Truly Madly Deeply

I won't go into a synopsis of the story, as many here have already done so admirably. Let it just be known that this is a delightful, wonderful, very English film. Those of you who love English films will know of what I speak. The English do not put their most glamorous actresses in their films, they don't get their actor's teeth fixed for the close-ups (Rickman's teeth are snaggly, but it doesn't take away from his charm and sexiness one whit), and they don't even dress everyone up in particularly attractive clothes. In other words, the real-ness of these characters adds to the charm of the film.

Loved seeing Rickman and Stevenson sing together, and it was priceless when I showed that scene to my kids and they said, "Snape can sing!" Kudos to Rickman for learning the cello to play his parts without being dubbed. Doggone it, I think I just may take up the cello as well.

This is one to own. Cannot recommend it highly enough.


Rickman Fans...Delight!   August 14, 2003
Aradia (Shelton, WA USA)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

While "Truly, Madly, Deeply" is not a new release, it is very much worth purchasing if you like music, romance...and, of course, if you - as I - enjoy Alan Rickman.

TMD is about a woman ("Nina"/Juliet Stevenson) who has lost her boyfriend/lover ("Jamie"/Alan Rickman)...the love of her life...her reason for living...you know, all that passionate and everlasting stuff. Seems he died of complications from a sore throat, a definite wink for Rickman, known in the Biz as The Voice (even before Dogma), for obvious reasons...

It seems Nina cannot get on with her life without Jamie. The man soothed her with CELLO MUSIC, for heaven's sake. He SANG to her...THEY sang duets and she played the piano and danced, ala Isadora Duncan. They delighted in mutually warped senses of humor... We're talking dream relationship here...and then...suddenly he's dead and - devastated -- Nina cannot face life without him.

Ultimately, Nina's grieving and pain brings Jaime back...in a corporal form. Two drawbacks; he is ALWAYS cold, and some of his afterlife buddies have moved in along with him...video-watching ghosts from beyond, who take over Nina's little flat, making themselves at home in front of the telly watching old movies until all hours.

At first, Nina is in heaven. Shutting herself up in her flat to glory in the return of the admittedly delicious Jamie, she effectively eliminates everything else in her world. But reality must enter the picture (this being Hollywood and all), and soon Jamie's annoying little habits begin to get under Nina's skin (think lying back in a warm tub, a cleansing mask on your face, and opening your eyes only see to a plastic fish - wearing glasses -- "swimming" at your face...or...being awakened with Rickman's soft baritone voice crooning "It's Raining in My Heart" in your ear as a cold glass of water is systematically drizzled on your head.) Jamie is also into totally rearranging Nina's apartment, something she has endeavored to make uniquely her own.

The birth of a friend's baby and finding a new male acquaintance, are the catalysts that finally make Nina choose life over death. In a five-hankie scene, Jamie has Nina translate a beautiful poem - about a lover choosing to go on and not follow the dead love to the grave -- as he recites it in (poor) Spanish.

If you are a Rickman fan, this is a MUST SEE. He is delightful as the moody, persnickety, musical Jamie...and it is an added treat to hear his rendition of "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Any More". He has a not-half-bad singing voice, and it's obvious he was having a hoot doing it.

If you view Rickman as merely "the cool guy who plays Severus Snape in the Harry Potter flicks", you ALSO must secure this movie! If you have enjoyed the man in other movies, but have never seen this one (it's novel...one of the few I can think of where he leaves ALL his clothes on -- including an overcoat -- and still remains the sensuous Alan Rickman we know and drool over) you SIMPLY MUST!

Five enthusiastic stars for Rickman at his most divinely delicious!


Absolutely wonderful film, not to be missed!   August 17, 2003
J. Fryer (Nicholasville, KY)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

The commentary of Anthony Minghella was extremely interesting. In addition to the usual insider tidbits about the film, Minghella gave us a great deal of information about how little he knew about film making when he directed the film, how short the shooting schedule was (28 days), and what a small budget they had ($650,000). He pointed out every directorial mistake he made; things that he `would never do now' because he would be embarrassed by them. Being the writer as well as the director, he also shared with the viewers that he thought he was writing a comedy. Only later upon seeing the reaction of audiences did he come to realize what strong emotions the film could evoke and how viewers perceived the message as being about how to handle grief, so much so that it has become a tool used by professionals to help the bereaved handle their loss.

Given how much more personal this film is than `The English Patient', the viewer might infer that directors can often be more effective when they don't know so much about their craft and they are not trying so hard to manipulate their audience with camera angles, wide shots, pans, etc. etc. What the viewer might more clearly discern is that this film is so successful, so entertaining, and so powerful almost solely due to the cast. The writer actually meant to say something else, the director was uneducated in his craft, but the actors more than made up for all those shortcomings. The cast, particularly the three main characters, transcended all the flaws, found meaning the writer didn't write, and turned in top notch, grade-A, 100% flawless performances.

This film encompasses more than a lesson in grief management. It is an education in all we can learn about love, true love. Showing what it truly means to love totally and completely, so much so that we will do absolutely anything for the welfare of those we love, including helping them get over their love for us if necessary. Alan Rickman, according to the director, played his role with almost no emotion because it was what the role required. Rickman is superb enough at his craft to appear to be superficial, irritating, and insensitive and still manage to exude more heartfelt emotion than most actors can display when they are giving their best effort. Using only his arms and hands in a loving embrace, Rickman conveys more to the viewer than 20 pages of a script would reveal. Juliet Stevenson displayed every possible emotion one can experience when dealing with both grief and with love, with the sorrow of the mingling of the two, and the happiness of discovering the latter. The supporting cast, comprised of a group of well-known, highly regarded English actors and a variety of friends and relatives of the writer/director, fulfilled their roles admirably.

When watching a film primarily for the purposes of seeing Alan Rickman's performance, his presence is often the best thing about the film. Not so with `Truly, Madly, Deeply'. Alan and Juliet together make the film all that it is, and that is wonderfully entertaining and deeply touching. This movie makes `Ghost' seem as lightweight as a wisp of wind and a waif of smoke. `Truly, Madly, Deeply' is the `real thing'. The film touches your heart and stirs a multitude of human emotions. Alan and Juliet alternately, or sometimes simultaneously, bring tears to your eyes, laughter to your lips, and ample amounts of pain and joy to your heart. Speaking of `tears to your eyes', don't even attempt to watch this film without a box of tissues handy. You will definitely need them. You will be entertained and touched, and you will be glad you made the decision to watch this movie, not just for the first time either.