One Day

PHOTO CREDIT: Giles Keyte 
(http://focusfeatures.com/one_day)

At the strong recommendation of Jeremy, I went to watch the show, definitely helped by having Anne Hathaway in the movie, along with Jim Sturgess (from Across the Universe). Good thing B decided to catch it too, or else I would have watched it alone.

Based on the novel by David Nicholls, the movie is about Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess), whom I would call soul mates. The 20-year story is told through the happenings revolving around the two of them on 15 July each year, the anniversary of their first (proper) meeting. You can read more about the movie here.

What shall I say of the movie? My first take was that it was funny, yet sadly lovely. It was a love story waiting to happen, and although it did finally happen, it tragically didn't last. What if they had started earlier? What if...what if. And as B said, with how things went, many people would have gotten hurt along the way. But there was a good amount of humour too, mainly by Emma's wittiness.

I felt that the 'blundering' Dexter somehow knew he didn't deserve her and never seemed ready for her. And he is somehow 'inarticulate' around her. You can tell there was a certain spark for her in him. And she was the only one he would turn to for anything. And she would always be there for him, making him steady. Maybe as Ian said "She made you decent and in return you made her so happy”. How strange and contradictory it is to know you love each other, yet for each other not to know it at the same time.

At the end of that first year scene, I was pretty curious as to how their 1st encounter led to them being such close friends. It was left hanging and only addressed somewhat at the end.
And when they repeated the 15 July 2006 scene, I knew that something bad was going to happen, but it didn't stop me from exclaiming an "Ah" when the tragedy happened, along with many others in the theatre. Although it wasn't super graphic, one could just imagine the gruesome accident when a truck crashed into her as she cycled out of the alley. Everything was so carefree and peaceful and then "bang". Strangely, I didn't really cry as I saw Emma lying there, but only when I watched Dexter listening to a message she left earlier, happily waiting for her to arrive at their meeting place, oblivious to what had happened. Why is it so fateful to let it happen on this day? Ah, the dramatic storyline.

Some of the other more memorable scenes include the funny & infuriating scene when they took a holiday together. The stupid things he said at the pool and the hilarious theft of his clothes. Then there was the regretful year when Dexter visits his dying mother and couldn't reach Emma after, as he desperately tries to talk to her in his pain. She paused a few times on her way out, knowing it was him calling (it was their day), but decided to go ahead for her date. She must have purposely planned her date on this day right?

And who can forget the father and son scene near the end. I think that was really beautiful; so subtle yet so powerful. I couldn't help but want to start crying again when I recounted it. Dexter had just picked a fight and ended up all beaten up. His ex-wife sends him off to his father's place. They have a rare heart-to-heart moment:

Steven: You have to learn to live as if Emma were still around.
Dexter: I don't know if I can.
Steven: What do you think I've been doing for the past 10 years?

Just a few simple words spoken by the father and I guess everything just came together at the right time as well. It was the only moment when Dexter started to connect with the father as both share a common ground now, the death of their wives. *sniff*

Ok, this post is getting too long. To end off, I'll just say that the thing I found lacking though, was the chemistry between the 2 leads. Maybe it's the nature of their relationship and characters. Not that they didn't have any, but if I could have felt just a little more of "them" it would have been better.

(PS: What kind of a stupid game is "Are You There, Moriarty?")