A wonderful, at the same time light and deep, film about relationships, honesty and equality.
Erica is a woman in her 50s who has gone into workaholism, sublimating the lack of relationships in her work. She is quite bright in herself, which is logical for her talent, and therefore quite emotional. But very shackled and insecure. Although, if you look at how she reacts to the flirtation of Julian and Harry, there are some doubts about her insecurity and tightness. Probably a flaw in the authors. In addition, she is quite attractive in appearance, she has a high social status and she is rich - and how else could it be in Hollywood cinema! And, as in any such hardworking and complex woman, an ocean of passion and feelings is buried in her, which, like a gun on a wall, could not help but shoot.
Due to the suppression of feelings and emotions, Erica was not very mature and adapted to real relationships. Therefore, her relationship with both suitors is so direct, lively and extraordinary: without templates and boring rituals. And that's what she's buying them. She is strong and bold as a lion and unarmed/immediate/vulnerable as a child. It's a great, unbeatable mix.
Julian. A young charming doctor, with the manners of an aristocrat, confident, gentle, understanding, wise. Another rattling win-win mix. But it is because of this “mixture” that he lost, because it simulates a relationship close to “dad-daughter”, rather than equal partnership. When he falls in love with Erica, he conquers her. And she gives up under the onslaught of his charm. But! There is a huge difference between accepting and choosing... Erica agrees with this relationship, but does not choose it herself.
This is a very important point that you should pay attention to in your life. If you agree to a relationship, there will be no happiness in it. Pleasure may be, but not happiness. Or if you “win” your partner, the same thing. If a person does not choose a relationship, he will not remain in them, and no one will be happy in them in the end.
Returning to the relationship between Julian and Erica, I want to point out that age was NOT a stumbling block at the time of the decision, although it certainly played a role. Marriage inequality – no matter what age, social status, intellectual level – will always fetter and play against you at every opportunity. But if both partners have chosen this relationship, then no “unequality” will interfere with them, and they will be able to overcome it, wherever and how it manifests itself. And it will show up.
Well, the most brilliant character of this film is certainly an elderly lady Harry, played by Jack Nicholson! Realized man, goes “through life lightly”, picking women like flowers one by one, and desperately avoids any serious relationship. He is rich, charming, sparkling, knows how to care for girls and conquer their hearts with his sincere admiration and ease. But the key to his success lies not in the ability to say compliments and win the hearts of girls with rich gifts. His success is in non-attachment. He doesn't take anything seriously. In all his behavior, there is a story about the fact that he attaches no importance to anything - hence lightness and ease, nothing is included in the present. Everything we see outside of his relationship with Erica is a mask. Ingeniously worked out, masterfully sewn mask and nothing more. And behind the mask fear, uncertainty, depth, sensuality ... Everything that came out after his heart attack, everything that he can no longer control. A heart attack broke his mask, tore off his clothes, and he found himself alone.
Back to Erica and Harry's relationship. In fact, God told them to be together. They are equal in age, social and financial status, status, internal strength. They are equal partners, unlike anything else we see in the film. In addition, the situation of their acquaintance does not imply aristocratic games, but rather exposes their real faces and motives. They haven't been able to play social lions, and they talk frankly and ask each other uncomfortable questions. And they both have the opportunity, perhaps for the first time, to meet the real ones and still be accepted. And for them it is like an experience after which it is impossible to return to the past, and apparently not relevant.
Erica deliberately shut herself out of her own feelings, avoiding pain. Then she took a risk and realized the meaninglessness and stupidity of this strategy. Having started to get acquainted with each other from the “dark” side, they no longer need to try to pretend anything. From this point, and only from this point, are “real” relationships born. If, like at home, in pajamas and slippers, this is it!
I admired the character of D. Nicholson. Despite everything, he did not rush into this relationship completely, and did not immediately deny it. It was clearly not easy for him to "refuse." Erica, he took a timeout to deal with himself first. The world is ruled by fear of pain. And he doesn't rule very wisely. And indeed, it takes a lot of wisdom, maturity and strength not to go along with the fear of hurting another as if he would crumble from it; not to be led by the desire to be good; not to make decisions out of fear of rejection.
"You can't help loving this woman!" This man, too. Many people may say that he is a bastard and left Eric to suffer. By the way, the scenes of her suffering are one of the few that caused rejection in this film. The second thing that caused rejection was the way she used their novel for her play. Literally. To my taste, it's unethical. So the question for me is which one is more unethical.
Keanu Reeves is sorry, he's cute. But he played a role in that story. Doctor of the heart in the literal and figurative sense. He helped both of these “sex-mature poor people” to find and find themselves. Without him, this wonderful and brilliant story would not have happened. It happens so often in life that to meet one person, we must first meet another. And for some meetings, sometimes you have to find yourself in difficult and awkward circumstances. Otherwise, how else will our guardian angels bring us together with the right people and make them notice? Sometimes they have to stop us, sometimes even in these ways.
Jack Nicholson as multimedia rich Harry Langer prefers young bodies and carefree heads. He resents the obligations of serious relationships, which he openly declares, and ladies over thirty. The personal secret of maintaining Harry’s vitality is a young woman under the handle and a Viagra pill, and only a heart attack can remind him that he is a little over sixty.
Heart lets the main character in the most inappropriate love moment in the house on the ocean, which belongs to Erica (Diane Keaton) - the famous playwright and part-time mother of the next passion Harry - Marin (Amanda Pete).
Erica is no longer young, behind the divorce, years of restrained feelings, which she spills on paper. With sorrow, realizing that her own years of love pleasures have sunk into oblivion without beginning, Erica can not but experience a certain disapproval in behavior and condemn Harry’s life credo, which she decided to look after until he – negligent patient – does not recover after a stroke. Marin, meanwhile, wasted, leaving her mom and her fleeting boyfriend to spend time with each other, in leisurely walks along the beach for a conversation and hot muffins late at night.
At some point in the rapprochement of two worn-out hearts, wedged young and rattling like a trotter in the role of Dr. Julian - Kianu Reeves. A lover of intelligent and experienced women, he takes the initiative into his own hands and is not shy at all, but rather pushes on the confused Erica. Both she and Harry have to choose: love? Or youth?
The film has a decent and long well-developed non-trivial plot. From him, you expect something wow! and really catchy and soulful, and you get incompatible brilliant actors, their strange hugs and kisses, in general - unpleasant between guys.
It's a one-time movie like a not-so-tasty cool cocktail with a colorful umbrella on a hot afternoon. Why not if you love Keanu and Jack? . .
The film made a positive impression on me. The plot is not beaten, it looks easy. Until the last minute, it was interesting who Eric would choose as a result.
What did the movie teach me? We all think that we know everything about life, about love, about relationships. The film shows that this is not the case at all - at 50 you can cry about unhappy love just as you would at 17. But here Erica was lucky - her love was not so unhappy after all, but it is rather her merit. She spoke honestly and sincerely about her feelings, even when she was hurt. Harry was also honest with Erica, but eventually fell in love with her, not wanting to.
In human terms, I certainly liked Julian better, a young doctor, but as a young romantic, he loved Erica, not as a person, but as a good writer-playwright, admiring her professional success, so they did not have a relationship.
Of course, the film was decorated: a beach with noisy and soothing waves of the ocean, a cozy house on this very shore, romantic French music and, of course, Paris - the city of Erica's dreams.
What a movie, though. In some places, to nausea, frankly. That’s what I think it is today.
A good, very good actor, D. Nicholson, is not news. But in this case, to believe in the devilish charm (a stunning sense of humor, a powerful intellect – it is necessary to emphasize) of his hero, sorry, is impossible. In principle. For one simple reason: money. Forgive me for the directness, but, in my opinion, it was they and only they allowed an elderly man of dubious appearance and very controversial other merits to put one young individual after another in his bunk. It’s a business, as they say, but let’s at least call it what it is.
The most valuable thing in all this, let me say, system is the opportunity (by the way, well noticed and demonstrated by the authors of the film), in the end, to make a certain voyage “to places of military glory”. Allegedly, in order to understand yourself. But that's not the point. There was a philosophy, an approach to life, that's what's important. And then suddenly... "Love will come by accident!" "That's it!" Not new, is it?
The problem is different. Who? Who is this woman who, according to the title of her own play, “cannot be disliked”? Madame with the face and body of D. Keaton? Is this a joke? Or should I seriously believe that a young successful doctor (K. Reeves’ hero) not only values, respects, even admires, but also wants (desires, lusts) her and only her? Well, you know...
Personally, the only thing I haven’t fully decided on is what is more disgusting: the “sensual” (for rather hysterical) bed scene between the characters D. Nicholson and D. Keaton or the constant hints of such (including kisses and other elements of foreplay) between her and the character K. Reeves. Oh, my God, my stomach went up to my throat. In protest, apparently. And I understand it!
K. Reeves tried very hard. D. Nicholson, at least, did not fall behind. But D. Keaton... It's too much. Yes, only her wild roar in a whole series of episodes that followed the breakup with the “beloved”, accompanied by the birth of the “hit” (that is, the very play) that is worth it! This is guaranteed sterilization of all life within a 15-mile radius! What love? What sex?!
In my opinion, a pure woman is not to love. And so the maximum is
I decided to watch this movie after watching the movie “Simple difficulties”, which I really liked. I immediately wanted to get acquainted with other works Nancy Myers.
My review will be neutral, because, right away, I expected more.
And here's what we have: a great, intriguing start, a beautiful end and a drawn-out middle. There were a lot of jokes, a lot of good jokes, when I really wanted to laugh, but still in some places it was not funny, because some of them seemed inappropriate or too obvious. The film has quite substantive moments, as well as sparkling, accurate dialogue. I want to celebrate beautiful, evening Paris. And in general, how the ending was filmed - I liked it, touching and romantic.
Now, as for the actors. I think they spoiled a little of the film. Of course, the film attracts its star cast: Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves, etc. And in this case, the audience is always waiting for a brilliant game and does not want to be disappointed. Fortunately, I did not have to be disappointed. But the brilliant, namely, brilliant, game did not work.
Diane Keaton is a good actress, but in some places she seemed to be overplaying. Some scenes didn't look real, unconvincing. Yes, I understand that maybe the script and it was necessary to play deliberate scenes, a little ridiculous, but isn’t that the skill of a real actor – to play convincing enough even such scenes? And how the actor will cope with this task is his business, it all depends only on his talent and certain acting technique.
Jack Nicholson, who has 3 Oscars, many nominations for this award and many more awards. With the role coped well, but in all the movies with his participation, you can see it Jack Nicholson, except that “The Shining” can be called an exception. This is despite the fact that he is emotionally diverse.
Of all the actors, the best, in my opinion, coped Keanu Reeves. He was very persuasive. Played everything as it was necessary, fully corresponded to his image. To some extent, I was surprised.
In general, you can watch the film if you have a light and positive mood.
6 out of 10
In 1998, after the divorce, Nancy Meyers made her debut as a director, shooting the film “The Parent Trap”. After reading this, you begin to understand why most of the films are about divorced women who dream of jumping into bed with the first person they meet “without obligations”, and then blackmailing the same person with love anguish. That's all Nancy is.
Lonely writer of plays - Erica, after the divorce, having lost inspiration, decided to write the script of her life in the present, but since nothing happened in her work, stagnation began, until one day her daughter broke into the house with her new boyfriend, who was -twenty years older than the girl, who was fit for her father, with a complex character: rude, unceremonious, rude. After a heart attack due to taking Viagra, forced to stay for some time in the house of the writer, after sharp laundry and common grievances, they find a common language, but the young attending physician of her new roommate begins to show attention to the woman.
The heroine Diane Keaton looks very similar to the director of the picture Nancy Meyer, it seems that she puts part of herself, part of her history or a segment of her life into her heroines. And Mrs. Keaton herself should be given credit for how she calmly endured possible discomfort because of the image of a “man in a case”, without removing suffocating turtlenecks in a hot period. Jack Nicholson has a special charm, and he played almost himself, a lot of non-permanent novels, generated by rumors.
What motivates an older woman to produce films in which sex is the paramount link in a relationship that does not initially bind to anything? The universality of the theme, from which you can squeeze an infinite number of stories, apparently inspires Nancy Meyer, sending Love to the background. "Sex all ages are submissive" - says the current picture, you can not look at this arrangement of affairs without tears: not only do young people carelessly treat all the responsibility of intimacy, and then betray to her a kalasal value that was not originally supposed, so now people who either did not play with youth or decided to forget all the principles for the sake of lowness fall to this level. This leads to proverbs like: To gray hair lived, but did not gain a mind. The picture clearly expresses senile stupidity, contradicting wisdom and chastity. What such an older generation can learn with such a low outlook on life. Fortunately, children learn from the mistakes of adults, and the film makes a little sense thanks to this.
7 out of 10
How often do we get a good comedy? Really good? Very, very rarely. And fortunately, this film belongs to a minority.
Nancy Myers, director and screenwriter, is already a guarantee of quality. Her films are the best romantic comedies the world knows. So it’s no surprise to me that 'Love by the Rules... and without' a really warm, soft and fun movie.
This story doesn't occur on every corner, and it's already enticing. 56-year-old writer-neurasthenic, successful but lonely. Of course, loneliness came after the divorce, which was not easy. A side effect was the love of turtlenecks. She has a 30-year-old daughter who is dating an old playboy. And here, in a country house on the ocean coast, the plot unfolds. He has a heart attack, she, with her closeness and turtlenecks, becomes his nurse. They get to know each other and love. If it were a regular story, it would be 90 minutes, but it's Nancy Myers. We can't just come and see a predictable, sweet, short-sighted movie. She created depth, and this soft romantic background. What she always does.
The actors are perfect. Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton created such a natural, real picture, and that's what makes it so appealing. You forget it's a movie. And you laugh like it's really happening.
Hans Zimmer is a great composer, so the music in this film is amazing. It perfectly complements the plot, as well as my player;
'Love by the rules... and without' is a great comedy that unexpectedly touches on the problems of a completely different age group. And the eternal problem is love. This film is a masterpiece that gives warmth, laughter and romance. And it goes 2 hours, which is a luxury for comedy. Bravo!
I love films directed by Nancy Meyers. In her creations there is always a kind and unlike anything atmosphere and an interesting and touching love story. Her films are unique and incredibly heartfelt and sensual. Love by the Rules and Without is one of my favorite movies. I've seen it many times and it's a movie for me that I can watch and watch. The history of this melodrama is very heartfelt, touching and sometimes funny, and therefore it is impossible to forget, and makes this film such a wonderful creation of Western cinema a good hand of the director and excellent acting.
We see an older woman coming with her sister to her country house and bumping into her daughter and her friend, an older man. They develop an interesting communication until a man has a heart attack, and here begins this interesting and touching story.
The film turned out very bright, dynamic and very spectacular. I love this movie and every shot in it. The melodrama looks easy and gives a lot of positive emotions and the whole range of positives, which comedy melodramas should keep in themselves. In this film it is well shown that love can come suddenly and unexpectedly, and even in old age you can experience this beautiful and incomparable feeling that turns life upside down, and your whole world takes a different turn, in which everything comes down to your loved one.
Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson made a wonderful and bright duet in this melodrama. Both of these actors are of the first magnitude and they are really wonderful and amazingly talented actors. Diane Keaton plays superbly: both dramatic and comedic. She is an interesting actress who will make any role bright and memorable. I love this American actress and all the movies with her are beautiful things to watch. Jack Nicholson is one of the best actors in the world of cinema, and in this film he is unmatched. The actor plays believable and very touching. It was great to see these two wonderful actors. Keanu Reeves in this melodrama is incomparable: as always charming and incredibly beautiful. I like this actor, he has an interesting appearance and great acting talent. Frances McDormand is a standing actress who always plays deep and dramatic roles, but in this film she has a small role, but even this role she made spectacular, and I was delighted to see her in this film. Amanda Pete is a cute actress who always attracts attention. She is an interesting actress, and she played well in this melodrama.
I would like to see more films like this. Such a movie carries all the kindness, touching and interesting. “Love by the rules and without” is a wonderful and charming gift from Nancy Meyers for those who love melodramas with a taste of comedy. This movie is great and not seeing it means really losing a lot. I wanted to pay tribute to actors Keaton and Nicholson, they made this movie an amazing and beloved film, and their performance pleases the eye. I advise everyone who has not seen this movie to watch, it will take you into a delightful and charming story that will be remembered for a long time and will give you many good and pleasant impressions.
Good to see you!
"Love by the Rules and Without" from its title and the essence of the film proves to us that love is submissive to all ages. But sometimes you think that it is better to grow old with a loved one than those options that were considered and presented in the picture. The fact is that it was presented in a very loyal way and eventually fell into place as it should. The sparkling and expressive humor that was fully here left no bad impression of the film as a comedy genre. I say that because it's more heartbreaking, romantic and sweet melodrama. Thanks to Nancy Meyers for her professional approach to this genre. Knowing that she is the parent of such a wonderful movie as “What Women Want”, without hesitation you rush to see “Love by the Rules and Without”. Plus, take into account the fact that such talented and chic actors play here. The production and idea of the plot is quite good and two hours will pass for you with considerable interest.
The difficult love triangle that develops between the characters of the picture, inspires with its sophistication and sophistication. They get really good at what's going on and start sharing each other. And all this delicate situation turns into a play based on a book written by Diane Keaton playing the role of the famous writer Erica Barry.
Regarding the performance of actors, I note the following:
To Jack Nicholson, who played an elderly man who infiltrated the music industry and became a functionary, thank you as always. His character Harry was very graceful, irresistible and inimitable. Jack's charisma still wins and brings a smile to the audience's face. This is his, so to speak, zest and joker, which he releases into the wild in order to pierce and positively influence the perception of people. It seems to give the picture an atmosphere. Again in this film, he's a quirky old man in his 60s, with his funny habits and nuts in his head. And at the same time he is a serpent-temptor and an avid womanizer, mastering girls and women with his charm. How can you not enjoy his enthusiasm and enthusiasm at this age? Well done, Nicholson, I praise you again and praise you.
I bow at the feet of Diane Keaton for her impeccable and incomparable role. In this film, she showed herself above all praise and to the fullest. We all know that creative people have an extraordinary life. After all, in writing a book, you need to have the gift of self-persuasion, have fresh ideas and most importantly be patient in this matter. Here is the famous writer Erica Barry in the face of Keaton, everything is very embellished and unusual. Her life is just writing books, but she wants to find love and be loved. The way Eric is overwhelmed with emotion when she falls in love is instantly made clear what insightful and sensitive creative people are. A good and high-level game by Diane Keaton is a worthy Oscar.
Well, of course Keanu Reeves as a gentle doctor. He turned out to be thin and elegant in everything. He always said warm and kind words like a good doctor. In parallel, the actions of his character are aimed at the fact that he falls in love with his idol - writer Erica. He admires her books and herself. Therefore, despite the age difference, he makes confident steps towards this charming and sexy woman, in the hope of possessing her. Keanu Reeves in this film occupies an honorable place as a supporting role and copes with it quite worthy.
Conclusion:
I won’t talk too much about what I saw and I’ll say this. “Love by the rules and without” is a beautiful classic melodrama with elements of comedy, which will appeal to many connoisseurs of the genre and will leave you delighted with the acting. This movie will look good and not for the first time.
I'll be honest and original. I'll put...
There are only two melodramas that I really love and revisit often. This picture is one of them. "Something's Gotta Give" - a bright story, to some extent proving the statement "Love all ages are submissive."
Harry is an elderly playboy and eternal skirt hunter. Along with his new passion, Marin visits her mother’s home. It seemed like a wonderful weekend for two, but in the house is the mother — Erica — and also with Harry happens trouble. A heart attack forces him to live in this country house for a while. But the relationship between Erica and Harry is not too sweet. A mother cannot accept a daughter who is more than 20 years older than her. Unbeknownst to them, they get closer and closer, and now Erica is more and more happy that Harry was in their house. A young doctor falls in love with Erica. There is a typical love triangle, from which you can get out only by the rules of Erica.
The beauty of this film is in the characters. Whether it was three teenagers, it would be a terrible, spitting picture with the most typical and boring plot. But to our attention Nancy Meyers offers a picture with an age bias. The film is designed for a more serious audience.
From the beginning, the film promises nothing interesting. But with increasing action, it becomes just warm. The film is really kind and very funny. Harry's heart attack is worth it. It doesn't even seem sad. And for all my dislike of stories like this, this love triangle is just fascinating. What? Yes, at least the cast, an unusual turn of events, music and humor. These are the melodramas I want to review.
I could hardly imagine Jack Nicholson in this genre. Truth be told, I didn’t watch a lot of movies with him, but I respect the actor and I really like him. For me, the list of his best films has been replenished with another one that stands out from others with its “vitality”. The role of Harry is written for him. He shows us his character in every scene: hospital, bedroom, Paris. All this is demonstrated very interesting and witty. And for such a successful choice for the role of the main character - really thank you.
Diane Keaton left a contradictory impression. I didn't like her on her own. It's just an unpleasant person. But the way she played her role was very good. She shows herself so well from the inside in this picture, all her emotions and feelings. But this great merit also concerns the beautiful voice of Lyubov Germanova, who brilliantly voiced her character and that is why she liked it. In the original language, it didn’t sound so good. Therefore, a great merit of voice and emotional Keaton.
Kian Reeves, who performed the third component of the triangle, I really liked it. No matter what movie he’s in, he’s good everywhere. And to show himself in such a melodrama as a real man - he succeeded. This role also stands out from others, although it does not deserve any great praise. Reeves deserves attention for nothing. It's nice to look at him, but I don't really understand how such an enviable young man could fall in love with such a woman. Actually, the same question I can put to the heroine Amanda Pete. She is a young and beautiful woman, but the choice fell on Harry. I didn’t believe it until the end, and I was a little sad because Dr. Julian (Reeves) impressed me. The magnificent voice of Anatoly Bely could completely complement the image.
A nice little addition. The great Hans Zimmer composer of the picture. His light, relaxed music makes you even more enjoy watching and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the film.
Nancy Meyers Director of such wonderful films as "Exchange Vacation" and "What Women Want" has added to these wonderful films another, which is no worse than the previous ones. It seems and feels like these films were made by a woman. However, if there were a man in the place of the commander-in-chief, it would not be the same at all. A woman somehow thinks more deeply and sees everything related to the relationship. And even if it is a smart woman, it is good! Meyers told us the love story of elderly people who are looking for their happiness despite their age. The beautiful duet "Nicholson" Keaton made the film even kinder and brighter, interesting and funny, unusual and vital, bright and charming.
“Love by the rules and without” is the perfect example of how to make love movies. Without crossing the line of “snotty”, Nancy Meyers gave us a wonderful story about the relationships of ordinary people who at some point just lost hope for any relationship. A simple but brilliant story that made me tear down the kindness, tenderness and “mercy” that reigns on the screen throughout the viewing.
10 out of 10
“Love by the rules and without”, as well as the almost similar “Exchange Vacation”, the movie is very neutral, very painful and very feminine. As well as purely conversational, and therefore entirely tied to the actors and scripts.
Jack Nicholson subtly and nuancedly plays an elderly man who does not feel like such, but, in the context of the production, the role is ungrateful. The fact that despite physical problems, his character remains himself and continues to live the same life is almost not emphasized. Nancy Meyers is only interested in the relationship between the characters, everything else is just a reason for them. Unfortunately, there is no chemistry between Harry and Erica. Against Nicholson's background, Diane Keaton is lost. She looks great for her age, but she’s overplaying. Keanu Reeves is locked in a 100% positive role and has minimal involvement. But this is a rare opportunity to see him positive, relaxed and smiling.
The mood of the film makes a very ordinary impression, and when Meyers tries to make the characters worry, it comes out too straightforward, in places and even caricatured. There is a bit of good humor, but much more often there are just idiotic scenes, like joint measurement of pressure before sex.
The dynamics of the tape is zero, which, coupled with a two-hour duration, makes the film completely unaffordable.
3 out of 10
A woman who can not be loved and a man who will try to love
Imagine your favorite activity that you cannot live without. Now imagine doing it on camera and getting a lot of money for it. Imagine? Isn't that cool? Now you understand what Jack Nicholson felt on the set of “Love by the rules and without”. Avid womanizer and witty words only needed to be himself on the screen (although this is also a difficult task) and look natural. And no wonder the director of the film Nancy Meyers saw only him in this role. The actor once again confirmed his status as one of the greatest actors in the history of cinema. And his adventures with a bare ass in the hospital, it's just chic!
I had never seen Diane Keaton before this film, but this actress rightfully impressed me. Up until a certain point, she just played at a high level, worthy of a masterful Hollywood actress, but that moment came and I was just fascinated by her performance. I mean the scenes of the actress crying. I have never seen such crying, turning into hysteria, such laughter, turning into crying, turning into hysteria. On the screen it looked so sincere, natural and funny that I decided to cry myself. My tears were caused by a long laugh.
In addition to the on-screen confrontation of these 2 characters, I would like to note the dualism in music related to them. The two main musical themes of the film were the music of Hans Zimmer and the song of the group "Crazy town" and this may be a hidden symbolism: the incendiary track "Crazy town" characterizes the life of the hero Jack Nicholson, and the intoxicating and soothing music of Hans Zimmer can refer us to the heroine Diane Keaton.
I really liked Kian Reeves. I don't remember him having such a noble, pleasant, bright character. And his undisguised charisma and natural appeal in this film can exalt him almost to the rank of “prince on a white horse”.
With such a stellar cast, complemented by Frances McDormand, Amanda Pitt and John Favreau, and backed by its own script, the film is doomed to success. By the way, I would not be surprised if not only the heroine Keaton transfers her life to the theater stage, but also Erica Berry is “written off” from Nancy Meyers herself. It’s nice that the film, despite its status as a comedy, still makes you think a little.
I would like to compare the film with a meringue: you seem to have just bitten it and feel this irresistible taste in your mouth, and it is already gone.
8 out of 10
“You cannot hide from love for the rest of your life, fearing that it may be unhappy and that it will upset you. Otherwise, why live? (c)
"Love by the rules and without" (2003, USA) directed by Nancy Meyers turned out to be a qualitative and serious melodrama about love, friendship, work and their place in life.
Despite the fact that “Jex Nicholson” is unpleasant to me at the level of sensations and all the time and everywhere reminds me of his hero from “Eastwick witches”, but even he in this film did not cause me rejection, and in some moments I sympathized with him and sympathized with him.
According to the plot, an elderly functionary of the music industry and part-time womanis Harry (Nicholson) has tender feelings for a young Marin (Amanda Pete). They arrive at her mother's house, where Harry has a heart attack. And here's the bad luck - he falls in love with the mother of his beloved, although he prefers young children, and the attending physician Harry also falls in love with his mother (by the way, a famous writer). In general, there is a confusing love triangle.
With whom Harry will end up, with whom – Erica, and with whom – Marin, what circles of hell they will have to go through, how much life philosophy to understand firsthand – you will learn if you look. By the way, in the role of Erica is the most beautiful Diane Quito, who especially succeeded in scenes of hysteria. “She is an exceptionally intelligent woman, but she does not know how to drink at all.”
The moral of this fable is that love is subject to all ages. I'm 64 and I'm in love. For the first time in your life, all planes and in general, the main thing is not to be afraid to let it into your life, no matter at what age, the main thing is to let it in. And even if not all love ends in a happy ending like they lived happily ever after, and the one you love often upsets, but la vi is better than no, because you do not try - you do not know whether there could be happiness. And happiness, as you know, is possible - and so it is possible, and so it is possible.
In general, recommended for viewing.
Another romantic story by Nancy Meyers. In each new film, where she acts as a director, she recruits new artists, but she does not pave the way for beginners, she takes proven “fighters” of the set. So in the tape "Love by the rules and without" were experienced and deserved Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton, the company they made popular now, but younger Keanu Reeves, Amanda Pete and Fransis McDormand. The compiler that any director would dream of and Nancy Meyers has this dream come true.
Meyers limited the supporting actors from relationships and their promotion in the characters Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. In fact, the youth is a contrast here, and the old men prove the validity of the existence of love over fifty. At Nicholson and Keaton turned out a wonderful duo, filled with their romanticism, spirits of contradiction and sincere sensuality. They had live dialogue, carefully written and emotional, single scenes with them also came out blinding, in general, mastodons play without a hitch.
But the youth, most likely, according to the idea of Meyers, kept mostly in the shadows, as if bearing a tribute to the famous actors. Most of the shooting time at Keanu Reeves. I honestly confess that his gerontophilic inclinations in "Love according to the rules and without" I did not like, well, they did not have a charming tandem with Diane Keaton, too striking was the contrast, and their views did not exude something enigmatic. In three or four scenes announced "Amanda Pete". In my opinion, one of the most underrated actresses, she can withstand more, but even here she was pushed quite far, but the tear in her performance and radiant smile did not go away. About Francis McDormand generally nothing to say, how small the weight of her character.
I think that if Meyers gave more to the characters of the second plan, then the picture would have gained more substance, but so it was compressed within the framework of the relationship of two elderly people and one dialogue and a very good play of the main actors from a simple lyrical story do not get much, which is why this tape from Nancy Meyers became one of the weakest.
However, this does not mean that the picture is bad. No, it was shot in the spirit of the genre, without stretches, many other directors are still very far from this, but I expected more from Meyers, especially after the hilarious comedy What Women Want. This is not a tape for snobs or those who crave drive on the screen, this is systematic lyrics for family viewing.
7 out of 10
Aren't we gonna do something stupid? Nope! Menopause!
Nancy Myers is a star among the directors of romantic comedies. “What Women Want” and “Simple Difficulties”
But “Love by the rules and without” can be called simply a classic of the genre. Brilliant play of actors, a well-chosen plot and calculation for a different age category of spectators.
“Love according to the rules and without” gives answers to the questions of what our parents (and maybe grandparents) do, that they are able not only to measure the pressure to drink pills, but also to deal with the problem.
Magnificent cast: Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves and Amanda Pitt make you believe in a small tale of love. To understand that love is subject to all ages, that love forces us to do the most extraordinary things, such as writing a new play about the mistakes of late love and admitting our sins to former friends.
All who believe in love and that love all ages are submissive look!
10 out of 10
If you follow the scheme followed by God in the creation of the World, the film by Nancy Myers can begin with the scenery, in which the characters were later placed with their twists and turns and problems. These scenery, no matter how you look, the most beautiful: summer, country residences, ocean coast, light breeze, New York with luxurious restaurants and theaters of Broadway, Paris with its bridges ...
All this is already setting in the right way, and if you consider that these shores are adjacent to luxury apartments a little further away, and the interiors of restaurants hint at the pricing policy of the institution, we can safely assume that their inhabitants are solid, well-to-do people, what do we have? We have a wonderful basket in which simple eggs are not put, so that the viewer, no matter how you spin, will have to deal with the cream of society, people, at least, deprived of material problems. And if there is no material, then there are problems of the heart and soul - what else does the public need to relax and purring?
So we got to the characters: battered by life, but still a charming playboy, a lover of young women; a young woman, not a fool-daddy, but a smart-daddy; not too young woman, the mother of this very smart-daddy-daddy, a famous playwright, leading a secluded lifestyle in his luxurious villa next to the beach and working on a new play; the sister of the playwright; an attractive young doctor from a clinic for the local rich ... The faces are all familiar: Jack Nicholson (how not to love him?), Diane Keaton (how not to love her?), the beautiful Amanda Pitt (how not to love her?), Keena Reeves (how not to love him?). The producers did not stint, deciding to shoot to kill, for sure.
In short, a whole crowd of charming people by chance gathered together in this very villa on the shores of the ocean, it remains only to get ahead of what composition, or rather, in what company they will get out of there. Of course, not in the one in which they rolled, namely - not just so they all met? An elderly playboy, a lover of young women, meets the mother of his girlfriend, and between these two there are some reactions of chemical / romantic properties, a young doctor from the local clinic under the impression of the same heroine Keaton, a young woman Amanda Pitt suddenly realizes that her feelings for an elderly playboy are not so deep ... classic, not to the extent sweet Hollywood alignment, in which gradually there are quite predictable permutations.
Why isn't it sweet enough? In addition to material problems and social obstacles, there is no negative in any form in the comedy of situations: there are simply no bad people in the picture. No one attaches anyone, cheats, does not create obstacles - everywhere and everywhere there is a continuous green light and free highways without traffic jams, fences and repairs. Lafa, typical heaven. Barely learning about the feelings of her mother and boyfriend Lovelace, the daughter instantly moves aside, heartily blessing the parent and providing the former friend with the best recommendations; a young doctor, a fan of the heroine Keaton, patiently awaits her half of the film, and then noblely lets go where her heart calls her; the former spouses (heroine Keaton and her ex-husband) have a friendly dinner in the same restaurant, sincerely wishing each other happiness with new chosen ones. One solid sugar on the teeth, but it looks very cute: a relaxed atmosphere, a ton of positive, sunshine, peace, friendship, understanding. Live and rejoice, fall in love and be happy ever after.
The characters of Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton fall in love, that is, the aging playboy and the playwright aunt, at first glance so different, and at the second - so similar to each other. He is not a serious womanizer, she is a vulnerable and fragile girl at an age who is no longer up to easy affairs. The soul requires constancy, reliability, devotion and trust. However, all this is not right, and Grandma Keaton is put into all seriousness with the unreliable grandfather Nicholson, who eventually disappoints her, self-pushing an unloved, but loving opponent. Then, of course, grandfather Nicholson tears at the top of the rare gray hair and rushes for the abandoned lover in order to correct a terrible mistake.
A pleasant, easy, very cute film with wonderful dialogue, beautiful views and hilarious situations. In fact, there are not so many hilarious, it does not break into wild laughter, but a smile is present almost from the beginning to the finish. There is nothing new and will not be, stamps, although not in the most obvious form, abound, but the natural charm of the heroes, i.e. actors, who, in general, do not have to play, pays off everything more than anything.
The only thing that remained a mystery to me was the meaning of the picture, which the creators tried to convey, but lost somewhere along the way, branching a wide road into a dozen paths. The fact that an elderly man, fundamentally spinning romances only with minors, suddenly discovers the charm of a mature woman of the same age? Or is it that 61-year-old Don Juan, who has never truly loved, does not escape Cupid’s arrow, and love (according to the rules and without) covers his gray head? Or that people who protect their peace of mind should still fall in love, risk their heart, even if there is a real danger of getting it back in shrapnel / skulls? I don’t know what the creators were trying to achieve there, although perhaps they didn’t set any definite goal: just to entertain, laugh, and delight. It was good. Heart to pieces did not break, but it looked normal, the story flowed smoothly, slowly, the end was predictable, and happy-end banal, even went — Parisian night, measured snow falls, taxis honk and wink headlights ... God is with him, the main thing is that people rumble with delight and arch their backs.
However, against the background of all this warm, sweet soulfulness, there were a couple of moments that puzzled me a little, slightly confused. First, and second, perhaps, is the age of the characters. A little bit more (if not already), and it would be a perversion of pure water: Jack Nicholson and Keaton are infinitely old, wrinkled, decrepit, and the director, as if not not noticing this, will browse down on a bed theme, starting with the scene with Viagra, and then a whole series of episodes of erotic nature between the main characters. Jack Nicholson is charming, I love Jack, but from a granddaughter’s perspective, and no matter how much I discount his former sex-piles, now I see an outrageously fattened, lustful old man who feeds himself with Viagra, touching young girls.
Okay, then he paws Keaton, but it's even more sickening to watch. Her ugly wrinkles on her face and neck are disgusting, frequent shootings in the twilight do not save from the presence of old age in all her appearance - of course, the old woman still holds on, but to put her in bed with another old man, make them both moan and squeal with passion, tearing off each other's clothes ... dear mother! It would be very funny if it wasn't so sad. And to believe that a young (comparatively) Keena Reeves may want a decrepit aunt of her mother's age - fire me, this is too unrealistic. And old men light up, not seeing anything shameful / special in this, and the emphasis on stunning sex between them goes a red thread from cover to cover. Oh, my God, Jack, isn't it time you calm down? It's too much, not sexy anymore, it's disgusting! The same goes for Diane.
And in general, if you do not think / do not dwell on, finding all this cute and funny, looks good. The melodrama is solid, expensive and glamorous. It's a little tight, but if you're not in a hurry...
8 out of 10
Of course, I know that the story is banal, but still the film is cool! I don’t know about guys, and girls who know what romance is, I think I’ll love it!