One Day

A beautiful film, but quite sad. I ended up purchasing it because it was absolutely beautiful

I have not yet seen the blu-ray. I just saw the movie in theatres. Many times. But I am anxiously awaiting the blu-ray release. It looks like the blu-ray will have all the featurettes available on the film's official web site, as well as deleted scenes. I can't tell what the aspect ratio will be. I'm hoping it won't be letterbox, and that it will fill up the whose screen on an HD flat screen.If you've read the book, you know this is not a typical happily-ever-after Hollywood romance a la The Notebook. But that is one of the things I love most about it. It has a real, genuine feel to it. Emma, serious-minded, nerdy, wise-cracking and adorable in her insecurity, and Dex, a privileged cad who goes through women like kleenex, are two young people who officially meet on the day they graduate from University, after Emma has crushed on Dex from afar. Their romance was not meant to get off the ground that day, however. But the seeds are sown for a long and abiding friendship that lasts for the next 20 years. We get to check in on what's going on with them one day a year, the anniversary of the day they met. The relationships, not just between Em and Dex, but between Dex and his parents, his wife, his child, Emma's relationship with Ian, and how they each grow through these relationships, are the real heart of this movie. It's really about two ordinary lives in progress, which lends credence to the notion that everyone has an interesting story to tell. Unlike most romances, the main question of the movie is not "will they get together/stay together" but rather "how does their love for each other color the decisions they make and help them through the ups and downs of their individual lives?" and most importantly, "was it all worth it?" As the last scene fades, we know the answer to the last question is a resounding "of course it was."In my opinion, most of the criticism thrown at this movie was simply groundless. 1)Anne Hathaway's accent. It's not Gwyneth Paltrow flawless, but it's serviceable and doesn't detract from the story. 2) Anne's character Emma is bland. I see this criticism basically from men. I guess they mean she's not "hot." She's not. She's not supposed to be. She's pretty, but is a bit of a late bloomer. She's smart, spunky, insecure, a three-dimensional character with a soul to soul connection with Dex. That's what keeps them together. 3) Dex is unsympathetic. He's a spoiled playboy who gets lost, as some overprivileged people do, but finds his way back. He creates many of his own problems, but is a good person. We can see that he is underneath it all, the same way his mother does. It's seeing how he grows into the man she knows he can be that is part of the movie's charm and impact. 4) No chemistry between the leads. Uh, there were times when I actually felt heat coming off the screen. Jim Sturgess was also convincing and stunning as Dex and does an amazing job not only aging but maturing Dex and showing his emotional growth. I thought I developed a crush on Jim when I saw him in Across The Universe. But this movie takes it to a whole new level.The editing is the one weak spot in this movie. Some of the early scenes feel a bit truncated, leaving a few later scenes feeling a bit unexplained. It doesn't flow quite as nicely as Scherfig's last film, An Education. But the story is much more engaging and entertaining, and the characters are much more likeable and relatable.All in all, I found it to be a very satisfying romance whose ending is very life affirming, and it left me with a swelling in my heart, a smile on my face and a little tear in my eye all at the same time.

This music soundtrack (Rachel Portman) with so many great songs from 'Elvis Costello', 'Fatboy Slim', and 'Tears For Fears', lends so much to the movie. It is as diverse as the two lead characters can be. Directed by Lone Scherfig (An Education), from the novel and screenplay written by David Nicholls, who always adds a great mix of music to her movies. We meet Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter-"Dex" (Jim Sturgess) on the night of their graduation from their University in England. This is the night in which this unlikely couple gets together on the 15th of July, 1988. The time spent is full of awkwardness, so much so it is palpable to the viewer. They are so uncomfortable with each other until the point of resignation to remain platonic. At the time it is a good idea for the both of them although can it remain this way? A different sort of romantic film where we watch these two growing up into their adult lives and carving out their places in the world. Riddled with some twists and turns that are unexpected and then finessed making this not your usual fare. The friendship spans lofty decades during which the two faithfully get together every "One Day" of each and every year. This day always being July 15th, The Anniversary of Them.Emma being the more scholastic type with a well-rounded disposition, has a razor sharp wit and is very caring. Dex continues being more the extrovert with his dalliances with women and self-destructive behaviors. Something intangible remains with these two from that first night together, each intrigued with the other as he and she heads off in separate directions to lead their own lives continuing on until reaching July 15th once again. Dex takes a much more worldly approach to his employment, although briefly taking a position as an English teacher then quickly changing his course towards fame to the disapproval of his parents (his mother, portrayed by the always wonderful Patricia Clarkson, is more understanding of her son). Emma works in a dead-end job at a Tex-Mex restaurant where she meets her boyfriend, Ian Whitehead (Rafe Spall). Through thick and thin Dex and Emma carve out their lives during many years of pitfalls and meetings with each other while never losing track of the other. The timing never seems right for them to become a couple although the subject is flirted with every year, the 'what ifs' or 'the maybes'. They help each other as much as hurt themselves by hiding their feelings. Could their relationship be that one special love of a lifetime? Should they take that gamble?This movie has been classed in the Romantic Comedy genre, although I maybe snickered a couple of times because of Emma's quick razor-sharp retorts and sharp wit she does have a large store of. I would definitely say this is a drama containing lots of romantic leanings, loving gestures, and a total sweeping of 'opposites attract' that carries this couple along through the years. The whole premise of meeting every year on the anniversary date of their first meeting is overtly romantic. A subjective romantic movie, thus the scattered reviews from "I hate it" to "I love it". I'll take the latter.

The story is really about a womanizer who doesn't really know what he wants. In the beginning of the movie, he meets the perfect woman for him; but he didn't see it. Instead he just moves on with his life and has sex with other women. He ends up marrying the wrong woman who had an affair. They divorce with one child, a daughter. Then - he now wants that girl he met in the way beginning. For some reason he's the only one she ever really wanted and dropped everything to be with him to create a life with him. She felt a connection with him because they kept a friendship throughout the years.I normally don't watch movies about womanizers; but this movie reminded me of some of my male friends in my life who acted they had interest in me - at one point pursued me, but ended up with someone else.The womanizer kept in touch with that woman he met in the beginning throughout the years. For some reason, they seemed to only meet up once a year? I thought that was odd. They flirt with each other - go on vacations together, out to eat, etc. BUT they don't have sex until the very end it's implied since they are living together. Some how the womanizer no longer has the wondering eye - and just wants her?But love is cut short and she dies. If you want to cry, then watch this. But if you want a heartwarming film full of romance, I don't recommend this one. There's other flicks out there for that. This movie was designed to normalize womanizing and being loose as okay, which I didn't like.I did like both the male and female lead authors in the film. They did have chemistry; which is a rare find. Not all movies can really full that off.

Danish screenwriter and director Lone Scherfig`s seventh feature film was written by English author and screenwriter David Nicholls and is and adaptation of his novel "One Day" from 2009. It was produced by American film executive Nina Jacobson and shot on location in Edinburgh, Scotland, London, England and Dinard and Paris, France. It tells the story about Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew who meet each other in Edinburgh on the 15th of July in 1988 after their graduation and spends the night together. Before going their separate ways, Emma and Dexter agrees to only be friends. In 1990, Dexter is travelling the world having numerous relationships and Emma is working as a waitress in a Mexican restaurant in Kentish Town, London. Emma and Dexter meets again and remains close friends, but when Dexter becomes a television host and Emma meets a comedian named Ian, they drift apart.This character-driven USA-UK co-production, subtly directed by Lone Scherfig, has some ardent milieu depictions which emphasizes the films romantic atmosphere and draws a moving and involving portrayal of a lasting relationship that spans from 1988 to 2011 between a man and a woman in their early thirties who are in love, but holds on to their decision about only being friends. Well-paced and with a flashback narrative structure that focuses on the characters whereabouts on the 15th of July as years pass by, this drama examines themes like faith, loneliness, compromises, friendship and love.Notable for its fine cinematography by French cinematographer Benoit Delhomme and with a significant score by English composer Rachel Portman, this charming independent film works both as a partly engaging study of character that grows stronger in the second half of the film and a humorous and compelling love-story and is impelled and reinforced by the reverent and empathic acting performances by English actor Jim Sturgess, American actress Anne Hathaway and English actor Rafe Spall, Scottish actor Ken Stott and English actress Romola Garai`s good supporting acting performances.

One Day starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess is a film which I would recommend to all those like to watch the romantics on the box. Not only was it a film which kept my attention throughout because of the wonderful script and the witty dialogue especially from Anne Hathaway and along with the wonderful acting from the other main character Jim Sturgess it really was an exceptional film which will be a favourite of mine for a long time to come.I know I do not have to say what the film is all about as the book is famous throughout the world but I can honestly say this DVD is worth purchasing as along with the wonderful film included in the DVD is extras which really are worthwhile watching. There is deleted scenes which I do believe should have been left in the film as they really added to the actual film as they included scenes from the hotel which were very funny but there is one scene particularly which showed how far down the main character Dex really fell before he realised what he was doing wrong with his life. Also there is interviews with the writer, main actors and those that made the film which really are worth watching. This is a film not just a love story between two characters developing over twenty years but it is also a film which showed two people who had to find their own identity before they actually found each other. Though they met every year through the twenty years they were apart it give each of them a glimpse of what they were missing in their lives but they had their own growing up to do which really affects everyone of us through the course of our lives and with some people it takes a lot of failing before they finally realise what they are good at and what they are missing in their lives.I loved everything about this DVD and maybe because I watched the film before I read the book meant I enjoyed it more than other people but I do not believe this is the case as the same author wrote the script as well as the main book.If you want a good film which you just want to relax with and not have to think too much about this is the film for you but I must warn you if you are anything like me have a box of tissues near hand as I do believe you will need them...

This has become one of my go-to movies in recent times. It is beautifully filmed with real feeling for the couple. It is a look at Emma and Dex as they go through 20 years of life, looking at the same day each year. Emma was well played by the lovely Anne Hathaway, settled, feet on the ground. Jim Sturgess plays Dexter, very much a 'lad', hedonistic, looking for the next thing but eventually is brought down to earth through difficult and tragic experiences.One of the highlights was the wonderful score by Rachel Portman. If there was one fly in the ointment, as far as I am concerned, it was with the end-title music. It would seem fitting to me to finish with a 'full-on' version of Rachel Portman's theme you hear throughout the movie, which is absolutely beautiful and fitting, but I found that Elvis Costello's 'Sparkling Day' just didn't fit, regardless to how appropriate the words may have been. It has a completely different sound and feel and it jarred with me. If it was incidental music it would be OK but not the main feature on the end-titles. If there is ever a Director's Cut version I hope they will reconsider the end-title music. I would buy that version.

My wife and I sat down to enjoy our traditional Saturday night Rom-Com in front of the TV, looking forward to One Day knowing it had been a big success at the box office, and having enjoyed David Nicholls' earlier work. I don't think we've ever agreed so strongly that something was a load of tosh.There are many small problems with this film: Anne Hathaway's Roaming Regional Accent, the stereotyped view of Paris (full of writers and jazz musicians, mais naturellement), the laboured and unfunny clips of Dexter's dire TV career. But these are dwarfed by the big ones: characters who are either boringly perfect or off-puttingly unlikeable, talking and living in cliches that were tired back in the 80s and 90s; the fact that the will-they-wont-they tension so carefully built up is casually thrown away with barely a thought; and an ending which is (a) neither earned nor satisfying nor uplifting and (b) directly ripped off from Nicholls' own earlier work (I'll say no more so as not to "spoil" it).Not quite a one-star thanks to some nicely-chosen references and music from the characters' (and our) youthful years, and the noble efforts from a good supporting cast (Rafe Spall, Ken Stott, Patricia Clarkson, Romola Garai) labouring under the dead weight of a turkey script. But really, really dull.

Well, I bought this as a present for my wife as she'd gone on about wanting it for ages as she'd read the book, I haven't!My wife liked it, but felt it wasn't as good as the book and important scenes were missing, especially ones near the start of the film that have reference later on. She seemed happy with the cast, Anne Hathaway can't really go wrong these days. All said, she'd give it 4 stars, I think just because she likes the book!I thought it was pretty poor, and yes I do like some 'chick flicks'! I just never warmed to the obvious plot-line or the characters, especially the guy, I won't spoil the ending for anyone who hasn't seen it, but it wasn't for me! It certainly isn't a rom-com. I'd give it 2 stars but my review probably isn't as helpful as my wife's!