Now, one thing you should know about me before I begin is that I am a massive wet blanket - I cry when I see other people cry, I cry when I hear a nice singing voice, I cry when people win sports trophies and the list goes on. Whilst reading this book I was constantly sobbing - even on the tube, no shame here! Therefore, I was obviously sobbing my little socks off throughout the film just because I knew what was going to happen. I love being this cool - come join me!
This film tells the surface story well and gets the facts that the audience need to know out there. It pretty much does the basics. Because of this, I think if you haven't read the book previously then you have really lost out on some beautiful detail. To squeeze this complex relationship into one hour and forty seven minutes and also make the audience understand their love was never really going to work.
Now for Accent-gate! Anne Hathaway's accent does not deserve the flogging it is receiving. It isn't the best Yorkshire accent I've ever heard; it crosses over into standard RP and her own American accent can be detected at times but after the first twenty minutes or so you do tend to forget about it.
Performance-wise, Hathaway doesn't quite portray that sarcastic British self deprecating humour that readers will so love Emma Morley for, but she does put in a plausible performance. Again, it's one of those situations where there are so many talented British actresses out there, many who could have played this role, but in order to give the film transatlantic appeal they have gone with the Hollywood option. I find her captivating to watch as an actress and I love her understated style of performing but Emma has a little more punch as a character than Hathaway depicts. Jim Sturgess puts in a solid and believable performance as Dexter; he seems to really have read and understood what this character is about and who he is. He fits the character like a glove and takes us through Dex's development as a man with the perfect amount of emotional complexity required. One of the films triumphs is their chemistry as a couple. It feels natural and in no way fake. This is another factor that makes me sad that there's not more time to flesh out their development.
As a side note - Rafe Spall is an absolute cracker and has got Emma's 'comedian' boyfriend Ian off to a tee.
To round up, I would advise you read the novel before watching the film in order to gain the precious detail you're not exposed to with the film. It is, however, definitely worth a watch. If, like me, you like a good bawl then take some pocket tissues and blubber to your hearts content. Credible cast, lovely concept but not enough time to do the story justice is the cry. I only checked my phone once - not too shabby!
I agree with everything u wrote. the only part i dont like about the 1 day a year theme is major events in there life just never get explained in the film which am guessing they do in the book? as i gave up reading the book i was gutted when a certain person died i fought it would have been the other one. but even though the character died i didnt feel anything for the character, i think overall could have been alot better.
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