Customer Reviews

Falling in Love

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

There is a romantic glow to this very undervalued film. It is a throwback to films of the 40's and 50's. Robert DeNiro and Meryl Streep give old style performances to match the story's atmosphere, which is sweet and sentimental. It does not make light of the subject matter of having an affair but instead is a film about finding love itself. In keeping with that theme, the romantic feelings of the two leads are never allowed to reach their natural conclusion. The love that gently blossoms is one of the heart.

Frank Raftis (DeNiro) and Molly Gilmore (Streep) are going about their mundane and uninspiring lives amidst the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season in New York when they literally run into each other at a bookshop. Both are married and when they meet again on the train to work, a friendship begins. Even the small prospect of riding to work together is handled gingerly as both are good people who would not want to hurt their spouses.

As they become more dependent on each other the moral dilema escalates. There are charming scenes as each almost misses the train, and the chance to talk. Her father is sick and Molly's response is to call Frank. It is the little things that separate this film from others. Frank and Molly fall in love for the reason we all do; because of how we feel about ourselves when we are with that person.

When they finally can not stand it anymore they have a clumsy and aborted attempt at making love. Both DeNiro and Streep are wonderful at capturing the moral dilema of two people already married who have found the love of their life. Dianne Wiest has a nice turn as Molly's best friend Isabelle and Harvey Keitel as DeNiro's pal Ed is engaging. Jane Kaczmarek, of television's Malcolm in the Middle fame, gives a nice performance as Franks's wife Ann.

This film begins at Christmas and ends at Christmas a year later. It is a sweet and charming film about falling in love and finding happiness. Dave Grusin helps the atmosphere with a nice score that perfectly captures the sweet exhilaration and anguish of Frank and Molly's love. If you enjoy films that deal with love instead of lust, then chances are you'll fall in love with this one. It's a very nice film to own.

I have a certain fondness for this movie, and twenty years later, it still gets to me. I first saw this movie in a theater during a bleak Chicago winter, and the coziness of this romantic fable warmed me at the right time. Meryl Streep and Robert DeNiro - probably at the height of their respective careers in 1984 as respected, Method-style actors and bankable stars - have certainly had more challenging roles to play than the two married suburbanites here, Molly and Frank, who develop a strong attachment to one another by way of train rides back and forth from Westchester to Manhattan. In fact, this movie does not even have the emotional gravity of Noel Coward's "Brief Encounter", which screenwriter Michael Cristopher is apparently mimicking with a mid-eighties sensibility. There are even excellent actors in supporting roles - Harvey Keitel as Frank's best friend going through his own transition, Dianne Wiest as Molly's sex-obsessed best friend, Jane Kaczmarek as Frank's content but guarded wife, David Clennon as Molly's emotionally unavailable husband - but none are given much to do, other than to be left to their own unstated thoughts and observe what's going on with the main characters.

Yet the film has a certain pervasive charm and a subtle sense of intimacy that makes it seem more substantial than it has any right to be. There is a certain improvisational element to the two lead performances that contributes to this feeling and makes the characters easy to like despite upscale lifestyles that appear more appropriate in a Pottery Barn catalog. You do believe these two characters are hesitantly falling in love, and the scene where they try to make love for the first time has an aching honesty that deepens the story at the right moment. Leave it to Streep and DeNiro to make it all look so authentic in spite of some silly Hollywood story conventions, such as the "boy meets girl" meeting over a passel of Christmas packages at Rizzoli's or the one-year-later denouement that ends naturally on a crowded commuter train...as if there was real suspense in how the story would end. Even putting "The End" on the screen induces an aura of Hollywood artifice.

Regardless, the little moments are what provide the most pleasure here....the way Molly explains how she has made mu-shu pork with Aunt Jemima's pancake mix; how Frank practices his line for the "accidental" run-in with Molly; the montage of silly, Dallas/Dynasty-era outfits that Molly tries on to look good for Frank. These moments provide a nice counterbalance to the more predictable scenes of regret and guilt that are inevitable with this story. Ulu Grosbard directs the actors with a sure hand, though the pacing drags at times, especially toward the end when he suddenly tries to build some suspense with a speeding car in a downpour. Dave Grusin provides a nice, FM-lite score highlighted by "Mountain Dance", the syncopated theme that plays throughout the movie. This film is definitely recommended for those seeking Hollywood-style romance with two acting heavyweights who inject some nice realism into a slight story.

The acting that De Niro and Streep exercise within this film is truly exemplary, proving once again (The Deer Hunter) that the chemistry between the two is so powerful. They don't need to be talking in order to show it either. The amount of emotion that Streep and De Niro convey within a subtle face gesture is enormous. There remains no doubt within my mind that true lovers of the acting craft will appreciate their skill within this gem of a film. Everything about their acting makes this story so credible-- that extraordinary love can flourish and blossom among two everyday people who are currently living within two decent, good marriages.
No, this will not be the De Niro you may see in your hard core gangster filck, but that's just a sign of a great method actor! De Niro is man of many faces and emotions! He's not simply playing himself in all his roles, as opposed to many other actors. He pulls this role off brilliantly!
Bottom line: If you appreciate great acting, and are a romantic at heart, you will not be disappointed with this film. I hope that De Niro and Streep make another movie together!

I came across this film quite by accident one morning while channel surfing and became totally wrapped up in it.Why this movie didn't click with a larger audience when it was first released, I will never understand. It's a woman's flick. A love story. But also a wonderful showcase for the talents -- and chmistry -- between Meryl Streep and Robert DeNiro. Did you love Meryl in Bridges of Madison County with Clint Eastwood? Then you will love this. And I don't think I've ever seen Robert DeNiro more at ease in a love story than he is in this. When you watch this movie, keep observing the body language and facial expressions of the two stars -- most especially in the final scene of the film. (I don't think Meryl has ever looked more beautiful). If you've never seen this film, you owe it to yourself to rent or buy the dvd.

This film apparently went completely un-noticed at the time it was made. To watch it now obviously done early in their careers is such a confirmation of their amazing talent (both Robert DeNiro and Meryl Street). Their ability to "inhabit" the characters is truly miraculous. So much is communicated by them to each other with few words that it is absolutely fascinating.
As artists they both seem to know each other so well and "play off" of one another with such "ease" that it is truly unbelievable that they didn't make more films together.
Everytime I watch this film and it has been many; I am completely caught up in it again like I'm seeing it for the first time. That's why it's a complete "treasure" for anyone's DVD library.

Perfect movie, real state of art ! Flawless playings of R. De Niro and M. Streep. I never thought, that trivial love story might be shown so touching. Watching this story about love you realise, that nothing can stand between those loving each other. And this movie is one more proof of sining talent of R. De Niro as an actor capable of playing any role.

Even after all these years, this remains one of my favorite love stories. It is a different kind of love story though..the two main protagonists played by Robert de Niro and Meryl Streep are married to other people, yet a chance encounter leads to another meeting, and eventually a friendship develops...this later moves on to something more deep, an attraction and love that transcends everything else. Hollywood doesn't make movies like this anymore...there is no gratutious sex or foul language, just a slow simmering attraction that grows from strength to strength. The two leads are good people who don't really want to hurt their respective spouses, and so their moral dilemma...how do they realise their true feelings for each other whilst not hurting their spouses? Adultery is such a delicate subject, yet is handled here with gentleness and finesse. De Niro & Streep give exacting performances, with tremendous depth and insight into the psyche of a pair of 'lovers' who desire to be with each other yet also want to remain faithful to their marriage vows. A classic love story & definitely a keeper!

Love is more than an emotion... It's above all, the substance of our being, the gift of oneself...

We all want to fall in love... We all want to be caught up out of our ordinary life... Maybe because it is the only true adventure, maybe because that experience makes us feel completely alive... It may only last a moment, an hour, an afternoon, but that doesn't diminish its value, because we are left with memories that we treasure for the rest of our lives...

Here, Merryl Streep and DeNiro are the kind of people who are ready to take action on an opportunity... Following a chance meeting in a bookshop, pre-Xmas, the two central characters find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other... But both are married... She has a husband, he has a wife and two lovely kids...

Both are meant to be together but they are inexperienced, uptight... And neither really knows what to do with his fear, shyness, hesitation, and confusion... On this thread of plot hangs a nice romantic film where two super stars combined their talent to conquer a dry script...

Director Ulu Grosbard makes sure there are plenty of subway stations, trains, hot dogs, coffee, driving rainstorm, two adjacent pay phones, walks through the streets, swelling music, and much more for the lovers to get romantic over... His motion picture is strictly traditional, which makes his sensitive film something fresh and entertaining...

Warning, a few spoilers here! I am a big fan of Robert DeNiro and Meryl Streep, especially Deniro. So, I know I liked this film more than people who aren't appreciative of them would. Still, its nice to finally see a film for adults that does not have profanity, violence, or nudity. That is a rarity these days. There is good chemistry between these 2 actors and the only other film they were in together was "The Deer Hunter", another great film!. I could not take my eyes off of them, especially DeNiro! I only wish they had done more films together. There must be other big ones in them, so I hope they do! The movie builds up the tension nicely before they really meet and get to know each other, and I found myself really wanting them to meet even though they are married to other people. I did not find it plausible that in a city of so many millions that they would bump into each other as much, but hey, if they did not, we wouldn't have the movie. Each character has a friend in which they confide (Streep ruluctantly so) about the possibililty of an affair, and their friends are'nt really concerned that they might lose their marriages as they have allready played around some. DeNiro's friend, played by Harvey Keitel, is getting divorced and likes the change, so its frustrating that no one tells them the obvious, that an affair changes things for good. It is a treat seeing DeNiro and Keitel together again. These 2 great actors were first seen together in 1973's "Mean Streets"! Check that one out if you want to see chemistry between those 2 although to warn you, it is a very violent film! After seeing them in the gritty, realisic "Mean Streets" its hard to imagine them in business suits chatting. The 2nd film they were in together is 1976's "Taxi Driver" a film I rate even higher than these 2 films! A powerful study of loneliness in isolation in a city, "Taxi Driver" is one of my all-time faves.

Ok, back to this review. This movie starts out pretty thoughtful, showing what falling in love can do to one's married life where you allready have commitments, but I felt that the end was not as realistic as the characters deserved, but I am not one for unhappy endings and I really wanted to see these 2 characters happy. I know, its a cliche, someone running to meet someone on a train that has allready left, but I love romance and I know I'd want Robert DeNiro running after me! Streep does a great job at showing her inner turmoil and resulting guilty feelings as she knows she has spent time w/Frank (DeNiro's character)and not with her ailing parent. The sadness and the stress that this romance causes her is human and real. Its sweet to see these approaching midlife characters become caught up in an all-new blush of love! They are in each other's thoughts, especially when away from each other. I thought DeNiro did a nice job in the hard-to-watch scene where his wife sees his moodiness and asks him what's wrong and he is caught up in this delemma of wanting to be really happy and not wanting to hurt his wife and family. One thing the screenwriter could have clarified better is what actually brings these 2 characters together? since they have great lives living in nice neighborhoods and shop in upscale places. Streep's character, Molly, had a serious dud of a husband, so there I can see why a bit, but Frank seems happy w/his 2 children and married life. So I only wish this fun-to-watch film had been longer so we could get a sense of the why.

I want to also add that with the not-strong plot, this movie really needed 2 strong performances and DeNiro and Streep give it all they got. Their facial expressions are just perfect and wonderful in their subtlety and complexity. You can tell, just from watching their faces and the way their eyes move, what the weak script could not portray, so to me, that is a true test of great acting and they deliver!

Frank and Molly try to make love, and I won't say what happens but I really wish their attempt at love-making had been longer. I know, its more of a feeling oflove film, but with their chemistry that would have been something. In these times where hollywood always portrays infidelities w/violence and carnality, a film like this is memorable and greatly needed.

And its so refreshing to see DeNiro in an unviolent role where he is not playing a threatening, mean character who mistreats women, so this film showcases a different side of his acting. If you want to see a very rare, gentler DeNiro, as I do, I also recommend "Stanley and Iris". You can tell this film was made in the 80's and they should have given Streep less frumpy clothes to wear, but the theme is timeless--2 people who have something between them that they know is there. That other person makes them feel good. They don't know what to do with these feelings of fondness for the other but they do want to feel something.

This is an undervalued film to which critics did not give great reviews and was not a box-office hit, but box office records mean little when you look at the load of pitiful movies that have action w/no character development and I feel the critics did not give this film a chance. That was partly due to the fact that there were huge expectations in these 2 actors and if it had been 2 other actors the critics would not have been as serious. They kept saying that one problem was that there was not much to it, but that is what I like about this film--I felt there was allready enough plot in the film and there isn't the overload of plot and subplots that most movies have. This movie does not assault you like so many w/choppy editing and loudness and action, thankfully! If you want your 100% us rda of DeNiro and want to complete your Streep collection, this is definitely for you. If you do not, you still get a fun movie about love.

I found this film to be touching and for the most part, realistic. These are two basically honest married people who happen to have fallen in love. Very well done portrayals by DeNiro and Streep. They help to plug up a few obvious thin spots in the plot, and their inner torture really makes you feel for them both. If you enjoyed this movie and this subject matter, I highly recommend the 1945 classic British film, "Brief Encounter". I actually consider Falling in Love to be a re-make of this film, they are so similar. Brief Encounter is an extremely well-crafted and unusually constructed film. It is told to the viewer as a thought narrative by the woman imagining a full confession to her husband. I would give Brief Encounter five stars. This movie also served as the inspiration for another great film, "The Apartment".