X
- 1999
- PG-13
- Universal Pictures
- 2 h 4 m
- 1999
- PG-13
- Universal Pictures
- 2 h 4 m
Summary Anna Scott (Roberts) is the world's most famous movie star. William Thacker (Grant) owns a travel bookstore. When Anna and William's paths unexpectedly cross in the eclectic neighborhood of Notting Hill, romance is the last thing on their minds. This charming romantic comedy proves that love can spring from even the most unlikely of c...
Directed By: Roger Michell
Written By: Richard Curtis
- 1999
- PG-13
- Universal Pictures
- 2 h 4 m
- 1999
- PG-13
- Universal Pictures
- 2 h 4 m
Notting Hill
68
8.1
Where to Watch
Summary Anna Scott (Roberts) is the world's most famous movie star. William Thacker (Grant) owns a travel bookstore. When Anna and William's paths unexpectedly cross in the eclectic neighborhood of Notting Hill, romance is the last thing on their minds. This charming romantic comedy proves that love can spring from even the most unlikely of c...
Directed By: Roger Michell
Written By: Richard Curtis
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally favorable
Based on 34 Critic Reviews
68
82% Positive
28 Reviews
28 Reviews
9% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
9% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Metascore
Generally favorable
Based on 34 Critic Reviews
68
82% Positive
28 Reviews
28 Reviews
9% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
9% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
It comes as a bonus that this romantic comedy is one of the rare pictures of its type that actually is about something -- the double-edged sword of celebrity.
Its deadpan wit, ingenious fairy-tale premise and superbly accomplished cast will leave you feeling positively oxygenated.
User Score
Universal acclaim
Based on 150 User Ratings
8.1
84% Positive
126 Ratings
126 Ratings
13% Mixed
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
3% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
User Score
Universal acclaim
Based on 150 User Ratings
8.1
84% Positive
126 Ratings
126 Ratings
13% Mixed
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
3% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
So the film has this weird postmodernist taint: It has a self-aware script that cleverly plays off the reality of its own cast and their famous real-life contretemps. It's smart and knowing.
The deft, hilarious Notting Hill finds Grant's dour-droll-deprecating affliction at its most dead-on.
At once a light comedy and a reasonably serious meditation on the perils of fame.
It has to be noted that the use of music in this film is the worse in recent memory: maudlin, syrupy, and overwrought.
Notting Hill offers another example of moviemakers consoling themselves about how tough it is to be famous while congratulating themselves on how down-to-earth they really are.
Wow this was amazing. I think this could easily be one of my favourite romantic comedies. The comedy was hilarious and the romance was beautiful. Like with Pretty Woman, it had that class difference and it's such a strong element in these films. William is a bookseller, barely making any money to keep the store open. Anna is an actress and made $15 million in her last film. However, money doesn't stop them from falling in love. In fact, Anna makes all this money and couldn't find happiness, and William without her was stuck in an endless loop of living with no meaning. However, their paths cross and their lives are changed forever.
I need to mention how good these ending scenes are in these romantic comedies. They all have the same premise with the one chasing after the other, but every time it's very special and takes your heart away.
Normally this genre doesn't do anything special in cinematography but I think this film did a great job, having a lot of rememberable scenes. There were a few continuity errors, however the editor always prioritised emotion and there couldn't be nothing more important.
After watching this I've realised that romance/ romantic comedies are my favourite type of film. They're just too beautiful.
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“Notting Hill” was a movie I was hesitantly looking forward to because it stars a bunch of solid actors like Hugh Grant (“Four Weddings and a Funeral”), Julia Roberts (“Erin Brockowich”) and Rhys Ifans (“The Amazing Spiderman”). I had also heard some good things about it. Then again it was a romantic comedy and those are really hit and miss for me… I am however pleased to say that I liked it.
“Notting Hill” has a very basic plot: simple bookshop owner William Thacker, played by Grant, falls in love with the beautiful moviestar Anna Scott, played by Roberts. The entire movie is then a predictable “will they, won’t they?” ride but it is an enjoyable one at that.
I have already cited the main cast, Grant, Roberts, Ifans, and they are all great. Hugh Grant is perfect in his role since he delivers his lines with a dry wit that the character demands. Roberts suits her part great as well not only because of her looks but also because of her natural sense of humor. I know Rhys Ifans from “The Amazing Spiderman” where he plays the dead serious professor, Curt Connors. His role in this film is not like Connors. Not at all actually. Here he is an odd-ball, slacker who lives with William, named Spike. I have noticed that characters named Spike are often kooky… Just a fun sidenote.
Roger Michell is the director helming this film and his directing in this movie is fine. Nothing spectacluar or remarkable like what Edgar Wright does but… fine. He uses some long continuous shots that looks nice and the cinematography is very cool at times.
The soundtrack in “Notting Hill” is good. I say that it is good because it has one great part and one not so great part. First of all is the orchestral soundtrack wich is not the best. I wouldn’t say it’s sub-par but it feels too cheesy and it beats you over the head sometimes. Then there is the great part, the songs. “When You Say Nothing At All” is such a great song and it fits the film brilliantly. Other songs are played throughout the movie and they are equally fitting,
“Notting Hill” is a rom-com in it’s purest form. I have already described the basic plot wich is obviously not the strongest part of the film. The best part is however the script. The dialogue is very witty and funny. I cracked up several times thanks to the dry, humorous both style and tone of the talk in the film. However, the dialogue is a double edged sword. While it is funny it is very unbelievable and it feels fake and theater-like. I have no problem with theater but plays and movies are two different mediums and they should not be switched up.
So in the end, “Notting Hill” is a standard rom-com with funny dialogue and fine acting. The story is compelling enough to keep you invested while not leaving the formula we are used to. If you want to see a fun movie with great chemistry between the actors you may not have to look any further than to “Notting Hill”.
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Always a fan of Julia Roberts, but so much of this was unbearably cheesy. Certain plot points. Hugh Grant's roommate. That music.
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If you’re a hopeless romantic (as I tend to be) you may last the distance of this way overlong, crudish, fairytale. By the first 20mins, I was getting somewhat restless and my viewing accomplice simply said, enough is enough, then got up and left. I waited to see if it got better – it didn’t. Hugh Grant is typecast (or should that be miscast?) as the by the numbers coy, clumsy, bookstore owner - while Julia Roberts does her best to convince, as the poor-little-rich-movie star. Both have to deal with a forced, unrealistic, script by the same writing team of ‘4 weddings and a Funeral’ (& it shows) with a dreary slow pace. Example; if you can swallow the idea that an International Movie Mega-Star beauty, can walk unnoticed through the streets and shops of London - without attracting any Paparazzi! - Or on the other hand, that a nobody, spreading a rumour one night in a local pub, can bring a street blocking avalanche of international press to an unknown ‘private’ address – then you might enjoy this outlandish ‘would-be’ situation comedy. Ms Roberts knows only too well, how impossible it would be for her character to get away with this super-stretched situation. It’s amazing what star power can do to convince some audiences to part with their money. If you happen to be in the right starry-eyed mood (like; newly in love or just won the lottery) you could possibly be the right audience for this fluff – otherwise, don’t expect too much, look for something worthwhile or just steer clear. If this is being touted as one the best romantic movies of its year – then, seems to suggest there may have been lean pickings on offer. As with too many movies of this era, the soundtrack is overloaded with unnecessary pop songs to fill in for gaps in dialog (and sell S/T CDs). To each their own.
Best point; It offers a role for a disabled character to be shown in a positive light.
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This movie was duuuuummmb. It was long and stupid long looks at other characters that led to stupid innuendos that don't work until an ending that just died on the table.
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Production Company
Polygram Filmed Entertainment,
Working Title Films,
Notting Hill Pictures,
Bookshop Productions
Release Date May 28, 1999
Duration 2 h 4 m
Rating PG-13
Tagline Can the most famous film star in the world fall for just an ordinary guy?
Awards
Golden Globes, USA
• 3 Nominations
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
• 4 Nominations
BAFTA Awards
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
