of tea, this film will probably be a very tedious experience for you.
Paul Newman is great. The film flies by while he's on screen. When he's not, the film drags. He deserves an academy award nomination for best supporting actor next year. But seeing as how this film is such a trifle, I doubt it will be remembered next week, let alone next February.
Read full review
31%
TOMATOMETER
· 35 reviews
66%
AUDIENCE
· 50K ratings
6.3/10
42.9K
•••
2 good actors, thanks a lot !