
Overview
Based on the celebrated novel by Nicholas Sparks, THE NOTEBOOK tells the story of a young couple who overcome insurmountable odds to experience the true power of love. In a modern-day nursing home, a kindhearted man (James Garner) reads a tender story to another patient (Gena Rowlands). The story begins during one glorious summer in small-town South Carolina in the early 1940s. Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) is a blue-collar log-mill worker who courts the wealthy and sheltered Allie Nelson (Rachel McAdams). Before long, sparks are flying and the pair is in love. But eventually Allie's snobby parents force their separation, and when World War II arrives, Noah heads overseas to serve his country. In the meantime, Allie becomes a nurse and falls for another man (James Marsden), to Noah's dismay. Nonetheless, he buys and fixes up the mansion he promised Allie he would one day restore, and when he and Allie reunite just before her wedding, their love blossoms once again. Decades later, in the nursing home, the story reaches its heartfelt conclusion. Directed with extreme sensitivity by Nick Cassavetes (son of costar Gena Rowlands), THE NOTEBOOK is aided immensely by the naturalistic performances of Gosling and McAdams, whose chemistry is palpable.
Awards:
Main Cast & Crew:
Nick Cassavetes - Director
James Garner
Gena Rowlands
Rachel McAdams
Ryan Gosling
Nancy De Mayo
James Marsden
Jamie Anne Brown
Andrew Schaff
Anthony-Michael Q. Thomas
Barbara Weetman
Details
- Format: DVD (Full Frame, AC-3, Dolby, Widescreen)
- Run Time: 124
- Color Format: Color
- UPC: 794043749728
- Genre: DRAMA
- Rating: PG-13 (MPAA)
- Release Date: February 2005

Movie Reviews
Notes:
THEATRICAL RELEASE: JUNE 25, 2004
Reviews:
"[I]t's easy to surrender to the swooning violins on the soundtrack....It helps that the film is lovingly crafted and extremely well-acted." - 06/01/2004 Movieline's Hollywood Life, p.104-6
"Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams break through the barrier to evoke high-strung, slightly crazed teenagers plunging headlong into first love....Their performances are so spontaneous and combustible that you quickly identify with the reckless sweethearts..." - 06/25/2004 New York Times, p.E1
"[P]atiently told, impressively performed, and beautifully shot..." - 02/11/2005 Entertainment Weekly, p.52
"The performances respect the passion at the beginning and the sentiment at the end, not pushing too hard. It's a tear-jerker, but well-acted and deeply felt." - 02/04/2005 Chicago Sun-Times, p.24