Julia Roberts is really good in this!
-
Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Notting Hill
shazchina — 15 years ago(June 16, 2010 08:17 PM)
I've just re-watched "Notting Hill" for probably the fifth time and I think this film really does show what a fine actress Julia Roberts can be. She has amazing inflections in her facial expressions that at times can be very subtle, showing vulnerability or other emotions.
She also starts out guarded and wary, as you might expect someone famous to be, and then gradually opens up as she sees that the "commoner" Hugh Grant might be a good romantic partner for her. This culminates in the last scenes, albeit sappy, but also wonderful and perfectly synchronized with the lyrics of the Elvis Costello version of "She." When she realizes that "William" wants to be with her she just beams, and does so through the wedding and film premiere clips as well.
It's like she finally found the real happiness in a "real life" she was missing when she was just a famous person. I actually think this makes it more believable (to the extent that the film is believable at all!). -
ekotan — 15 years ago(August 03, 2010 06:15 AM)
Yes, she's absolutely flawless in this movie. I feel that if it wasn't for her nuanced and believeable performance, this film could have easily turned out to be poor or mediocre at best; but because of how she nails her performance, it's turned out to be a classic that people like to watch again and again.
Of course, the other actors were excellent as well, but it's Julia's performance which was key in selling the premise of the movie to the audience. -
Lester_Burnham_Risen — 12 years ago(December 09, 2013 03:12 AM)
It's like she finally found the real happiness in a "real life" she was missing when she was just a famous person. I actually think this makes it more believable (to the extent that the film is believable at all!).
agreed and to a certain [but different] extent it is reflected in the life of Penny Lane in Almost Famous and her belief in "The Real World", which she finally finds to be "Almost Realous"
http://www.kindleflippages.com/ablog/ -
papablue — 12 years ago(February 26, 2014 01:53 PM)
In the dinner scene, one of many where she just kills it, she relates an unfortunate truth about many young actresses, and how they age quickly and their looks are fleeting. At her age when making this film (roughly 32), I might think that the lines she spoke hit fairly close to home, which may have added to her believability in the scene.
"Son, you have a pantie on your head." -
SamusPirate — 11 years ago(December 26, 2014 12:22 PM)
I agree with the OP.
Scenes where her performance stands out for me are the "I'm just a girl"-scene, as well as the ending press conference. It's just heartbreaking to see her visibly holding back tears and that forced smile on her face as she is rejected.
The ending scene is the complete opposite of course. I LOVE her smile. Love it. Rarely have I seen an actress who is able to look THAT happy. Just complete untainted joy. It's just beautiful. -
rindercella — 10 years ago(April 20, 2015 06:50 AM)
Watch Conspiracy Theory. She was so good in that too, and the story is sweet, the link between her and Mel is super-sweet.
"Please let me keep this memory, just this one." ~ Joel, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind