Customer Reviews

Truly Madly Deeply

5 star:		(77)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This? Is a great movie about loss and love that isn't dreary or heavy, but lighter than air.

It's funny, tender, moving, and intelligent. If I had to name a personal favorite, although I have thousands in my "top 100 list" this movie would be it. Minghella just wrote something delicate and funny, human, compassionate, and that exudes not only a love for people in all their differences, but that also just as wonderfully exudes a love of music and of literature.

Telling the story of Nina, a woman coping with a devastating loss, the script is whimsical and lighter than air and yet about some incredibly big, deep stuff. Juliet Stevenson is hilarous, klutzy, befuddled, and lovable as Nina -- sweetly goofy in some scenes, and then absolutely wrenching in others. And it's great to see Alan Rickman in a rare (and very charming) romantic leading role as Jamie (who knew he could sing?). Michael Maloney's role is tougher in some ways, but he has a touching and quite charismatic opening scene, as well as one of the funniest first-date-scenes I've ever seen.

Ultimately, Truly Madly Deeply is a lovely, resonant story about grownups who don't talk like they're in a movie. The performances are fantastic, the romantic triangle is unique and likeable, and every character is a memorable and believable person you're happy to have met, from the romantic Polish handyman, to Nina's prickly yet big-hearted Scottish boss (a fabulous Bill Paterson), to the philosophical rat exterminator (who's pretty sure rats can talk to each other), to Nina's best friend, a very pregnant Spanish filmmaker who manages to keep a cheery attitude even when forced to clean houses for a living. Everyone we meet in the movie is smart, individual, and delightful (even the ghosts, who spend most of their afterlife watching movies on borrowed VCRs).

The DVD itself looks great, with a few notable informational tidbits and features. My favorite special feature is the smart, funny, and fascinating DVD commentary from director and screenwriter Anthony Minghella (better known for "The English Patient") -- Minghella's commentary is as rich and interesting as the movie itself, like having him over to dinner to discuss life, death, love, and film.

Ultimately, Truly Madly Deeply is a wonderful experience. It's also a great reminder in these sometimes difficult post-9-11 times, that -- for anyone who's ever lost a loved one, the sun does keep shining (even when the feet want to march elsewhere).

I saw "Truly Madly Deeply" at a small, art house cinema over a decade ago.I remember that I really loved this film and now after recently seeing it again on DVD, I am reminded why. It is a film that brings about very strong emotions of how we feel about the special people in our lives. This is the story of women name Nina who has lost her husband, Jamie.The grief that she experiences is so profound, that she just can't get over the loss.Jamie eventally starts reappearing to Nina as a ghost (along with some very funny, video loving, ghostly friends).It is through these spectral visits, that Nina learns some very important lessons about living life. This is both a very funny but emotional story. My Favorite humorous scene is when one of Jamie's ghostly buddies, berates Nina for erasing a video tape of Wody Allen's "Manhattan".Apparently all these spirits are cinema buffs! It is not to often that we get to laugh and understand a character's pain all at the same time. Juliet Stevenson is just plainly brilliant as she has us experience her character's deep love for her late husband.Alan Rickman is very funny as a ghost, who is romantic but all too real, with his complaints and fussiness (he is constantly whining about the flat).This is one of those films, that after viewing, you want to find your love one, whether they are a spouse or child or any other special person in your life and hold them, just a bit tighter.

One of the finest films about grieving and death I have ever seen. Humorous as well as infinitely touching, this film examines the depths to which we can fall in not letting go of one we love. Alan Rickman, Juliet Stevenson and Michael Maloney all give absolutely riviting, beautiful performances. Alan Rickman, one of the finest actors of our generation, again proves himself master at subtle comic delivery and timing, as well as breaking our hearts. Juliet Stevenson gives a magnificent performance as a woman who cannot let go, and gets that second chance she has dreamed of; she reaches to places few actors dare to go. Michael Maloney is charming and moving as the man who dares to love Juliet despite herself. In the best of British tradition, this film moves slowly and quietly, creating characters we come to love, encompassing both pain and humor as it illustrates the need for each of us to accept and move on. Beautiful. You will not be disappointed. (PS: The cello scene is one of the most moving ever captured on film...you will know it when you see it!>)

A lovely little British drama (with some comedy), "Truly, Madly, Deeply" examines the stages of one woman's grief from agonizing loneliness to the acceptance of new love. Juliet Stevenson plays Nina, whose lover, Jamie (Alan Rickman) has just died. She is miserable and inconsolable until, one day, he comes back! At first, it's wonderful - just like the good old days - but then his annoying little habits start to really bother her and, in a quirky plot twist, his dead pals move in with them.

Fans of the wonderful Alan Rickman will certainly enjoy his offbeat, funky portrayal of the late Jamie, a man who seems to revel in being a selfish slob. He and Juliet Stevenson share a musical duet that is not to be missed. This film probably qualifies as a "chick flick," but don't let that put you off; it is very special, very touching, and a must-see in my opinion. If you've ever lost someone you loved very much, you'll feel right at home here and doubtless shed a few tears at the bittersweet ending. This is "Ghost" without the sappy sentimentality. Heartily recommended.

Kona

Truly, Madly... is one of my all-time favorite movies. It plays out a scenario that anyone who has lost a dear loved one can relate to. We see Nina in unconsolable grief over her loss--when to her shock then utter delight, her love returns. And for a time she builds her life around him, living in a fairy-tale-world. As time goes by she finds herself reluctantly being drawn back to reality. The poem by Pablo Neruda offered in Spanish for her to translate is the poignantly bittersweet turning point. This film should not be missed--I,m so glad to own a copy. Now all I need to do is find Bach's wonderful cello/piano duet.

Nina can't move ahead with her life after the loss of her lover, Jamie, so Jamie returns to her. And for a while she's overjoyed. But then she starts to remember why Jamie often made her crazy, remembers that he wasn't a saint or an angel, but a man. And losing him was a tragedy, but not one she can't ever recover from. She's alive and she wants a life. She can't have that with Jamie, and finally she gets the closure she needs to say good-bye to him, and move on.

So many comparisons were made between TMD and Ghost, but comparisons do justice to neither film. Taken on its own merits, I'd have to say that TMD is one of the sweetest love stories I've ever seen because it's one of the most real. Nina is a real woman who gets blotchy when she cries, has second thoughts, says and does foolish things and loves deeply. She has needs and desires which she puts on hold out of grief, but when she gets a good, solid nudge from the ghost of her lover, she recognizes how much of life is ahead of her and she accepts, finally, that loss is a part of that life.

I'm not sure why this film means so much to me. At a guess I'd say that it transcends my love for Alan Rickman by miles. Possibly it's because I first saw it after losing someone I loved, or maybe I was just ready for the gentle humor and lessons about life, love and loss that the film offers. I highly recommend this film.

This film has leaped into the top five for my all-time favorites. Thank goodness, too, since there hasn't been much out there to cheer about for years. I wish it hadn't taken me a decade to discover this wonderful film.

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.

Truly Madly Deeply is an amazing film, it's moving, it's humorous and it's romantic. It has everything you want in a film. Being an absolute Alan Rickman fan, I couldn't resist buying Truly Madly Deeply and I must say it's an instant classic.
Nina, a thirty something translator, fantastically played by Juliet Stevenson, loses the love of her life, Jamie, who was a cellist.
As her life and her flat falls apart, it seems she's on the edge of an emotional breakdown but while she plays a half-finished Bach duet on the piano, she turns around and Jamie's there, playing the cello.
It's bliss at first but then he starts rearranging the furniture, inviting his ghostly friends to her flat to watch old movies on video and Nina's passion turns into irritation.
The ending is so moving but I won't spoil it, I loved the acting, Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman are brilliant, it's a pity they aren't appreciated as well as they should be.
This movie isn't a British re-make of the US film "Ghost" but a touching story about a woman who learning to cope with grief and anger and carrying on with her life. We've all been there and it's something everyone can relate to.
If you like romantic movies without the Hollywood glamour, Truly Madly Deeply is highly recommended!

The Brits really have something over the Americans when it comes to subjects like this. Compare this movie with Ghost and you'll know what I'm talking about. It's nice to see something done with intelligence for a change--especially in the "romance" genre.

It is refreshing to see actors who resemble REAL people, not some pre-fabricated, air-brushed, version of humanity that Hollywood *thinks* we want.

Alan Rickman and Juliet Stevenson are terrific as usual, as is the entire cast.

TMD made me sob in the theatre more than a decade ago. It was well worth it.

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.