One Day

UK Release: 24th August 2011

Watched on TV: Wednesday 24th August 2011

Rating: 12A

Genre: Drama, Romance

Runtime: 1hr 50mins

Tagline: Twenty years. Two people.

IMDb Plot Summary: After spending the night together on the night of their college graduation Dexter and Em are shown each year on the same date to see where they are in their lives. They are sometimes together, sometimes not, on that day.

My Review: Writing this review is pretty tough, but I’m so happy that I’m finally doing so. After looking forward to this film for, oh about A YEAR (as regular readers may be aware!), it would be fair to say I went into the film with reasonably high expectations. I, like thousands across the world, absolutely fell in love with David Nicholls' book, and with him behind the screenplay the essence of it is very much present on screen. There is quite a bit of subtext that fans of the book can pick up on, but in general it is a fantastic film having read the book or not. By looking at the packed cinema around me I was glad to see (and hear) many people laughing and crying throughout the film. It is definitely not a romantic comedy but an interesting, intelligent and beautiful film. Evidence of which is of the director behind it: Lone Scherfig who made one of the best films of the last decade, ‘An Education'. Quality is not discussed as it was amazing from the beginning, but readers of the book may find some shots at the start from 2006 a little ominous. Otherwise I was pleasantly surprised at how much the film contained from the book it was mostly all there, well at much as a 110 minute film can contain. The relationships and feelings from the characters were wonderfully brought to life so, so heart wrenchingly perfectly by Jim Sturgess and Anne Hathaway. He may be too clever, her too angelic but both completely brilliant. There has been some controversy around her accent, yet I thought it was fine, yes it may be a little unrealistic, but it doesn’t take away from the story as a whole, and that’s what matters. 

Other good performances were of Ian, Hathaway’s doomed comedian boyfriend during the 1990’s, played by Rafe Spall and Romola Garai as Sylvie, Dexter’s wife. Garai in particular was spot on. I’ve seen her everywhere at the moment, especially as the fantastic Bel Rowley in The Hour. She was subtly funny as the sense-of-humour-less wife, even if we couldn’t empathise with her enough like in the book. 

I don’t entirely understand some of the critics harsh views on the film. For me it is a beautifully made and beautifully performed film, but then, you can’t please everyone. 

All in all, it is the must-see, and most importantly the best, love story of the year; One Day is British film at its finest quality, even with Hathaway’s dodgy accent.... 

Score: 9/10