My Favorite Film Review

Movie review - Notting hill

The film that I decided to pick was Notting hill, a romantic comedy starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. While being directed and produced by Roger Michell and Richard Curtis in 1999, it was a fictional stereotypical love story, yet others could say differently. Basing on a young actress who falls in love with a ‘normal’ young man in London. The film was enticing to audiences and connoted multiple messages throughout the whole text. 

The targeted audience was 13 years and above, I completely agree with this as I felt anyone younger would not have been able to understand the implied messages throughout the film. The couple goes through multiple obstacles together, barely making it as a couple. Which I believe makes this a relatable film to mass audiences. Everyday people are faced with a variety of challenges and obstacles romantically and in general. Seeing this film would be a huge reminder that even a famous celebrity faces her own challenges in her daily life. With the binary opposition, of Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) choosing between famous ex-boyfriend and possible non famous William Thacker (Hugh grant) I feel it was a huge gripping moment to keep the audience entertained, and moved the narrative along. Some of the key conventions of a film include the opening, development and the resolution. Nottinghill followed each of these conventions perfectly, keeping the target audience interested at all moments. For example, the opening where they meet, the development when they are faced with different obstacles and finally the resolution when they get married and end up together. Again, following the stereotypical love story which normally occurs in the romantic genre. Though this can be juxtaposed as the story is about a love story of a celebrity, which is unique and can be the exciting twist for the audience and narrative.  

Overall, I found the film extremely enticing for multiple audiences not just the intended target audience being men and women over the age of 20. The use of celebrity factor, is another enticing convention of the film which developed the narrative even further. As mentioned in my previous paragraph it was relatable, including challenges of everyone's daily life. While juxtaposing this as she is a celebrity falling in love. I felt that it connoted a key message of love, representing that not everything is as simple as it may seem, and that even the highest of celebrities may face challenges as simple as others may do. Looking into it even deeper, others may interpret those celebrities are reachable, and not so distant as they are normally seen as. Linking to Katz uses and gratifications theory, which explains that audiences consume media for 5 different reasons. Nottinghill does follow this theory. Watching this film does help audiences escape their reality, as it is a fictional film.  

So, to rebottle what I have just mentioned I do believe that this film follows the expectations and conventions of a film. While juxtaposing this with elements of excitement like the celebrity use of Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. And the unique love story that occurs.