Love Story
Directed By: Arthur Hiller
Starring: Ali McGraw & Ryan O’Neal
Year of Release: 1970
Whats It About
A Harvard Student who comes from a very wealthy family falls in love with a working class girl. Though this causes a fallout between the young man and his father, there is no stoping the love between the two. Setting out to make it on their own without the wealth of the family, the two soon discover what love is really about. Love means never having to say you’re sorry.
Thoughts
I came across this film by complete coincidence. I went to go visit my mom for Mother’s Day and she was watching it on her big screen. Now, my mom is not the kind of person who watches artsy films, so I knew this movie had to be special, it was.
The first thing that grabs you is the performance by the stars of the film. Ali McGraw and Ryan O’Neal bring a purity that is not normally seen in other films of its kind and pour so much emotion into what they’re going through, that if you have ever fought for the one you love, you will be moved to tears. There is a reason why both of them were nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor and Actress in a Leading Role.
Though I thought that a couple of the shots were edited in a sloppy manner, for the most part, they are beautiful. There is a scene where Oliver (O’Neal) takes Jennifer (McGraw) go visit his parents. The way the film switches between the meeting and the drive back home just makes that whole scene come alive in a way that puts a lot of modern day films to shame. Also, the cinematography is romantic one moment, and raw, the next. It accomplishes the task with ease and really sets the tone for how you should be feeling while you’re watching.
A special notice should be given to the soundtrack. The theme song “(Where Do I Begin?) Love Song” will be instantly recognizable the minute you hear it. This soundtrack has been played in numerous other films, TV commercials, and has been covered by dozens of other artists. It is gorgeous.
This film really caught me off guard in terms of its beauty, its emotional message, and its powerful soundtrack. I highly recommend this to anyone who is involved in a relationship. You could always afford to learn a thing or two. I did.
Memorable Moment
The trademark line for this film was, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”. Without spoiling anything, it’s the moment that leads up to Jennifer saying that line.
FYI
There was a sequel to this called Oliver’s Story. Don’t watch it.
Score
7 out of 10
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