I Heart London

Author: Jeremy
Location: London

"I Heart London"

Director: Richard Curtis
Original Screenplay: Richard Curtis
Music by: Paul Newman

Principal Cast:

Judi Dench: Lydia Baker
Ian Mckellen: Harold Baker
Liam Neeson: Ron Baker
Catherine Keener: Diane Mercer-Baker
Clive Owen: Toby Baker
Sienna Miller: Clare Baker
Keira Knightley: Kathryn Baker
Jonathan Rhys Meyers: Andrew Baker
Scarlett Johansson: Camille
Don Cheadle: James

Tagline: "One city, one family, one story of love"

Synopsis: Follows the story of the Baker family and the love lives of its members. The Baker family is a middle-class family situated in the humble area of Notting Hill Gate. One hot summer bring the family altogether after living for 10 years apart from each other. Oldest son Ron Baker(Liam Neeson) is on a mid-life crisis. He recently got laid off from his job in America and decided to have a clean start in London. But who would hire a 40+ years old in a very competitive market. On top of all this, his marriage is on a crisis as american lawyer wife Diane(Catherine Keener) was left in America where she holds an executive job in a top company. Ron is working hard to save his marriage and try to accept that his wife is now the breadwinner of his household. Meanwhile, second oldest brother Toby is 35 and still single with a rocky on/off relationship with the younger american Camille(Scarlett Johansson). He enjoys the bachelor life but at the same time feel pressured by his family to marry. He thinks Camille is a marriage material and decided to spend the week in the house to introduce her to the family. 3rd oldest is Clare, a single female teacher. She's known to be the favorite in the family which angers her sister Kathryn. She recently found her boyfriend cheating with his secretary and decided to move out of their flat and move back in to the house.

She struggles to move on and with the help Kathryn and younger brother Andrew, she gets herself back into the dating market. Recently out of university Kathryn has no job and no money. She's in debt after incurring huge amount of money from her studies and years of partying. She moved out of the halls and straight to the house to save money to get her own place. However, all is not bad as Kathryn is in a stable relationship with James(Don Cheadle). Problem is, the family haven't got a clue about James and Kathryn struggles to follow the rules of the house after years of liberated living. The youngest son Andrew have a lifestyle that can shake the whole household: He's secretly gay. He still lives in the house and he's a university student. He finds it difficult to tell the whole family about his lifestyle and is afraid on the family's reaction. Last but not the least the head of the household Lydia (Judi Dench) and Harold(Ian Mckellen) Baker. They are in their late 60's and thinking of selling the house and moving to the countryside to retire peacefully. In addition, they reached the point of their marriage where they want to spice their sex life which will surely freak the whole family out. The whole family lives together under one roof in notting hill and surely finds out each and everybody else's secrets and love lives.


What the press would say:

A tour de force of cast. A dramatic and comedic family movie at its best. The unique inter-twinning story of the characters made the movie very unique with the help of british director Richard Curtis. Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian Mckellen delivered a very memorable comedic performance. Liam Neeson and Clive Owen portrayed the perfectly the average mid-aged guy, married or single, in their mid life crisis. The gorgeous Sienna Miller de-glam to prove that she's not just a beautiful face, she got great talents. Her performance as the emotionally wrecked single female struggling to be on the dating market again and is probably on the look for the rebound was amazing. At the same time, Keira Knightley delivered a memorable performance as the liberated, rebellious and secretive early twenties Kathryn. Lastly, Jonathan Rhys Meyers had the most memorable performance in the movie. He played the closeted homosexual Andrew most perfectly comedic. His performance truly broke the barriers of gay stereotype and to be honest, He's just so damn funny and naive which makes you want to like him. Scarlett Johansson and Don Cheadle's performance were exceptional. Scarlett Johansson s exceptional as although she only had a fair amount of screen time, she played it so well that you were disappointed to know that she's only there for a couple of minutes. She playd the "stranger in the house" perfectly well. Don Cheadle remained the romantic lover of Kathryn who stood by her after the rockiest times. The Screenplay is amazing. Richard Curtis wrote a screenplay in the same level with Woody Allen that its laugh-out-loud family but with a real message: Love.

Technically speaking, the director and the cinematographer captured London in the lens at its best.

Best Picture
Best Director
Best Original Screenplay
Best Actress: Judi Dench
Best Actor: Johnathan Rhys Meyers
Best Supporting Actress: Sienna Miller
Best Supporting Actress: Keira Knightley
Best Supporting Actress: Scarlett Johansson
Best Supporting Actor: Liam Neeson
Best Cinematographer
Best Original Music
Best Editing