Tags
1990's, Drama, Illeana Douglas, Kevin Costner, Luis Mandoki, Message in a Bottle, Nicholas Sparks, Paul Newman, Robbie Coltrane, Robin Wright Penn, Romance
Film Title
Message in a Bottle
Director
Luis Mandoki
Starring
- Robin Wright Penn as Theresa Osborne
- Kevin Costner as Garret Blake
- Paul Newman as Dodge Blake
- Illeana Douglas as Lina
- Robbie Coltrane as Charlie
A totally trite, over familiar and plodding romance, Message in a Bottle only holds the attention for the cast and some lush scenery. Other than that, this film is one to avoid as it is predictable with a capital P and not even enjoyably predictable.
Theresa Osborne is a researcher who works for the Chicago Tribune. One day while on the beach after finishing a story in Cape Cod, Theresa unearths a message in a bottle washed up on shore. Inside, she finds a heartfelt love letter to a woman called Catherine, signed with the initial G. Theresa is moved and curious about the letter and decides to discover just who wrote it and where it came from. Her research, thanks to help from work and friends that reveals more letters, leads her to the Outer Banks of North Carolina and to a man identified as Garret Blake. She travels to the area and approaches Garret, not telling him about the letters she discovered. Garret is an emotionally shut off man who furnishes boats and largely keeps to himself. This arose from his wife( the Catherine of the letter), and her death in childbirth two years before. Gradually, Theresa begins to warm to Garret and he in turn slowly lightens in her presence, planting the seeds of undeniable attraction. Though while Garret has still not gotten over his wife’s death and nurses his feelings quietly, his wise, irascible father Dodge prods him to take a chance with Theresa. Sure enough, love slowly blossoms for them. Yet Theresa can’t help but fight internally with the knowledge that she hasn’t told Garret of how she came into contact with him, which would no doubt change the burgeoning love between them.
Luis Mandoki has shown real greatness as a movie maker, but his outing in this venture is sadly one of his lesser achievements. It isn’t that he doesn’t direct well, he is just unable to bring anything really excellent to a film that is wholly unrealistic. Believe me, no amount of embellishment could make this a winning movie. This film is based on a book by Nicholas Sparks, which really should have been a forewarning of the quality presented. But as usual, I thought to myself I may as well try it and see if it confounds my expectations. Sadly, the film left me begging for the shore as it was so stranded in unrealistic and schmaltzy moments, that failed to resonate with me. Now I’m no cynic and I like a good romance as much as the next person( even sometimes ones that are predictable), but I didn’t find much to praise or be entertained by in Message in a Bottle. Instead the hallmarks of the Sparks factory where on full parade; rain-soaked confrontations, overlapping scenes of letter reading and just cringe-inducing sweetness. Even when the film reaches the stages of being tear jerking, it just doesn’t have the required impact because the whole script and story has been so utterly clunky and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how Message in a Bottle will conclude. Contrary to my disdain for the overall movie, it did have its virtues. One is the lovely cinematography that feels so idyllic and luscious among the many instances of water, that you can’t help but marvel at the lighting and palette it has going for it. And to be honest, the score wasn’t to bad either. The problem is that the sappy soundtrack got more play time in Message in a Bottle, which made it sugary as a sweet shop.
Hope is found however in the work from the main cast, who are well above this material and add some of their abilities to make this not a flat-out failure. The glowing Robin Wright Penn manages to ring emotion and vibrancy out of her character; with a smile that lights up the screen and a soulful, unaffected delivery. Kevin Costner’s strong and stoic type is not much of a stretch in terms of the acting muscles, but it is the actor’s strong suit and one that he mines pretty well here. Stealing the show however are the bright eyes and undying charisma of Paul Newman, playing Costner’s salty but helpful father. Newman is a real hoot and at times a very owlish presence and with him being an old pro, he brings a hell of a lot more to the part than I’m sure was intended. The film picks up whenever Newman is around and sinks back into boredom once he isn’t there, because his mere aura is one of fine acting and spirit. Illeana Douglas and Robbie Coltrane pop up in supporting roles, but neither is given an opportunity to do anything of note.
So in the end, Message in a Bottle is a film that has moments of goodness but nothing in the way of exceptional quality, except the work of the main cast. Put simply, Message in a Bottle is a film totally lost at sea.
Laura Beth said:
Most of the time, Nicholas Sparks’s books are better than the movies based on them! I remember when my mom went to see this in theaters.
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vinnieh said:
I haven’t read any of the books, so I’m not much of a judge. I just don’t think they are for me. I mean, I’m all for romance but these movies are pretty overly sappy.
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Laura Beth said:
Ditto! I have all of his books – I based my senior thesis on them. They are classic, cheesy romance!
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vinnieh said:
I mean I think romance can be really beautiful and I’m not cynical, I just don’t sometimes see the appeal of this kind of stuff. I respect your opinion and I know that not everyone agrees because that would be boring.
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sonofabeach96 said:
I love Paul Newman, and usually enjoy Costner roles. But this one? Not so much. 😃
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vinnieh said:
I too like both guys a hell of a lot. But their talents were wasted on this misfire. Still they both made it watchable.
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sonofabeach96 said:
Barely. 😃
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vinnieh said:
If it wasn’t for them and Robin Wright Penn, I would flicked the film off a lot sooner.
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sonofabeach96 said:
I’m not really even a fan of hers. The Princess Bride is the only film I really tolerated her in.
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vinnieh said:
It has been so long since I last saw that movie. Appreciate you mentioning it. By the way, who are your favourite actresses?
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sonofabeach96 said:
That’s a tough question. I love Sandra Bullock, Diane Keaton is great, Helen Miran, Jennifer Lawerence (although I’ve heard her latest film is bunk). And my girl Salma Hayek…just because. 😃
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vinnieh said:
I too love all the ladies you mentioned. I also love Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman and Meryl Streep.
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sonofabeach96 said:
Yep, those are great picks.
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vinnieh said:
And I have many more favourites, as well as actors too. There is so much talent to be found in movies.
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sonofabeach96 said:
Absolutely.
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vinnieh said:
I especially love looking back at actors from the Golden Age.
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sonofabeach96 said:
Oh yeah! Meryl Streep reminds me of that era.
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vinnieh said:
In what way does she remind you of that era?
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sonofabeach96 said:
Her presence, her class, and maybe even in the manner she speaks.
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vinnieh said:
Now that you mention it, I can see that now. She is one class act. Just the way she literally becomes the character with such depth is astounding.
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sonofabeach96 said:
I know this is odd, but my favorite role of hers was in She-Devil. I thought she was hilarious!!! 😃
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vinnieh said:
I haven’t come across She Devil before. Appreciate the recommendation.
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sonofabeach96 said:
It’s pretty funny. Roseanne Barr is the lead. Streep is really funny though.
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vinnieh said:
I’m all for a good bit of comedy.
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Meg Sorick said:
J Law’s latest film, Passengers is bunk! And I love her. There were too many holes in the plot. I kept whispering to Harry: “If they just did … they could fix everything!” Don’t waste your $ or your time!
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sonofabeach96 said:
So I’ve heard. I wasn’t planning on seeing it, but everybody’s review of it confirmed that I won’t. She’s usually terrific, and a hometown girl…and Cards fan to boot! But I’ll pass on that one. 😃
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Meg Sorick said:
And she was good, acting wise, it was just the movie itself that sucked. I forgot she was from Kentucky – she’s the anti-Ashley (Judd) Lol!
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sonofabeach96 said:
YES!!!! 😃😃👍🏻👍🏻
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vinnieh said:
I do hate seeing talented actors stuck in movies that are beneath their abilities.
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Meg Sorick said:
Agree.
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vinnieh said:
Let’s hope she finds a project worthy of her talent.
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vinnieh said:
I’ll watch Jennifer Lawrence in just about anything, but I’ll skip on Passengers for the time being.
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vinnieh said:
I love Jennifer Lawrence, but Passengers looks like garbage.
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Meg Sorick said:
It is. Skip it!
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vinnieh said:
Will use my money to watch something more substantial.
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beetleypete said:
I haven’t seen this one, V. I doubt I will be bothering, after your review.
Cheers, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
I probably sound really cynical when describing it Pete, but I just didn’t feel anything for it.
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beetleypete said:
Not my kind of thing, despite the good cast.
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vinnieh said:
That’s pretty much how I’d sum it up myself.
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fragglerocking said:
One for the miss list!
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vinnieh said:
I would say so Fraggle. Unless these kinds of movies appeal to you.
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Meg Sorick said:
Nicholas Sparks? Kiss of death! Seriously, if that man can be a best seller writing that cheese, I should be able to make some money at it, right? 😀
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vinnieh said:
You said it so eloquently Meg. I like romance and all, but does anyone believe this is what it’s really like?
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Meg Sorick said:
I know! Too much. And poor men – he’s ruined it for you! Now women have these ridiculous and unrealistic expectations! 😜
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vinnieh said:
You said it perfectly. I mean is there any guy out there’s who’s as charming and attractive as the ones in these movies?
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Meg Sorick said:
I don’t know. Maybe you, Vinnie? 😃
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vinnieh said:
Haha, now that’s very flattering.
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ninvoid99 said:
My parents had the unfortunate of seeing this on TV and it made them sleep. I tried to watch it but man, it’s so fucking boring. Then I realized it was based on a Nicholas Sparks novel which is a big no as many of his films based on shitty books are shit.
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vinnieh said:
I can’t for the life of me figure out how any buys into these things. I’m all for romance and all, I’m not a cynical person. But talk about cheesy stuff.
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kmSalvatore said:
hi Vman, I vaguely remember this film… I can remember getting excited because of the cast….. yeah.. and that’s where it ended;) great review!
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vinnieh said:
Yeah, the cast was the only aspect that really got my attention.
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Maggie said:
Thanks for the warning. I’ll be avoiding this one like the plague!
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vinnieh said:
Unless these kinds of romance appeal to your viewing tastes, stay far away from this.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I have to admit I’m not a fan of Nicholas Spark’s because after trying two of his books I found them too schmaltzy, so I’ve never been tempted by the film adaptations.
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vinnieh said:
I’ve only seen some movies. I think The Notebook was well done, but the rest are just cheesy. I mean, is there anyone who really believes in this stuff?
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I’m a complete romantic at heart, but these are even too much for me.😕
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vinnieh said:
I too am a romantic, despite never really experiencing romance itself. Meg earlier said that Sparks really ruined expectations of men, would you agree?
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Absolutely!
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vinnieh said:
No guy can live up to the hunks he writes up, completely unfair!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
😏😏
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vinnieh said:
You must admit, it’s pretty unfair to us guys.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
You have my sympathy.
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vinnieh said:
Thank you Kim. I may aspire to be a hunk, but I’m happy with myself at the moment!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
As well you should be!
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vinnieh said:
You always know what to say!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
🤗
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vinnieh said:
That’s a quality of yours that is perfectly endearing.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Aww. Thanks Vinnie!
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vinnieh said:
I really mean it.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
🤗🤗🤗🤗
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vinnieh said:
Smiley faces make my day.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Yay!😊😄😁
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keepsmealive said:
Yeahhhh… not for me! Good on ya for sticking it out, though.
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vinnieh said:
Believe me, I wish I had those two hours back!
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keepsmealive said:
Sucks when a movie reminds that our life time is non-refundable!
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vinnieh said:
Yes, it most certainly sucks. Oh well, can’t love every movie you see.
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