On a rainy afternoon this past week we decide to see a movie. It was my husband’s turn to pick and I was surprised when he picked this one. He looked at the trailer and said, “I think it’s a chick-flick but it looks interesting. It has that actress we like. The one who just died.”
We stopped at what we now call our favorite french-fry place and ate lunch. Nothing spectacular: soup (potato), salad (garden variety), half a tuna sandwich, and their yummy fries. On to the movie.
Letters To Juliet is the story of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), an American girl on vacation in Verona, Italy. While sight-seeing she discovers the wall of letters written to the fictional Juliet (from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet). Sophie learns there are volunteers who have been answering these letters for decades.
One day Sophie discovers a letter hidden in the wall that has been there for fifty years. It’s from an English woman, Claire, to her Italian lover telling him she is leaving. Sophie takes the letter to the volunteers but she is persuaded to answer the letter herself.
The next thing you know a young Englishman, Charlie (Christopher Egan), shows up at the volunteer’s office. He’s furious at whoever wrote the letter to his grandmother, Claire. Claire has come to Italy to find her long lost lover. Sophie wants to meet Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) and then she finds herself on a search throughout the countryside of Tuscany with Claire and Charlie.
The rest of the story is fun, although predictable. It was great to see Vanessa Redgrave one more time. Amanda Seyfried was new to both of us but she did a good job in the lead role. I later learned she’s had a good TV career and got her big movie break in Mama Mia. She’s working on three more movies right now so I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of her.
I thought the casting of Christopher Egan in his role was off. He played the outraged Englishman well, but he didn’t convince me as the romantic lead. Not enough passion.
What made this movie for me was the photography of Verona and the landscapes of Tuscany. All those rolling hills with vineyards and the beautiful buildings on the giant screen was breathtaking. I know that sounds like an exaggeration, but I did literally gasp several times.
I already have a strong desire to see this area and the movie put it over the top for me. Until I get to Italy someday, I’ll watch this movie again – for the scenery. The story was good, just not as wonderful as the photography.
What about you – have you seen the movie? If so, what did you think?
If the picture you included is anything like the rest of the movie, the scenery would make me gasp too. I saw Amanda Seyfriend in Mama Mia and I thought she was adorable. You’ve made me want to see this movie.
I never even heard of this movie! How pathetic of me, I guess! I think I’m spending too much time on Google Reader! LOL
I’m looking forward to this one too. I like Amanda Seyfriend and have seen her in several movies now. One thing, Vanessa Redgrave isn’t the one the died. It was her sister, Lynn Redgrave, who passed away recently after battling breast cancer for many years. Oh, one more thing. The Italian lover of Claire (Vanessa) is Franco Nero who has been the real-life partner to Vanessa Redgrave for many years I think. They met when they were doing Camelot (which I’m sure many have seen). She played Guinevere, of course, and he was Lancelot. I read the story about them in People Magazine recently. OK, stepping down off my “did you know” soapbox. LOL
Your husband is a dear; mine would look at me after the movie and say, “Boy, you sure can pick ‘em.”
He doesn’t appreciate this kind of movie, but I do and I so admire Vanessa Redgrave. The Italian scenery sounds wonderful. I’ll have to make sure Dave’s cousin in Rome sees the movie.
Ahh, I love movies set in Italy… It seems Vanessa Redgrave has done many that take place in Italy (a fun quiz idea for Stacy). I love that her real-life partner plays her lover in the movie. And I really like Amanda Seyfriend, she was great in Mama Mia.
Glad you are making good use of these rainy days.
Sounds like my kind of movie, despite the poor casting of the Englishman! We became fans of Amanda Seyfried when we saw her in Big Love.
I want to see this movie so bad! I have it on my list. But the theater is so expensive. I have a hard time justifying the price of movies and pop corn and a drink lol
But I need to go see someting soon and this is definitly on my list.
I’m thinking of seeing this this week. Looks beautiful.
Only, Vanessa is still alive. It was her sister Lynn who died.
I want to see this one too and the scenery shots are gorgeous!!!
I saw the previews for this and looked lovely. Can’t believe it was your husband’s pick though! And did Vanessa Redgrave die???? I didn’t know that. And if you haven’t seen it yet, Mamma Mia is a really really fun movie … and talk about your lovely locations!
I just discovered your blog, Joyfully Retired, and have now made it a favorite. I was forced out of my job by a youngster who was intimidated by this old sage
and now have decided to accepting this gift from God and make my departure from a 10 year hitch to a joyful early retirement.
I’ll have more time for my Red Hat Chapter friends and this movie with Redgrave will be one of our “Friday night movie nights.”
Loving your blog,
Katie
I agree with your review, but I did enjoy it, especially Vanessa Redgrave. She is the reason I went.